My Mother Was Nuts

This book is written by the REAL & AUTHENTIC woman herself. I LOVE the way this book is written in its fashion - it would be like her reading the story to you. Beginning w/ her childhood in the Bronx, she has relied on the lessons that have gotten her to where she is. From actress, director & sister, here is the TRUE story of hilariously Penny Marshall.

As an adult today, Penny is still the same as she was as a kid. She attends sporting events, wastes time playing on her IPAD, watching movies and talking on her phone. Still a kid at heart. Penny has never wanted to grow up and stop playing. Try hard, play by the rules, help your friends, don't go crazy & fun. Penny's mom was well known across the Bronx as the owner, worker & operator of the Majorie Marshall Dance School. Penny was the OPPOSITE of everyone else. She was extremely skinny, a BAD overbite and she thought telling the truth was overrated. Penny's parents met in college at NYU. Penny's mom thought Tony Marshall was a clever, handsome, athletic writer & cartoonist.  She was someone who possessed the smarts & skills to be a good provider. She wanted him to make programs for the recitals she choreographed. They married in 1932. After her mom's death, Penny found notes that were typed by mom concerning her parents' marriage that was news for her.

Life changed in 1934, Penny's older brother, Garry, was born. In 1938, their sister, Ronny, was born. Their dad had his own advertising business, The Marshall Organization. Their mom taught ALL types of dance to neighborhood kids. They originally wanted 2 kids. The calm ended early when in 1943, Penny's mom found out she was pregnant again. On Friday 10-15-1943, the only day that she was a morning person. Upon Penny's birth, her dad drew a New Yorker style cartoon announcing the birth of Carole PENNY Marshall. Everyone called her Penny. Carole was after their mom's FAVORITE actress, Carole Lombard. Penny could have a soft side. When she loved something, she put her heart into it. Her favorite shows as a kid were 'The Lone Ranger' & 'Charlie Chan' on Saturdays. The Marshall family really looked forward to variety shows. Penny's parents, her mom, didn't hide her DISGUST from her dad.

When she was a kid, Penny would play w/ the other kids in the apartment building. There was always that one elderly neighbor who threatens to nark them out. They were ALWAYS outside playing unless bad weather, that didn't stop the fun inside. They created their own fun. (If you ask me, that is something that is SORELY missing in today's kids.) Penny would have liked to be be w/ her siblings, they were older than her and she barely knew them. Penny never paid attention to boundaries or skin color. They weren't conformed to any specific religions. Garry conformed to one, Ronny was another and Penny conformed to different. Identity wasn't an issue. Penny's hometown in the Bronx was the center of her universe: It's a part of who she is. Penny's mother would have been ecstatic if she had been following her footsteps and become a dancer. Her mom tried her best to mold her into one. Penny debuted in her first recital at age 4. By age 8, she HATED every minute of it being hour long classes. The other girls loved her mom. Not Penny. She wanted to give her mom a scare.

In 1952, Penny's mom met June Taylor, choreographer for 'The Jackie Gleason Show' and later received a callback for a tryout. The audition went flawlessly and a couple of weeks later got the job. Whatever her mom lacked as a homemaker, she made up for as a producer, choreographer, road & stage manager. She would have her students perform when & wherever needed. They performed ANYWHERE from an army hospital, the Brooklyn Navy yard, an insane asylum, Fort Dix, Fort Jay & Fort Hamilton. They eventually played Madison Square Garden in the finals, opening for Pat Boone, but ultimately lost. Even though she danced this way through high school, Penny never seen herself as an entertainer. She may not have known it, but all of that torturous dancing from her mom would eventually pay off.

It became/was a Marshall family tradition spending their summers at camp. Penny's mom was the dance counselor at Camp Genova, so Penny went to camp every summer. Before camp, their mother would close the ballroom, load up the family car and Garry, Ronny, Penny & their mom would take a road trip. At age 8, Penny could meld like a 70-year-old playing canasta. Penny loved whatever summer camp she went to. This was Penny's getaway. Garry began at Northwestern University. Before leaving, he told his siblings, they could stick together in life. They are the ones to understand each other. Penny didn't know it then, but Garry was right.

Penny was a typical teenager. She was a member of the Elvis Presley Fan Club, still owning her membership card and thought constantly about boys. The Marshall Plan referred to Penny's interest in getting boys to pay attention to her. She tried to ship school as often as she could. After school ended, Penny would meet up w/ friends and ask about the day. Their world revolved around weekly dances at school. After the news of their parents divorce, Penny stole some items she didn't need and headed for the door thinking she was sick. She was automatically caught and was a smart-ass to the officer. She and her friends went to night court and received probation. Penny was great at studying chemistry, calculus & physics w/ the smart kids. The periodic table, elements, charts & graphs. Penny was too social for her own good. She wasn't trading the Parkway for the library. After seeing her sisters choices after college, Penny thought "why give a sit about grades?" From choosing books or boys, Penny chose boys. She never doubted she would go to college, Penny decided where to go w/ a C average. She settled on the University Of New Mexico because they accepted anyone from out of state.

Penny dated someone from Texas that scared her w/ his politeness. She was an outsider and was ignorant of ALOT of the biases that Southern boys possessed. She was suggested not to sit w/ different people. "It wasn't cool w/ Texas boys." Screw that. Penny was great at crossing boundaries. At the end of her freshman year, Penny met Mickey Henry. You couldn't find two more different people. When summer came, Penny was a camp counselor and Mickey worked in construction, keeping in touch through letters and conversations. One weekend in the season Mickey didn't make the travel team and sunk into a depression. They went out the next night and in the process of consoling him, they got romantic in his car. Penny KNEW she was pregnant later on and a few days later, tests confirmed it.

Penny and Tracy

Penny KNEW deep down that she wasn't ready to get married and she probably didn't want to spend the rest of her life w/ Mickey. But Mickey assured they would get through this together. They were married on 11-22-1963. The same day that Kennedy was assassinated. After the cake and Kool-Aid, Mickey & Penny went to a motel and watched Kennedy's funeral on LIVE tv! That's how they spend their honeymoon. Wanting to contribute to the home, Penny dropped out of school and signed up for office temp work as a Kelly Girl, but she had to learn to drive first. In June, Penny gained 50LBS and their daughter, Tracey, was due in early June and couldn't wait.

When it came labor time, Penny's mom was w/ her. She couldn't remember shit. They were mute when her water broke. Labor went on for at least 24 hours. The final 6 hours were hard labor. On 7-6-1964, Penny gave birth to a 7LB baby girl, Tracy Lee Henry. In 1965, Penny's New Year resolution was to find work. She made a list of dance schools and looked for a job. She was hired at The Litka School Of Music.

