Dean Stockwell was a good celebrity to meet. I’ve been curious about his career ever since I saw that he had starred as a young man in an episode of the original Twilight Zone (A Quality of Mercy). I had no idea at that point exactly what he went on to do. Eventually I learned. Actually by the time he was in the Twilight Zone, he was already somewhat a veteran of the silver screen, having begun his career years earlier as a boy of nine. Some of his early roles included Anchors Aweigh, Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, and Gentleman’s Agreement.
The role that probably gave him his biggest claim to fame didn’t come until the 1980’s when he starred as Al Calavicci in the popular sci-fi series Quantum Leap. He had his share of contemporary film roles too: Dune, Blue Velvet, Beverly Hills Cop II, The Langoliers, and Air Force One to name just a few.
My encounter with him at the Chiller Theatre Show on April 30, 2011, was rather short and sweet. I chose a portrait from his Quantum Leap period to have him sign. He remained rather terse and quiet while his handler did the bidding. Since he was somewhat of a legendary performer, I knew I’d be paying a bit extra and I shelled out the $30 for the signed picture, and was fortunately able to talk the handler into waiving the $10 photo op fee.
Although there wasn’t much to our encounter, meeting someone whose career had spanned such a wide gamut of performances over such a long span of time, I certainly am glad to have met Dean Stockwell.
This concludes the celebrity encounters of the Spring 2011 Chiller Theatre Show. Return to the original posting here…
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