Not being much a comic book fan, I have never seen the 1994 film version of The Fantastic Four. In fact, almost no one had. It was originally created simply to secure the rights of the series and was apparently (unbeknownst to director Roger Corman and the cast) never intended to be released. Consequently, I was not much interested in meeting or getting autographs from the three principle actors who were present at The Hollywood Show on April 2, 2011. My friend Bob, however, was. He was hoping to obtain a signed photo of the gang to put on the walls of his high school (as he often does with actors with whom the students might relate). They were all kind enough to agree, and then also got together to pose for a picture with him. In a similar fashion that I did with the Billy Jack stars, I then handed the camera off to him and jumped into a photo as well.
Since I had gotten into a picture with them, I did do a bit of research to find out if the celebrities had been in anything else that I knew. Rebecca Staab, who had portrayed Sue Storm – aka the Invisible Woman – has had quite a lucrative career appearing in some of my favorite shows such as Seinfeld, Cheers, The Wonder Years, and Columbo. She’s still out there today, appearing in some of TV’s top shows.
Alex Hyde-White, who had been Dr. Reed Richards – aka Mr. Fantastic – likewise made some appearances in shows I like, namely as Scooter Drake in three episodes of Newhart. He can also be seen in such TV shows and films as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Matlock, Ally McBeal, and The West Wing.
And finally, there’s Carl Ciarfalio, who appeared inside the rocky disgusting costume of The Thing. He apparently isn’t quite big enough to merit a Wikipedia entry of his own, but he has had quite a lucrative career as an actor and stuntman – appearing in such works as The Golden Girls, Sledge Hammer!, Married With Children, Far and Away, and Natural Born Killers.
But mostly these fantastic individuals were fantastic because they let me get a free photo with them. Nice folks, these fantastic three.
Just for the record, the fourth member of quartet, Michael Bailey Smith, was not present at the show.
Celebrities of the Spring 2011 Hollywood Show will continue…
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