TCM's discussions of John Wayne lead one to realize that, truly, the man was not much different in life than he appeared on the screen... big, commanding, bibulous, brawny, ultra-patriotic.

I think other stars such as Greta Garbo and Katharine Hepburn were also very much in life the way they came across on the screen.

But there are some interesting exceptions... We all know the Joan Crawford story. It is said that Jennifer Aniston is considerably more "earthy" and uncensored than she ever comes across onscreen.

By universal report, Vincent Price was an exceptionally kind, thoughtful and lovable man in life, never the monsters he played onscreen.

Agnes Moorehead could be piquant and even shrewish on the big and small screens; in real life, she was tender and cherished by everyone who knew her. Also deeply devout in real-life (and not lesbian, as it has been claimed).

Dolores Hart played a sexually-enlighted and desirous girl in 1960's WHERE THE BOYS ARE... In real life, she became a nun.

Can you think of instances in which stars were very much whom they appeared to be onscreen? And remarkable exceptions to this rule?

Kathy Bates who played me in a movie came to visit this weekend. She is so exactly the same on and off screen. Very down to earth.

Jane, what movie was it???? [I'm guessing THE PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION?]

I adore Kathy Bates! I wonder how many of us have seen her excellent made-for-TV movie, MY SISTER'S KEEPER [2002], with Elizabeth Perkins? It was so touching to me, as the story seemed nearly pulled from my own immediate family's history...

It is called Ambulance Girl and it came out last year. It is available now on DVD and from Netflix. Kathy starred in it and directed it as well. She did a great job and I was very flattered.

WHAT a fabulous, thread . . .

Well, of course Miss Crawford, comes to mind. EVEN Bette Davis, admitted that although the two of them were entirely different creatures . . . JC was professional: on time, knew her lines, worked diligently with her director, kind to cast and crew. Crawford was devoted to her fans, and courteous beyond the extreme, according to some of those who met J.C., in public life. This was before alcohol consumed her completely, of course. But, oh! On screen . . . Miss Crawford fairly could writhe with vituperation. Need one recant, QUEEN BEE?? Tina Dahling states flat out, that this WAS her mother, at Crawford's worst. BTW: QB served as a tableau for a number of pivotal scenes, in MOMMIE DEAREST. Harriet Craig, in which Miss C. portrays a perfectionist wife, and pathological liar, was another movie that Tina Darling claims to have espoused her mother's least attractive character traits. Jekyll and Hyde?? Maybe . . .

Bette Davis was discussed in far less flattering terms, via those who knew her up close. Perhaps Miss D. really was related to some of her least endearing, film subjects.

Vivien Leigh was a high strung, neurotic; it has been written many times, that her impatient personality helped created the Scarlett O'Hara, that continues to enthrall audiences, today.

I've read some deeply unflattering comments about John Wayne, and Humphrey Bogart . . . am in the middle of LOVE IS NOTHING, right now . . . Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart had little use, for each other.

armanis, is it only me or if you look at your shoe picture doesn't look like a pink elephant leg is wearing it?

That's a pillow, peigan . . . but, who knows? Could be some stylish elephants who wore Jourdans . . . here's a new photo, for you.

that is a new shoe picture!!! I guess the elephants in Fantasia or where they hippos would have worn these.

Gosh, peigan . . . I never thought so . . . mercilessly, about Charles Jourdan shoes . . . my sister looked gorgeous in them . . . and she's far from a hippo.

I was just trying to think of a balletic hippo or elephant, did not mean your sister!!thems fighting words.

Deborah Kerr always played patrician, ice princesses or brittle ladies but swore to make a sailor blush!

Oh yes, PerfumeMe! And with Julie Andrews, ditto that!

Well, I've read that Bing Crosby was certainly not like the usually laid-back type characters that he usually portrayed (at least when it came to being a parent.) I don't think his boys had a very easy time of it with Bing for a father...

According to daughter Cheryl Crane, Lana Turner behaved toward Crane, very much the way that Constance MacKenzie behaved, toward Allison: protective, suspicious, afraid of scandal. In the meantime, what Lana wanted, Lana got . . . including John Stompanato.

Re: Jenifer Aniston. I had a brief encounter with her in the early 90's. When I worked in advertising, I used to go to the network upfronts in May. The networks give a presentation of their new fall line-up, followed by a party for the advertisers. They encourage the network stars to go to these; some do, some don't.

One year the party was held at Avery Fisher Hall, in the lobby and balconies. Some of the cast of Friends was there, including Aniston. She was not happy to be there -- she situated herself at a corner on the balcony, surrounded by her castmates and handlers. It was like she was trying to hide. Her vibe clearly said "back off." Now there's a pretty sophisticated crowd at this party -- it's not like they would mob her or tear her to pieces. Her behavior did not hurt the show, obviously. But I never forgot it.

Contrast this with Sherry Stringfield from ER, also there. She was in the crowd, having lots of one on one conversations, telling everybody how happy she was to be in a hit show. She impressed everyone.

In the TV world, the king of loved celebrities was Dennis Franz of NYPD Blue. He came to the party every single year, posed for pictures far into the night. The only year he missed was when he was on his honeymoon -- even then, he sent a video tape. A truly grounded celebrity. In the beginning, he had to be charming and sell the show because a lot of advertisers were wary of the nudity and language. But even after the show was a hit, he kept right on being charming.

