Saturday, October 4, 2014

A Beast of a Life

Easy Street (The Hard Way) – Ron Perlman – (DaCapo Books)

The craggy visage giving the hard stare off the book’s cover is at once familiar yet somehow not; a quick glance at Ron Perlman’s IMDB listing demonstrates an almost obsessive need to work. The fact that a huge number of the entries are for Perlman’s rusty tin can, raspy, voice and a good number find his face hidden or altered under layers of disguise may explain why Perlman may be a mystery to many.

Perlman’s new autobiography Easy Street (The Hard Way) may be one of the most open, honest accounting of an actor’s life I have ever read. He at times seems to be opening a vein to pour out his trials, tribulations and self-doubts. At other points he writes with a laugh out loud sense of humor and the nearly absurd.


His intimate recounting of meeting Marlon Brando during the shooting of The Island of Dr. Moreau is revealing for it’s personal nature and yet somehow strikingly funny as he describes the initial interaction with the legend. While Perlman has molded an everyman career, he has managed to rub elbows and form relationships with some of the legends of the industry that he describes with a winning mix of awe and humor.

While Perlman describes in great detail his personal struggles both growing up and while working in Hollywood, he provides inspiration; yes it’s a bio, but it’s hard not to be inspired by his drive and determination.

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