After Mickey had sent flowers to an old girlfriend, Penny wasn't mad, she KNEW they were just two people trying to do the right thing under circumstances they weren't yet prepared for. One day a man from The Albuquerque Civic Opera came into The Litka School Of Music asking for Penny wanting her to choreograph their production. She turned him down but took up the offer to be in it. She was soon hired to be an assistant for an energetic actor w/ a big voice. She then auditioned for a role in his play that he asked her to do. The theater motivated Penny & Mickey to get divorced. They were already living separate lives. Somehow Mickey's mother & grandmother took care of Tracy and took Penny & Mickey to court for custody. They (Penny & Mickey) never ACTUALLY went to court, but Mickey's mom & grandmother took care of Tracy. They were just young and needed to start over.

After the production, Penny decided to move to LA. When she got there, Garry was married and had a good life. He offered to help Penny w/ what she wanted to do. She didn't know. Garry had already written w/ a partner for 'The Danny Thomas Show', 'The Lucy Show' & 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'. When Penny was telling her brother what she had already done performing, he seen a light in her eyes. He suggested she try acting in movies & TV. Garry took care of his sister just as an older brother should. He pointed her in the RIGHT path/direction.

Penny began taking acting classes. She may have had to be patient because older age, perky girls like Sally Field & Sally Valentine were IT! Penny wasn't perky. Taking jobs that pay the rent including sorting W-2 and W-4's at a hospital. Garry put her on a job on the movie 'How Sweet It Is!'. Penny had a one-line in the series 'That Girl'. She quit temping and took acting and auditions REAL. It did help that she had Garry, he opened doors for Penny, but it would be up to her to walk through the them. They made her a few extras w/ one-liners. Penny landed her first role ON HER OWN in a new series called 'Then Came Bronson'.

Because of having a child, Penny was largely unaffected by the decade's changes until 1969. Even though she didn't, that was the year Penny's mother told Ronny that Penny knew Charles Manson. Out of hundreds of roommates she had, one of them was Aryln Dunetz, who crashed w/ Penny until she went off w/ a guy in a van. The next time Penny heard from her, she changed her last name to Phoenix, lived on a commune and had 7 kids; River, Rain & Leaf/ Joaquin., whom she succeeded getting into acting. Around this time, Penny';s family was suffering financial losses. Her dad was losing his best accounts and her mom's dance school was declining. Garry had helped the family once they moved to L.A. Their mom did take care of Garry's children after the move, she also took care of Tracey, who was 5. Tracey spent summers w/ her mom. She was better off w/ her dad, who was remarried w/ a more stable home.

When Penny & Rob Reiner were kids, they lived across the street from each other in the Bronx. His father, Carl Reiner, was the most famous person in their neighborhood. Penny knew Rob from hanging out w/ comedy people. The name Reiner stood out in Hollywood. Penny & Rob were instant friends. Penny liked Rob because he wore pajamas and didn't do drugs. He wanted to write and direct. His closest friends were his high school buddies: Albert Brooks & Richard Dreyfuss. Somehow Penny's relationship w/ Rob was put on hold because Rob had a nervous breakdown. The pressure to succeed was mounting on him. When recovering, Penny & Rob hung out again. She made herself available to him.

Penny was still working. She was in an episode of 'Love American Style'. Rob & Penny's relationship progressed until Tracy visited. They hadn't slept together and "the last thing Rob needed was a kid." It surprised Penny. Rob would make an excuse to get away. She made a point to break up w/ him and expressed it. At that point, he went into Penny's apartment w/ NO ailments. The next morning, Rob said their relationship became more serious. They were together from then on.

Plans for a wedding were put on hold because Rob was cast as Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law Mike Stivic on 'All In The Family'. Rob NEVER thought the show would go past the 13 week hiatus. The first break Rob had in his schedule was around April 10TH. They set the date. A month after they were married, 'All In The Family' won several Emmys. Penny was EXTREMELY supportive of Rob's growing success on the show. Her own success trickled along. Penny's BIG break came when Garry gave her a recurring role on 'The Odd Couple' as Oscar Madison's secretary, Myrna Turner. Jack Klugman took Penny under his wing. To calm her nerves before a scene, Penny would take a deep breath & say the dirtiest words she could put together. Then walk through the door and do the scene. After Penny and Rob were settled, Tracey joined them. Mickey moved to Colorado and had another daughter. Tracey joined a busy household. Everyone was working. Success changed some people. They aged. As a stable couple, Rob & Penny's house became the hangout for GREAT comedians: Billy Crystal, Charles Grodin and more. It was mostly a guys only atmosphere.

When Paramount refused to give her a $100.00 raise on 'The Odd Couple', Penny asked Garry what to do? Since he started on 'Happy Days', he told Penny that one day she'll get even. After appearing on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', creators muddled over creating a spin-off w/ Penny and Mary's other neighbor, Sally Jo, who was played by Mary Kay Place. But they didn't have the right chemistry. In the meantime, 'Happy Days' was a smash for Garry. Does ANYONE remember the ICONIC series from the 70s, 80s & 90s, Saturday Night Live? It was a TRUE television event in a history's time period. George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Curtin & Gilda Radnor. They were brilliant, fearless & F'N funny. Penny tells some HILARIOUS behind the scenes stories from the ICONIC series.

In November 1975, Penny was cast in a 'Happy Days' episode. She didn't expect anything to come of it. Garry asked her to do it. He had already cast Cindy Williams. After talking to Cindy, they both said "Yes!". Their premiere episode of their characters was 'A Date W/ Fonzie'. Cindy was Shirley Feeney and Penny was Laverne DeFazio. The network president of ABC, Fred Silverman, asked Garry for any spin-off ideas. Fred liked Garry's pitch. Everything moved fast and it was immediately ordered and put on the mid-season schedule. Everyone was in a panic. Cindy wasn't sure she wanted to do TV, afraid it would sidetrack her film career. Penny really couldn't blame Cindy for wanting to be a movie star. Everyone except Cindy knew that they had something special w/ Laverne & Shirley. Cindy didn't have to give up much. After auditioning someone else, Cindy was Shirley Feeney.

