In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Patch's Days Blog
Star Struck or Stars Truck
What do you do when an actor whom you’ve admired for years, and watched transfixed from the audience when he was on stage, who starred in Scarecrow, Serpico, Glengarry Glen Ross and the seminal masterpieces, The Godfather movies, is sitting 10 feet from you at the Polo Lounge? Well, it turns out, nothing.
In all my years in Los Angeles and involved in the “business,” I have only once approached an acting hero. It was in Westwood at a movie theater. I saw Peter O’Toole standing in the lobby on the second level. I waved at him and called out, “Mr. O’Toole, you are an inspiration to me.” He called back from high atop the staircase with a grand flourish, “Thank you, my boy!”
I have always been a bit reticent about approaching famous people in public. I was never interested in autographs, but it is a different thing to have been inspired by someone and feel a need to let them know that they have lifted you up and been an integral part of your artistic development. Though I do think it is acceptable to cross the line in that case, I have only acted on it that one time with Mr. O’Toole.
The first time I saw Jon Voight was at a Beverly Hills Café, where I was working as a waiter. It was Midnight Cowboy, and his performance in particular, that changed the way I thought about movies and I began to look at movies and acting in an entirely new way. Out of shyness, I said nothing, but after he left I sat in his seat to “soak up the creative vibes,” as I explained it to my fellow actor/waiters. Coincidentally, Mr. Voight became one of my mentors later in my career. He is a rare human being.
Now back to Al Pacino. In the '90s during a lull in my creative life I saw Mr. Pacino live, on stage in Salome and later that same week in Chinese Coffee. He was doing the two plays in repertoire. He played King Herod in Salome, and from the moment he emerged as Herod from a pit below the stage and howled her name I was transfixed. What was so inspiring to me was to see an actor of Pacino’s caliber, a movie star, have the courage to reinvigorate his passion for the work by getting on a stage in front of a live audience and exploring his art again. After the performance I stood that evening on my friend’s balcony overlooking Central Park and thought, “That is what I need to do — get back on stage and reinvigorate my creative spirit.”
So there was Mr. Pacino, enjoying his lunch with some friends. I said nothing. I recalled the experience and was again reminded of that time and the inspiration his performances had given me. That was enough for me. It never hurts to be inspired to work harder, to dig deeper, to plow through no matter what. No matter the arena. Days of our Lives is a soap. The writers and actors don’t have the luxury of time to languish in the work. We don’t have the luxury of doing three to six pages a day. We do 80 in a day. We work very fast, with virtually no real rehearsal. But work is work after all.
We have a new Stephanie in actress Shelley Hennig. She was Miss Teen USA. She hails from Louisiana. I'm sure you all have been online getting the lowdown on her. (Read the TVGuide.com news story on Shelley right here.) I can’t get over how well she has adapted already to such a high-pressure situation. She is a good actress who has worked for two years at a very good school in New York that emphasizes the Sanford Meisner technique… some of my favorite tools. Our first day was heavy. Shelley delivered in spades!
Speaking of good actors, the day players who recently played my fellow mental patients must be mentioned. So often these people are considered mere props in the scenes, but not these actors. They all came with character choices intact. Kudos to them. (See photos at stephennichols.net.) The pizza party was so much fun. Reminded me of the old Patch days.
Well, it’s back to work after a two-week spring break. It’s always tough getting back in the groove after time off, but I will think of Al and Jon and Mr. O’Toole and keep on truckin’.
Peace out!
The Patchman
P.S. To see the most hysterical screen-capture in Patch history, go to stephennichols.net. Note: I assure you — they’re not real, just the latest air pocket technology. Also, don't forget Mary Beth Evans and I will be at the Sportsmen's Lodge on June 3 for the annual Days weekend. For more information go to — you guessed it — stephennichols.net.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 6:29 PM
|
Great to have a new plog Stephen.
Good pics from the loony bin.
Hope you enjoyed your break.
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 6:50 PM
|
How delightful it was reading this latest plog of yours, Stephen. I love hearing about your experiences as a young actor & how other actors have inspired you through the years. What you said about being inspired by someone and feeling a need to let them know they have lifted you up.....while I'm not an actress, I feel YOU have inspired me very much in MY life, starting from when I was a young teen until now. Your work has lifted me up from some very bad places back when I was a kid and getting cruelly teased and emotionally abused. Your amazing acting and storyline on "Days" allowed me to have many joyous moments in-between all the rotten ones growing up. What you put into the Patch character was your whole heart & soul. Watching him evolve gave hope to people like me who felt they could never be happy. And I thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart. 
P.S. Absolutely LOVED the stuff with you and the day players!! And I'm looking forward to seeing Shelley's work (she has 2 more great teachers....you & Mary Beth) 
As for that boob shot....ROTFLMAO!!!
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 6:56 PM
|
Stephen,
Thanks for the blog. Hope you had a nice break. Can't wait to see Stephanie with her Mama and Papa!
Loved the pic of the air pocket and the caption!!
Can't wait to see you at the June Event!!
