From a $150-a-Month “Flophouse” to Farm Life with a Hollywood Icon
From a $150-per-month New York flophouse to a tranquil farm life with his well-known wife, one actor’s path nearly seems like the plot of a vintage rags-to-riches movie. But it’s all true.
He now relishes tranquil days on a large farm, surrounded by the basic delights of nature, farm animals, and freshly harvested veggies. His narrative provides insight into the strength of perseverance and the enchantment of Hollywood fantasies, but it’s a far cry from his modest beginnings.
His aspirations to become an actor were sown early on. Growing up in a small town, he would be inspired by the movies and run home to reenact scenes and dress up as his favorite characters.
His mother even supported his emerging artistic abilities by providing him an old clothing box, which he used to make costumes. Years later, he would recollect, “That box was everything.” “Anywhere, I could be anyone.”
He came to New York City from Philadelphia in 1976 at the age of 22, with little money but lots of hopes. He spent months living on his sister’s couch with little protection. He grabbed the opportunity when he saw an advertisement for a low-cost “artist’s residence” in the Village Voice.
It was a simple apartment, maybe too humble. In an interview, he recalled the small apartment he shared with a classical pianist and remarked, “It was mine, or at least half mine,” even though it wasn’t a palace. In contrast to the city’s unrelenting intensity, the sound of piano notes filled the nights.
His early career was shaped by his experience at the flophouse, despite the fact that it was far from Hollywood glitz. During the day, he searched the streets for parts. He got a spot in a local theater show while honing his skills at the Circle in the Square Theater School at night.
He gained a realistic flavor of the acting industry from the encounter, and his resolve increased daily. Years later, he told Nancy Mills of Cosmopolitan, “I wanted the real thing, life, art.” “I thought that the next thing after godliness was creative expression.”
Perseverance paid off. He later became well-known after landing parts in hit television series and motion pictures. When he found an equally gifted actress, his personal life took a wonderful turn as he gained notoriety.
They hit it off right away, were married, and went on to become one of Hollywood’s most popular couples. However, in contrast to many other celebrities, the couple want a more straightforward, grounded life rather than the usual sparkle and glamour.
They purchased a farm together, enjoying the allure of a rural, independent way of life. These days, the couple spends much of their time caring for their animals, gardening, and eating fresh produce straight from the farm.
During interviews, the actor frequently talks about his experiences on the farm and jokes about how ironic it is that he grew up wanting to be famous but ended up being happiest in the country.
In retrospect, the actor believes that his time in New York was crucial to his development. “I learned so much about resilience, creativity, and humility from that flophouse,” he said. “Even now, it’s a part of my story that keeps me grounded.”