Cindy told a TV Guide reporter that she was openly worried that Penny would get preferential treatment because of the show being a family business w/ the Marshall's working on the show. NONE OF IT got in the way of production. If you knew Garry somewhere in life, his loyalty put you in the business. It was Penny who brought in Michael McKean. Laverne & Shirley premiered on Tuesday January 27TH. They woke up the next day after w/ the No. 1 show in the country. The feat was GREAT for her career, but not so much for her marriage to Rob. Laverne & Shirley knocked Rob's 'All In The Family' out of first place. The opening credit song for the show came from Penny's childhood. Something they always did: drew from their own childhoods. The only thing Penny & Cindy wanted was to raise the bar w/ comedy thanks to the first season. Cindy wanted to raise whatever issues or message crusades she had that week into the script. So the writers didn't want her either. Penny wasn't treated better because of family connections, if anything, she was treated worse. Cindy felt that Penny was getting all of the "comedy" on the show which stirred up drama backstage. Thanks to a  Laverne & Shirley Sing album tour, the show and their characters were a MASSIVE HIT and EVERYONE LOVED THEM! They were big w/ cops. Cindy & Penny couldn't help themselves. At times, acting like they were 12. It was INSANE. Their lives were never the same again.

Sometimes Penny would hear a tone in Tracey's voice that reminded Penny of the way she spoke to her own mother. It made Penny cringe. It really hurt Penny when Tracey would bring kids home who in the end were only her friends because they wanted to see Penny & Rob. Garry told his sister that she could give someone a life, meaning she could give someone a break in showbiz. Penny chose Paula Roth, the daughter of Penny's mother's partner in dance. She did the same thing for a friend's brother. It was necessary to Pay It Forward if you wanted to stay REAL in this business.

Penny & Carrie

At the end of Rob's time in 'All In The Family', he tried a variety of different series'. He struggled and second guessed himself into a place of self loathing. Penny knew they had problems when she got out of bed and he asked where she was going. She told him she had a show to do. He was festering about the little things. Egos were fragile and they were out of sync. He was ambitious and she didn't really give a shit. Penny was working on a film and learned ALOT of camera work from famed director, Steven Spielberg. Penny was endlessly fascinated. Back in New York, Lorne Michaels arranged for Penny to Carrie Fisher. Lorne was pals w/ Carrie's boyfriend at the time, Paul Simon. They have been best friends ever since. She was a one-woman show 35 years before she did one. Penny was glad to have Carrie at a time when she was losing Rob. They (Rob & Penny) took a stab at normalcy. Opening their doors to famous friends old & new. Nothing helped their marriage and working on a TV movie didn't help either. 

New York was Penny's playground. She wanted to play. Rob was interested in making movies while Penny wanted to have fun w/ friends that she missed out on as a young mother. The time had come that Penny & Rob just weren't making each other happy anymore. They were split in 1979. They stayed together for another 6 months because Richard Dreyfuss, who was staying in their guesthouse, couldn't handle their breakup. As time went on, thing were harder. Penny fell apart and was having a breakdown during the fifth season of Laverne & Shirley. All of a sudden she went blind. With Cindy rushing Penny from one spot to another, she managed to make it through. But a few nights later, Penny was ready to fall apart. But it was her best friend, and one of my personal favorites, actress Carrie Fisher, who was truly there for Penny. Carrie was there for her through the rough patches. Penny talks about different first experiences, for both of them, that they both shared. Penny talks about fun times w/ Carrie, who was w/ Paul Simon and Penny was dating Art Garkfunkel. (Can you say strenuous when they were all together?) 


Penny's FIRST time directing came in season 5. She didn't think it was a big deal. She knew what she was doing. This was such an EXCITING time at Paramount. Besides Laverne & Shirley, Paramount also housed these CLASSIC favorites: Happy Days, Bosom Buddies, Mork & Mindy & Taxi, during different trips when Laverne & Shirley wasn't filming, Penny always liked hanging out w/ just one of the guys, just like at summer camp. 

John Belushi (1949-1982)

She was devastated at the loss of a REAL good friend, ICON John Belushi. The following days & nights were a blur. Tracy kept an eye on her mom while talking w/ friends, piecing together what happened and why? (Reading this book, it seemed to me and made me feel like John's death was involuntary manslaughter.) 

The only relationship Penny ever seen Cindy fall hard & fast for was Bill Hudson. Bill had previously been w/ Goldie Hawn and produced 2 children w/ her, Oliver & Kate. Bill was becoming a GIANT PAIN IN THE ASS. He was acting as Cindy's manager and had a list of DEMANDS. He wanted credit and Cindy deferred to him. He wouldn't let Cindy talk to anyone. Everything became a legal mess. Penny went to the studio president and asked for Cindy's share of the profits if she/Penny was going to share the show Laverne AND Shirley alone. The studio agreed. Even after going back to work, the show was a mess. Cindy's departure from the show really hurt, depressed & angered Penny, as it did to her Laverne character. Even w/ all of the legalities and finishing the show on her own, the memories after 8 seasons were good and positive. Penny was proud. In the end, Laverne & Shirley would always be best friends.

Debra Winger

When Penny describes the decline & demise of her mom in late 1983, she explains the logic behind this book's title 'My Mother Was Nuts'. While spending a week or so in London, Penny decided to quit smoking. Even though she didn't work on it, Penny sat w/ actress Debra Winger after the Oscars, that were dominated by 'Terms Of Endearment'. It was Debra that suggested that Penny try directing. Penny's first job was a play called Eden Count w/ Ellen Barkin and Ben Masters. Penny liked hanging out at the theater. She was excited to get in front of an audience. In the meantime, Penny realizing she was pregnant again. She talked w/ everyone and weighed a HEAVY heart. After the play's complete run, Penny had an abortion and it became the one thing that Penny has regretted the most.


It was while working on the film 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' that Penny learned the true art of film-making. Penny, being a director, was different. She asked for help and was open to suggestions. One thing that bothered Penny on-set was how SLOW things moved in creating the film. One of the smartest things Penny did was call everyone she knew and asked if they wanted to be in a movie, that's including her daughter, Tracy, as the boss' assistant. In October after the release of the movie, it opened to mixed reviews. Penny had come onto a movie at the last minute w/ NO previous experience and finished the film. It was her FIRST finish w/ someone else's beginning. What do you expect?

Penny's next script was for a film called 'Big'. She read the script and liked the story. No one else really wanted to make this film. Because of what happened w/ 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', Penny wanted to get this one right. She went right to box-office stars. They all passed. Penny suggested Robert DeNiro for the film and he agreed. The studio DID NOT want DeNiro for the film and tried to low-ball him w/ pay. Penny completely understood why he couldn't do the film. Both Tom Hanks and Jeff Bridges wanted to be in 'Big'. Penny went w/ her gut and waited for Tom, who was busy w/ another film. When Tom was finally available, Penny heard from Robert DeNiro again. He changed his mind and wanted to do the film.She told him the position was filled. Penny & Tom developed their own shorthand language.She would just give him a word or a gesture and he knew what it meant One of the 2 days they shot inside the  ICONIC LANDMARK F.A.O. Schwarz featuring the MEMORABLE Keyboard piano keys. Penny tried out the sequences first. The end of the film w/ such emotion in it is what Penny truly wanted. When 'Big' OFFICIALLY finished, all Penny wanted to do was get the Fuck away. When she returned from her trip/getaway, Garry told her that 'Big' surpassed & reached $100 Million. Making her the first woman to reach that magical milestone.