I miss going to those parties -- though you rarely get to talk to the celebs, you can read a lot just by their body language and overall vibe.

oh I am so happy to hear that about Dennis Franz, I utterly adore him!!

Didn't I read somewhere that Vincent Price was a Nazi or Nazi sympathizer? That's villiany in a different way...but I am not sure if that one is true.

I did see a picture of him once, when he was younger and he was GAWGEOUS!!!

I do not think that is true about V Price, he did play a Nazi once in a movie.

Saw a biography of Vincent Price. His passion was painting, and he was very good at it. A real gentleman, as I recall. Don't remember any mention of Nazi's.

Jeff Chandler, who played a lot of macho roles in the 1950's, was "exposed" as a cross dresser in Esther William's biography.

Right! His favorites, were floral chiffons . . . Chandler was six foot four . . . I wonder where he found dresses, to fit . . . he wores heels, stockings, and wigs, too.

Wonder did big Jeff hang out at the same parties as Mr.Hoover????

I am surprised no one has mentioned Rock Hudson and the difference between his sexuality on and off screen yet.

Click to view attachmentHelg, you are so right! Mr. H. often played devil-may-care playboy types, as opposite Doris Day, in PILLOW TALK . . . or even 'family men,' as in GIANT . . . but in real life, Mr. H. had other interests.

Donna . . . it's rumored that Joan Crawford, dressed 'Mary,' the 'woman' that J. Edgar Hoover created, as his alter ego . . . this is how she got her prostitution arrest records, eliminated from police files. Also, J. Edgar is said to have gone 'easy' on the Kennedys, because they knew of his cross dressing, and had photos, to prove it. All of this may be folklore, of course . . . but I've read these proclomations, in a number of different sources. photo: something by YSL, for Mary, to wear . . . perhaps in a larger size.

In the same vein, that wussie Tom Cruise...all those Mission Impossibles, Top Gun, et al...and he's such a wienie boy in real life.

Tom Cruise is VERY short, susan . . . I think he's smaller than I am . . . perhaps, five foot five?? I can tell from his legs.

You, Mietros, have never humiliated yourself by jumping up and down on Oprah's couch...

Click to view attachment

I think Oprah may have been behind Julia Roberts' smarmy appearance, at the Tony Awards . . .

I remember a John Wayne interview when he was asked if he was like the characters he played...He said "No, they kill people!!" He was patriotic for sure and a real hero to many. Also very loyal. I remember when long time friend Ward Bond died in the middle of a contract with a very popular TV show (Wagon Train), John Wayne reportedly offered to complete the contract to help the family.

My sister is a celeb "groupie" and is always following them around. One in particular, gave me a giggle. She said that Melanie Griffith said to her friends that "I want a hot-"F-ing"-dog" in her cute high pitched voice. On her it sounded cute and disarming. Apparently she has a potty mouth.

I used to work at a resort and celebs are understandably put off by people who just want to know them because of their status. If I see a celeb, I usually avoid them to give them some privacy.

Oh, I was just thinking of Loretta Young, the quintessential "lady" with her impeccable gowns and grooming. Whirling through doors in her elegant manner, starring in classy films.

In real life, she ran off at age 17, had affairs with both Cary Grant and Clark Gable and had an illegitmate daughter by Gable. Quite the little fox, our lovely Loretta!

AAANNNDDD . . . Loretta ended up marrying Jean Louis . . . the man who designed many of those entrance makers, that she wore to such acclaim.

Humphrey Bogart played a tough guy but was a coward in real life, once hiding under a table in a nightclub when a patron wanted to prove he was tougher than Bogie. Bogie poked at him with a fork from under the table! I may have read that in Lauren Bacall's autobiography.

I remember reading an interview with Roger Moore, who was embarrassed when he put down some money at a roulette table. The casino patrons all watched him lose -- something that would never have happened to James Bond. I feel a bit sorry for celebs who have an unrealistic reputation, like the James Bonds or "tough guys" like Bogart (or "pretty woman" Julia). People expect them to be just like their fictional characters and are inevitably disappointed.

I've read that Mr. Cruise-the-couch-jumper is around 5'9". I've looked at pics of him when he was dating Penelope Cruz (who is 5'6") and 5'9" is probably about right. In the pics I looked at Penelope was wearing high heels and she and Tom were about the same height. Still, Katie Holmes is supposed to be 5'8" and in every picture I've seen of them together she seems to be a bit taller than Tom. He's definitely on the shorter side for a man though. I remember interviews with him right after he did Risky Business and he seemed so down-to-earth and humble - a far cry from the big headed jerk he is now. I also heard on one of the entertainment shows that he requires people who work for him and those on the set who aren't major actors/directors/producers to call him "Mr." Cruise. GAG!!!

Charlie Chaplin is said to have been a monster in real life.

Rumor has it that Rosie O'Donnell, despite her pro-child, approachable image, is in actuality a raving beeyotch in real life.

I can imagine Ms. O'Donnell being a raving b*tch. Don't want to get into the whole gun control thing, but she was downright nasty to Tom Selleck when she attacked him on her show that day. She seems to only be tolerant of those who agree with and believe in the same things she does. I don't agree with her on many things and I don't like her.