I’ve met him. He narrated a film directed by a friend of mine, and I was invited to observe the recording session. He arrived at the Manhattan recording studio alone, no entourage, assistant, or anything.
When we broke for lunch, four or five of us sat around with him over sandwiches. He was very reserved and shy. I got the impression that he was very aware that everyone around him was noticing everything about him – what he was wearing (chinos and a black polo shirt), what he said, what he was like – so they could tell everyone they knew all about it later. He realized that he was expected to be the center of attention, but seemed as though he really didn’t want the job.
He was most animated when the subject turned to planes. He liked talking about the planes he’s flown.
In short, he struck me as a nice, but shy, guy.
My friend the director told me a great story about how he got Harrison Ford to narrate his film. He had sent letters and called his agent and manager, but hadn’t gotten any response. He was talking to his sister, a NYC school teacher, and she asked how the film was going. He told her that he had been trying to get Ford, but thought he might have to go with someone else, since he hadn’t heard back.
His sister said, Would you like me to ask him for you? My friend did a double take, and said, How are you going to do that? She said, His kids go to my school, I see him several times a week.
So she did, and he agreed.
(Think I’m lying about meeting him? Here’s a picture I took of him and the director, Bayley Silleck.)