REAL Dr. Oliver Sacks

After the success from 'Big', someone gave Penny a documentary on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Fox Studios suggested that it could be a made-for-TV-movie. After watching the documentary, Penny thought it would be worthy of a feature film. While waiting from writers she trusted, Penny turned her attention to 'Awakenings'. A script based on a 1973 memoir by Dr. Oliver Sacks, a young British neurologist working in the Bronx, who used the drug L-Dopa to wake up patients who had been catatonic for decades. People were already attached to the project but it was dead and going nowhere.The studio wanted it to be a love story, but Penny seen it as a medical mystery.

Penny immediately thought of Robert DeNiro for the role of Dr. Sacks. She thought she owed him because of the validity on 'Big'. Penny called upon the female president of Colombia Pictures and met w/ her. The president excused herself from the situation and told Penny to follow her. In private, she warned Penny "not to trust any of these guys.They will screw her over." Penny offered the job to the president who agreed to do it. After the green-light for the film, Penny went straight for Robin Williams, whom she had known for a long time since 'Mork & Mindy'. Penny did her research on Robin before casting him. After a meeting to get everyone together, Penny KNEW she had walked out w/ her 2 leads in place, Robin & Robert. Penny eventually got w/ the REAL Dr. Oliver Sacks. She promised Oliver to be available whenever needed.

Penny tried her hardest to make the movie as AUTHENTIC as possible. She tried to utilize actual people dealing w/ diseases. During the movie shoot, Sony bought the studio. But it worked out better for them in the end. It had a positive message and Penny was pleased when she seen it.

After 'Awakenings', the bosses at Sony offered Penny a production deal. If she signed w/ them, she would be allowed to do 'A League Of Their Own'. She had already made up her mind and asked Tracy if she wanted to play "Betty Spaghetti" Horn. She did. The only requirement that Penny had for casting the movie was: they had to be able to play baseball. Some of the A.A.G.P.B.L. women who lived locally to them judged whomever tried out as well as other experts. Different actresses wanted to play in the movie but couldn't: Marisa Tomei, Demi Moore, Sean Young & Debra Winger. All for various reasons.

Thanks to Debra, Penny cast Lori Petty as her sister, Kit. Tom Hanks asked for the role of Jimmy Dugan, who was based on slugger Jimmie Foxx. After going to Madonna and met w/ her, she was in. That pissed off Debra Winger. She told Penny that she/Penny "was making an Elvis movie". Debra dropped out of the film. Goodbye Debra. Hello Madonna. Rosie & Madonna were instructed to help each other differently on-set and a friendship was built from there. Geena Davis slipped into the lead and was a natural. They had their Dottie (Hinson). This was Megan Cavanagah's first film. She was originally waitressing at a '50s-style hamburger joint.

Penny made the film into a family affair. Aside from Tracy, she had Garry playing the team's owner, Walter Harvey, her niece Penny Lee in the editing room and her other niece, Wendy, was a productions assistant in charge of where to be on-set. Like Garry, Penny cast family out of loyalty. As time went on, Penny felt more like a coach than a director. Penny was a stickler for authenticity. The scene in the film where Jon Lovitz drops Dottie & Kit off at tryouts was actually ad-libs by Jon with his dialogue. (For those of you that have seen this film, his line involved "shower, shave . . . on my way") To save time, Penny spoke w/ other directors that had done baseball films before. After finishing the train scenes in Illinois, they moved to shoot field scenes in Evansville, Indiana. EVERYONE in the film and their lines were ENTIRELY full of riches. For the ACTUAL reunion w/ the AAGPBL players, there were a few actresses, but Penny used REAL veterans from the game. They were why the film was made. Their spirit was felt and they/the cast heard about the REAL fun they TRULY had from the real players.

In June 1992, the film opened to positive reviews. It eventually reached $100 Million. Penny's second film to reach that milestone. Steven Speilberg was intrigued when Penny told him she used the real women. In the end, the movie didn't belong to Penny . . . . it belonged to the women who played the game.

The REAL A.A.G.P.B.L.

At the end of 'A League Of Their Own', Tracy revealed that she was pregnant and engaged. Penny tried to do what she could in preparation. Even though there was Dan, Tracy's fiance, and Mickey, Tracy's dad, Penny was the one that stepped into action and held Tracy down. Tracy had a home birth w/ a midwife. She had a baby boy they named Spencer. Two weeks later, Penny celebrated her 50TH birthday. After fixing up a house for Tracy in LA, Tracy and her fiance split up. In early 1993, Penny tried to develop different projects but they were never picked up by a studio. One day Penny was sent the manuscript for 'Renaissance Man', which was based on the TRUE story of Bill Rago. Penny didn't think it was a blockbuster, but she liked the message it had. When Danny Devito signed on for the project, he warned her she would have to add extra wood. That was because Danny is short and she had to put planks of wood under him to raise him up. After noticing a model at a Calvin Klein tribute and the crowd going nuts, Penny told the assistant to bring him in. She met him in New York. After an hour, model and rapping pop star "Marky Mark" walked in w/ his first movie role.

Penny wanted Tupac Shakur to play Hobbs. He auditioned and was very good. The issue was that he didn't want to rap on-screen, which was what the character called for. Penny maintains a friendship w/ Mark ever since. Mark credits Penny for getting him out of underwear and the Funky Bunch. The reviews from the film seemed positive. During promotion for the film, Garry left word for his sister that their father suffered a stroke.

One night Penny went w/ a friend to 3 events. She had a sip or 2 of a drink. That was it. The next morning, Penny woke up feeling stiffness in her left arm. It didn't hurt as much as it did weird. Soon security and paramedics rushed in. Even w/ feeling better, she still went to the hospital. Penny was feeling strong & feisty. She had to do the 24hr routine in the hospital. Despite morning reports the next day, it was NOT A HEART ATTACK. She just had to stop and appreciate her good fortune. Disney went to Penny w/ 'The Preacher's Wife', the remake from 1947's 'The Bishop's Wife'. Penny met w/ Loretta Young, the only cast member from the film still alive.