Colleen O'Connor
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 7:12 PM
|
Stephen,
Nice to hear about what inspired you.
You and MB do wonderful work given the time frame and the material; Bravo to you both. Very excited to see Shelley work with you both. Happy spring! See ya very soon; looking forward to meeting you.
Keeping it real,
Karen Weiss
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 7:17 PM
|
Hi stephen
I'm glad you saw the humor in that screencap I didn't include it when I uploaded them that day to the S&K site....but boy I busted a gut when I captured it!! Thanks for the plog..see you in Boston in August!
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 7:22 PM
|
Stephen, Thank you for the updated plog. I always look forward to them. But, I know when it's takes you awhile to post, that means you are working your tushie off, so, it's all good I enjoyed looking at the pics from the "looney bin". LOVE the air pocket one...
I am anxious to see Shelley onscreen after your and Mary Beth's wonderful comments about her. I was surprised to hear she is from Louisiana,like me. That is way cool
Love Ya Much,
Laurie Theriot
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 7:38 PM
|
Stephen,
Thank you for sharing your experiences on and off screen with your fans. We love hearing from you.
It's always interesting to hear who inspires those who have inspired me. We all need heroes, you are one of mine which gives me strength to be that for someone else.
We're all excited to see the new Stephanie. I've heard a lot of good things about her and feel she will take the opportunity to learn from you and Mary Beth.
Speaking of MB, please congratulate her on her new gig as a judge on "I Wanna Be A Soap Star". Lord knows the woman needs something to do Your fans at steveandkayla.com are very excited to see her on that show.
Take care of you.
Be happy.
MJ
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 7:44 PM
|
Hi Stephen,
It's nice to hear about the actors who inspired you. So how many times have you seen The GodFather?
I thought the pizza party scenes were great as I told you in the fan club chat. I haven't laughed that much while watching Days in a long time! Looks like you really did have fun on the set too.
I can't wait to see the scenes with Steve and the new Stephanie. Maybe Stephanie can be the one to convince Steve that he can fight EJ. I am loving the story with Steve and I soo understand Steve trying to protect Kayla. I do not hold him accountable for anything that has happened at all. He is so scared that he will do whatever he has to, to protect Kayla! I love when Steve is so protective.
Yes, Steve is reminding me so much of the old Patch days. When he stood up for the patients it reminded me so much of when he stuck up for the homeless on the water front and made his Patch's One-Eyed Chili at the Cheatin Heart. It's great! I will keep watching and will keep the faith in Steve.
Take Care,
Sara
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 8:20 PM
|
Stephen:
Nice to hear about some of the folks who inspired you. I'm glad you didn't interupt Pacino as I am certain you know, from your own experience, that sometimes that is intrusive. So good form, man, and hence you become more of an inspiration to me in graciousness and caring.
Margie in Florida
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 8:32 PM
|
Hello Mr. Nichols,
I wanted to comment that I can appreciate your hesitancy in approaching someone famous who you admire. I will be attending the fan event in June (the first time in my life I have ever done something like this). Since I know that I will probably not have the courage to meet with you and Mary Beth in person, I thought I might take this opportunity to write what I would say, if I had the courage to introduce myself.
I want to, first and foremost, thank you for your dedication to your craft, and to the character of Steve Johnson, in particular. Your breathtaking protrayal of this multi-layered character never ceases to amaze me. You and Mary Beth have brought me many hours of enjoyment through your work. It has also given me the chance to meet many like-minded friends who are also fans on steveandkayla.com. I want to thank you for bringing us all together in celebration of your amazing talent and ability. Thank you for all that you do
Leewoss
(Sheree)
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 9:44 PM
|
|
Since you are reticent to do so?
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 9:50 PM
|
I have been a huge fan of yours and MB's from the beginning. I will be at the event in June and it is really good to know that you can identify with the jitters I know I will have meeting the two of you. I think it is going to feel like..."OK you have 20 seconds to say something that won't make you sound like an idiot." Just thinking about it makes my palms sweat. Anyway, I love your work, I love the plog, I love your humor and your humanity. I'll see you in June (I'll be the one with the sweaty palms).
Deb
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 10:09 PM
|
hi!
pacino! what comes to mind right now is angels in america. he was excellent in that film. actually, everyone was great in that film.
and speaking of great, your recent scenes in the mental hospital were really really really great. the scenes with the patients reminds me a lot of steve interacting with the patients at the riverfront emergency center from the 80s.
and i love the scenes with steve and dr. kraft. you guys are amazing together. i would love to see her stick around for a long while.
keep on truckin? i've become a bit of a dead-head lately. not so much in the tie-dye, illicit drug use way, but in the 'these guys really know a lot about american blues, country, and bluegrass history' way.
best of luck in your upcoming scenes and keep truckin .
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 10:14 PM
|
Great Plog Stephen. I can't wait to see your scenes with Shelley (new Stephanie). I really enjoyed reading about you acting inspirations. I'm not an actor, but many of them inspire me in their everyday lives.
Keep up the good work and I will see you and MB in June.
Anita
|
|
Apr 18, 2007 10:46 PM
|
|
|