Kmart had come to Penny and said they wanted Rosie O'Donnell to do a series of commercials for them. Rosie would do them ONLY if Penny did them w/ her. They got paid ALOT of money and became best friends. Penny does tell fascinating tales of behind-the-scene stories during the shooting of the film. Despite reports, Penny truly didn't have any problems w/ Whitney Houston while making the film 'The Preacher's Wife'. What Penny did see from Whitney was: GREATNESS. The only trouble throughout the film was finding the PERFECT music for the film.

When the movie OFFICIALLY opened in February 1997, Penny had no complaints. She also talks about her love of basketball games. After a championship game, Penny took Leonardo Dicaprio into the locker room. She eventually heard word that Cindy Williams had split from Bill after 10 years and 2 kids. Penny was eager to reconnect w/ her/Cindy. She still considered Cindy a friend. Reconnecting after 15 years later.

The next film project for Penny came after getting ahold of film rights to Beverly Donofrio's memoir 'Riding In Cars With Boys'. The same person that actually got the film rights also suggested Drew Barrymore for the lead. Penny hired the late Brittany Murphy to play Beverly's best friend. She added Sara Gilbert and was ready to work. Things had to be put on hold waiting for the film 'Charlie's Angels' to wrap. Prior to this, the film's lead was already promised to Drew.

Penny brought in James Woods, who played Beverly's father, but he was on another film, so they had to wait. The script drove Penny crazy. EVERYTHING on that film was a mess. Brittany Murphy was a real trooper. She/Brittany worked through anything, including being sick as a dog at the scene when Jason falls in the pool. If it was asked, Brittany did it. Drew required more patience & finesse. People in production always wanted to focus on Drew in the film. All Drew. All the time. After different screenings and was ready to open, 911 happened.

Penny wanted to premiere in New York to bring positivity to the city, but others said no and Penny took it personally. During this time, Penny and Carrie celebrated their birthdays, the last of their joint parties after doing them for 20 years. It was habit and no different when Penny made plans to be out of the country when the film opened. Penny went to any event, to Ground Zero and listened to stories from firemen. She did ALOT of hugging and responding. She wanted to show it was safe in New York and went nonstop. Penny would have flashes of her mother and the other kids from her mom's dance studio. Penny felt like everyone should know what it was like to be in New York. Everyone was doing their part and she was doing hers. For the next 8 years, Penny devoted her time to charities and sports. Charity work agreed w/ her. She supported food banks and inner city kids. After getting so much, it just felt good to Penny to give back.

After more than a decade making films, Penny slowed down. She was a fixture at basketball games. In 2004, Tracy met and married Matthew Conlan. A year later in 2006, Tracy had a cutie of a daughter named Viva.

At a basketball game, someone asked Penny "if she ever thought she would be where she is?" Before answering, she thought back on her life, from back in Albuquerque; pregnant, scared and married to Mickey. Everything she thought was impossible, even after the move to Hollywood, giving show business a shot. The way things turn out . . . . you just never know!

In 2009, Penny walked off stage at an event in a daze. Garry was there and sensed something was wrong. She had assured him it was exhaustion and she would sleep on the plane. After reaching New York and sleeping at her apartment, Penny and a friend went to see the New York Giants. After trying to make her way to the owner's seats, that required ALOT of walking to the seats. After the first set of stairs, Penny had difficulty. Someone recognized her and got her a cart. Penny was feeling off and different. It scared her.

In a semi-fog, Penny was taken to a hospital the next morning. After an exam & testing in the ER, Penny wasn't fine. She was diagnosed w/ lung cancer and a brain tumor. With her friends there to be w/ her, Penny sent some out to get some White Castles., taking the cancer news for what it is. After everyone arrived and were flipping out at the news, Penny was calm. The room filled with people. She/Penny IS NOT a hospital person. For her brain surgery, Penny was put out w/ proprofol. She was given Tylenol and felt no pain. The incompetence in the hospital drove her NUTS! She was back in her apartment on the weekend. Radiation & chemo were as effective as surgery for the tumors, which eventually disappeared. The side effects to the treatments were weight gain. That embarrassed her. She called Carrie and asked for some Jenny Craig meals. Penny quit smoking. Within a day she was back at it and still does.

After going though what she did and being in remission: what now? Surprisingly being a grandmother of 3 is something Penny likes. She hasn't changed much over the years. Looking back, Penny seen that by sticking to the rules as a kid,  she has surpassed her mother's expectations as well as her own.

My Extraordinary Ordinary Life

This next book comes from someone who, with all of her ICONIC success as an actress, said and I quote "If I get hit by a truck tomorrow, I want to know I've returned my neighbor's cake pan." It proves just how TRUE and salt-of-the-Earth to her roots she really is. From her humbled start in Texas to her legacy in Hollywood, here is the story of the ONE and ONLY, Sissy Spacek.

When she was growing in East TX, behind her local high school stood a dump yard. While used, they, Sissy and her siblings, would find perfectly good items others had discarded that they could take home. It reminded me of 2 quotes that came to mind: 1. One persons trash is another persons treasure. And the second one is this: Just because it's free, doesn't mean it's no good. Originally born on Christmas Day 1949 and ruining the holiday for her older brothers, Ed & Robbie. her parents named her Mary Elizabeth, but her brothers called her "Sissy" and it stuck.

Sissy's values as a child were formed in a community where material possessions didn't count for much. Her dad, Edwin Spacek, came from a long line of Czech farmers. Her dad may have "acted" strict, but was truly a softy. The town she grew up in, Quitman, TX, didn't have much of anything but it had everything they needed. Sissy and her brothers were very close growing up. She wanted to be like them and idolized them. When she was 4 yrs old, Sissy learned of the double standard and HATED it. Sissy and her brothers were inseparable. Quitman didn't need a 911 center, you had your neighbor. One time when Sissy was accidentally left behind somewhere, she seen her mom's car pulling away and ran after it. She felt abandoned and called her mom, who was already home. When she told her mom that she was left, her mom said she was dramatic and  that she should be an actress. Things parents say to kids.

Sissy loved to be around and be in her mom's shadow. Her parents grew up during the Depression. Her dad had a modest living, but invested wisely. They would be given nice things at Christmas, but never extravagantly. Sissy's dad and his family originated from Granger, TX. People in Granger still pronounce her/their last name the traditional way: Spot-check. Sissy's dad changed it to pronouncing Spay-sik. It was easier to change it than correcting people. Sissy's Aunt Thelma looked like Vivien Leigh and was discovered by a Hollywood talent agent. Instead she/Thelma enrolled in college, met and married an agricultural economist, Elmore Ruel  Torn. Their handsome son, Rip Torn, took the Hollywood trip Thelma missed out on. Years later, Rip married stage actress Geraldine Page. With their help, more than a decade later, Sissy got her first taste of acting life one summer in New York.

Sissy's parents met on a blind date in 1938. Her dad was with the Chamber Of Commerce. Her mom was finishing business college. Sissy's family lineage made and showed great strides throughout history. Sissy's mom would type documents part-time for an abstract company at a time before Xerox machines and things were done manually. Sissy, at a young age, was famous for fishing things. Her favorite place to explore was the courthouse. She would swivel in the judge's chair when no one was looking. Her favorite of all was the spiral staircase.  Her dad worked in the basement and down the hall Sissy would devour the books in the library. Especially biographies. Sissy's father made a BIG IMPACT and MARK all over Texas. Being the only girl, Sissy wanted to be a part of her brother's world.

For spending cash, as a kid,  Sissy and her brothers would scavenger for Coke bottles and cash them in. Sissy and her brothers LOVED animals growing up. There were always animals that they would bring home. They even took in a pet crow that originally came from a neighbor. As a kid, Sissy was an EXPERT w/ a hula hoop. When she entered a hula hoop contest, it taught her not to count her chickens before they were hitched. When Sissy was growing up, she would go to the movies/picture show in town. She would eventually go w/ her brothers and tag along. They would watch old movies and Sissy would TRULY believe what was happening on the screen was REAL. She would lose all track of time due to the magic in the screen. Sissy's FAVORITE book & film of ALL time was the ICONICALLY CLASSIC 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. What really pulls her in to it is the depiction of small town life in the South. Sissy felt she could relate to Scout. A tomboy in a small town.  Even though Sissy was lucky to have her mom, her dad was her Atticus Finch.

The first time Sissy noticed segregation  in her town was other races entering the theater in a different manner. The whites & blacks has separate EVERYTHING. The Jim Crow laws were perplexing, but it was all they knew. Everyone got along well. Commerce was different. Trading for services was how people got to know each other. Sissy was always a good student, but she wasn't the smartest. She loved the math, but hated the spelling. One thing Sissy was good at was fishing. When she was 6, Sissy's parents took them for a picnic and a performance. That was the day she decided to go into show business.She took up guitar and piano lessons. She progressed quickly. She later formed a group that performed around town.

Sissy started to write her own songs and search for her own style. She never fell for any rock/pop. She was NOT impressed w/ Elvis, but she loved the Beatles. John was her FAVORITE. Sissy was a cheerleader in school. She marched as a drummer in band. A nasty staph infection led her to a twirler w/ marching band. Coming from Sissy, she was a tomboy. Her first dose of the real world came, as did many, in 1963 w/ JFK's assassination. She was in school in the 8TH grade. Robbie, in his sister's eyes, was the TRUE actor in the family. Because a career in theater was out of the question, Sissy poured all of her efforts into music. Carrying her guitar w/ her everywhere and singing for anyone who would listen. Even though they fought like cats/dogs, Robbie & Sissy were best friends, even as teenagers. She would pick out her brothers clothes, knowing what was best. Robbie was a fast runner and eventually joined track.

When he was 17 and Sissy was 16, Robbie began to feel run down. At first, they all thought he might have something he couldn't shake; like a flu or a bug. After he was taken to a family doctor, he was sent to a hematologist
who diagnosed him w/ leukemia. Before beginning chemo & treatment, Robbie was DETERMINED to do one thing: the track finals in Austin. He assisted the kid who had taken his place at the meet. Robbie shook this kid's hand, wished him luck and helped him set his blocks. Robbie was in/out of the hospital for the next 16 months. His sickness turned their world upside down. Sissy missed ALOT of school, but her teachers let her make up the work. Every Wednesday Sissy and Robbie had a party on the 6TH floor of the hospital. Everyone within the hospital floor became an extended family. Sissy would bring her guitar and sing. It made Robbie and the other patients feel like they mattered; that they weren't forgotten because they were sick.

There were times of brief remission only to have hopes dashed. Robbie came home at times on short trips. Sissy came home one time and Robbie was sitting in the driveway grinning from ear-to-ear. Robbie was holding up a newspaper w/ a headline that said: CURE FOUND FOR LEUKEMIA. As a celebration and he had always wanted one, their dad bought Robbie a foreign sports car. It was love at first sight. He even drove it in their high school homecoming parade. His hair was even growing back. Sissy was in front of him in the marching band. Robbie kept up w/ his school work and was able to graduate w/ his class.

The following spring, Sissy entered a local beauty pageant. She won second. Her talent performance caught the eye of one of the judges, a writer from the Style section of the newspaper. Sissy was hired to sing & play at parties where she was a hit! She was invited to go to New York to cover fashion shows. It was to be a great distraction from home. Her parents were reluctant to send a 17-yr-old on her own to New York and so was Sissy, who was torn between leaving Robbie and her desire to go.  Robbie encouraged her to go. Sissy would stay w/ Rip & his family in Manhattan.

Sissy never seen that fashion writer again. When Sissy OFFICIALLY left the airport, she was ECSTATIC to see the city. She knew she would never be the same. On the front seat in the cab to Manhattan, Sissy nearly broke her neck staring at the tall buildings. They, even w/ busy schedules, made Sissy feel safe and welcome. Geraldine, "Gerry", took Sissy under her wing.  She loved their home and lifestyle. The experience she had was a far cry from Tyler, TX. Sissy crossed paths w/ Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli. Once Sissy got accustomed to the city, she ventured on her own.

Because others were becoming interested in her songs, Rip decided Sissy should talk to an agent. He arranged a meeting at the William Morris Agency. They told her to come back when she's older. Sissy's brother, Ed, was working for Decca Records in Dallas and set her up w/ an audition in New York. They said they already had a singer on their roster who sounded like her. It was Loretta Lynn.  Back at home, things weren't improving w/ Robbie who was worsening. After receiving a letter from him, that could bring a tear to your eye, she responded back. In late August, Sissy was informed to go home because she was needed. She flew back RIGHT AWAY. When she got there, Robbie's condition was worsening. He had gotten an infection. In his hospital room in TX, it was REAL. Sissy couldn't pretend anymore. Robbie OFFICIALLY passed away on 9-19-1967. Sissy felt lost with a huge void.

Sissy as homecoming queen

When they got home from a 300-mile trip, the town rallied around them to take care of the Spacek family.  When Robbie's body arrived in Whitman, Sissy felt at peace. Rather than being overprotective, Robbie's death made the family more willing to let Sissy go. After Robbie's death, Sissy lost interest and didn't care for much of anything. New York became her new goal. She made it through her senior year; becoming homecoming queen. It really made Sissy feel better. The only passion she had left was music. After gradually sleepwalking through senior year, Sissy gradually returned to life.

There was never ANY DOUBT on Sissy going to college. She got into the University Of TX. She did all she could to go back to New York for the summer. She was going to give her singing career one more try before college. After six weeks, Sissy's parents paid for her first year's tuition. College life just DID NOT suit her. Her life was passing by and she never made it to the dorm.

Sissy got a job working for $10.00 a night singing in a steakhouse in the same building she resided. She went around playing for customers. It was her first job in show business and she didn't starve. When she wasn't working, she was writing and producing w/ new friends. Sissy, not long after, quit the job at the steakhouse and needed extra cash. Sissy jumped at a chance for a receptionist who was on leave. After a few weeks, the original receptionist returned and Sissy left. After Sissy's roommate was caught spending paychecks assigned to Sissy from the receptionists job, that Sissy had NO IDEA about, the roommate was in trouble. Sissy went the next morning and changed things to fix that situation. Sissy cam back to find the locks changed and her things outside. She had no place to go. She couch surfed until she found a roommate to share an apartment with.

The Allman Brothers

In the summer of 1969, Sissy's roommates went to Woodstock in NY. Sissy was invited to go but declined. It wasn't her thing. Even though she had STRONGLY opposed the Vietnam War, Sissy wasn't much of an activist. She did go to a few demonstrations. She joined some friends for a match on the Pentagon in WA, but she wasn't politically committed. There were times in the late 1960s Manhattan when a young Sissy found herself in some very threatening situations. One of her friends, Jonny, was a song runner who would take Sissy on trips to radio stations all over the Northeast. Jonny quickly morphed into one of the most powerful moguls in the music industry. He managed EVERYONE including the Allman Brothers Band. He introduced Sissy to them, because they were both from the South and they hit it off. Sissy and Gregg would also jam a little.

Gregg loved Sissy's 12-string guitar. Whenever the city of New York overwhelmed her, Sissy would go home to Quitman for awhile to catch he bearings and take a deep breath. She would stay for awhile and return. One of Sissy's friends in New York was a fashion photographer. After showing one of her head-shots to his agency, Sissy had a short stint at a Chanel No. 5 ad model. It was short lived but the head of the modeling agency wanted to meet her. They put her in the RIGHT direction.

Robert Redford

The day Sissy met Bill Treusch, the head of the agency who represented Christopher Walken, Carol Kane, Mary Beth Hurt & Diane Keaton, EVERYTHING changed for Sissy. One afternoon, Sissy was visiting in his office and was introduced to Robert Redford. It was Bill Treusch that suggested Sissy try acting. Sissy discovered a theory that would guide her through her work: "To be an actor, you have to live a life." What Sissy loved most about performing music was the way the audience was right there w/ her. Thanks to her representation by the RIGHT people, Bill Treusch, Sissy got ALOT of auditions. One eventually took her to Hollywood.

Mary Tyler Moore

In 1971, Sissy met w/ a young director, Michael Ritchie, to talk about a part in his film, Prime Cut. When they finished, he wanted her for the film. The only problem was that they wanted Sissy to fly out to L.A to screen test. Her funky, cool girl persona she had perfected in New York went right out the window as soon as she arrived in Studio City. Sissy started jumping up/down when she seen the LEGENDARY Mary Tyler Moore walking across the street. The test screen went until Sissy got the role in Prime Cut w/ one more hurdle to jump over. She was asked for her first nude scene. It wasn't unusual in those days for that request. Sissy weighed her options, called and informed her parents. After much deliberation, Sissy seen the good outweighed the bad. She packed her bags and never looked back.

Sissy's co-star, Lee Marvin, was actually very protective of her. Sissy was so caught up w/ the filming that she hardly noticed the battles going on behind-the-scenes. Sissy was asked to write and record the music that went w/ the film. Prime Cut came out in the summer of 1972 to lukewarm reviews. Sissy was now a working actress w/ proof of footage. She went back to L.A. to work on a film that would change her life forever. Not long after, Sissy had met w/ a director for a part in his film 'Badlands'. Sissy felt a kinship w/ the director, Terrance Malick, because of their similar backgrounds. Terrance hired  Sissy because she was still a small town girl from Texas. That was exactly who Holly Sargis was. Terrance even included Sissy in the creative process of the  film. It really meant ALOT to her. When Sissy auditioned w/ actor Martin Sheen, she KNEW they had found their Kit. She was Holly. In their part of the world making the film, other people were making a different film. Sissy had a life altering thing happen to her: she fell in love w/ Jack Fisk. Badlands was his FIRST SERIOUS film.

Sissy and Jack

Their relationship was full bloom. Sissy had found her soul-mate and didn't try to hide it. Their first OFFICIAL date ended w/ a search party. At first, Sissy thought Jack's dog, Five, would be jealous of her. Five leaned on people she liked and it meant she had accepted Sissy. Their courtship can only be described weaving within the making of the film. It was kismet. 'Badlands' took 10 months to finish. Sissy was NERVOUS about its reception. They were SHOCKED in utter silence. It WAS NOT a comedy. The critics LOVED it. It was recognized as a landmark in AMERICAN cinema. Sissy didn't know it, but she was part of something great.

If Sissy & Jack had met a few years earlier when she wanted to be a rock star and he wanted to be a painter, they might have sailed right by each other. But now all either of them wanted to do was make films. When Sissy was w/ him, she didn't feel the need to pretend or act a certain way. He liked her just for that. Jack gave up his small rented house in Laurel Canyon while they were filming 'Badlands'. They furnished a place for $300 and the props form the movie. Whenever Jack was w/ his old friend and business partner, David, in talking and hanging out w/ each other, Sissy felt lucky to be included, and found that she fit right in w/ them. She felt a part of the conversation and finally had her own seat at the table.

Brian De Palma

Even though 'Badlands' was a hit w/ the critics, it  was not Sissy's ticket to stardom. A few months after returning to L.A. after working on a film, Jack had the chance work w/ up-and-coming director, Brian De Palma. When they were back home in Texas, Jack's mom, Gerri, flew down from Washington to visit them on location. Sissy & Gerri had an instant connection from the moment they met Sissy & Jack were so happy as they could be w/ each other, but neither of them were interested in marriage. Why mess up a good thing? Since it wasn't such a big deal for a piece of paper, they just went for it. Sissy and Jack were married on 4-12-1974. On their way home from the chapel in Santa Monica w/ Five the dog as their witness, they stopped at an A&W for a couple of root beers. That was their wedding day.

Sissy, Jack & Bill Paxton

As conservative as he was, Sissy was surprised when Jack encouraged her to keep her birth name, something she was already planning on because she worked hard enough for it. It wasn't something women did in those days. Jack didn't care less about it and he encouraged her to be independent and make her own money. The only time Sissy had in keeping her own name was when she applied for a passport after they were married. One of the movies Jack worked on w/ good money had a teenage crew member.  He was from Fort Worth, TX. His name was Bill Paxton and he became a lifelong friend. Bill had a paper route for the L.A. Times. He had been working on a film as a set dresser when Jack hired him. Jack, Sissy & Bill all became friends on the set of 'Darktown Strutters'.

Brian DePalma loved working w/ Jack. He hired him as art director for his adaptation for a Stephen King novel called 'Carrie'. Every young actor in town really wanted this role of title character, Carrie White. Sissy was 25. Brian and the studio wanted differently. They didn't even want to give Sissy a screen test, because they had already decided on someone else. Brian argued w/ the studio for canceling Sissy's screen test. Sissy wanted this job so bad, she could taste it. Sissy stayed up all night and re-read the whole book. After her audition and screen test, Sissy eventually got the part. When Sissy officially came on-screen, the studio KNEW that they had met Carrie.

Sissy kept to herself, separate in dark corners, of the soundstage while everyone else had fun. Jack was having a great time designing the sets for the film. Brian DePalma loved Jack's work. Bill Paxton was busy fashioning and painting decorations for the freshly built high school gym set. The bucket of ICONIC pig's blood for the ICONIC prom scene had Karo syrup and red food dye. It was so sticky, Sissy began to feel like a candy apple. The film was Brian's first blockbuster. It earned an Academy Award nomination for Piper Laurie and Sissy - something unheard of for a horror film. After the film's release, Sissy was EVERYWHERE.
Sissy's next film was for '3 Women'. When Five the dog died from complications to a broken leg from years prior, it shattered Sissy and Jack.

Loretta Lynn 1980s

In 1977, Sissy heard word that LEGENDARY country singer, Loretta Lynn, began telling the world that Sissy was going to play her in a movie based on her autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter. Sissy was dumbfounded because she had NEVER met Loretta let alone agreed to do the film. Loretta wouldn't take no for an answer. Universal Studios had shown Loretta a stack of 8x10 of young actresses. When Loretta got down to a young little ol' strawberry blonde w/ a freckled face, Sissy, that was Loretta. Loretta began announcing it all of the talk show circuit. It drove Sissy crazy because Loretta would mention the film and Sissy in the role. Finally Sissy couldn't take it anymore. She decided to tell Loretta in person that she didn't want to do to the film and for Loretta to stop saying she was. When Loretta was performing in Louisiana, Sissy & Jack were in Texas and took the drive to her concert to meet her face-to-face. Sissy's brother, Ed, arranged the meeting. They missed the concert, bu found Loretta's tour bus in the back of the auditorium and were invited on-board.

All of a sudden, the bus door flew open and out stormed a tiny woman in a flaming chiffon dress. She was angry and shaking her fists and yelling. Right then Sissy changed her mind and HAD to play Loretta. Sissy was captivated. Sissy felt at home w/ her like she had known Loretta for years. Loretta was grounded and still a country girl at heart. Sissy still had misgivings about signing on for the film. By this time, Sissy HAD read the book and admired Loretta for what she overcame. Loretta's story was /is an AMERICAN LEGEND. Sissy HONESTLY wasn't sure she could play a REAL person who was still living & working. The original casting director didn't want Sissy for the film based on looks. But Loretta wasn't about to drop the subject.

About this time, Sissy hadn't worked in 2 years since 3 Women. Sissy was careful w/ her next selection. She wanted to play a grown-up. She didn't want to be typecast as a teenager. That's where the film 'Heart Beat' came in. Meanwhile Sissy was still being pressured by Universal Studios to sign on for Coal Miner's Daughter, despite the director at the time. Sissy waited for a sign. After taking a drive w/ Jack that night and had the radio on. Sissy began began to hear the refrain of Coal Miner's Daughter and that was sign enough. She was doing the movie.

Meanwhile the director was replaced. Sissy & the producers began looking for a new director. The one that TRULY caught their eye was Michael Apted, who came from a coal mining area in England. He would bring reality to the film and not make it a joke and cartoonish. Sissy began following Loretta like a puppy to capture who is. Loretta had Sissy LAUGHING half the time. They used REAL stories that TRULY happened in the script. Ex. = a fan cutting Loretta's hair. Sissy would listen to recorded tapes over-and-over of Loretta's voice until she could make her own version vocally. Once she GOT Loretta, Sissy stayed in character ALL THE TIME on-and-off the set. Sissy KNEW she had it when their dog would respond to Sissy in her "Loretta" voice.

Loretta herself was the one who encouraged Universal Studios to let Sissy do all of the music for the film. So, thanks to her start a singer, Sissy sang. Sissy spent a week w/ Loretta in a hotel writing and posting songs on scraps of paper & fasten them to lampshades LEARNING how to become Loretta musically. Sissy didn't want to do anything that would embarrass Loretta herself. Finally, Loretta made the ultimate gesture of Faith: she invited Sissy to sing w/ her at the Grand Ole Opry. Sissy was SCARED & INTIMIDATED. She was FROZEN. Doolittle Lynn had to push Sissy out on-stage just the way he had done for Loretta in the past. You HONESTLY couldn't tell when Loretta stopped and Sissy began. Loretta told Sissy "that she NEVER forgets that it was the fans that gave her a career." Loretta and Sissy became as close as sisters thanks to their bond over their roots. Loretta's support was crucial for Sissy. Her support & love was what made this happen. 

Michael Apted had the idea to cast Tommy Lee Jones as Doolittle. Tommy Lee had the idea to bring in Levon Helm to play Loretta's dad, Ted. To play Loretta's mom, Clary, Levon recommended the mountain singer, Phyllis Boyens, who made her feature film debut. It took awhile but Doolittle & Tommy eventually gave Tommy Lee training for the film. Sissy, Tommy Lee & the settings made the film REAL. Sissy gives stories that happened on the set of the film. What they had used for that film was REAL for the project, including the locations. Sissy's parents struck up a friendship w/ Ernest Tubb. After the movies release, Sissy's hometown of Quitman declared 5-31-1980 Sissy Spacek Day. Deciding to do Coal Miner's Daughter changed Sissy's life. Loretta sat in the audience at the Academy Awards. Loretta & Sissy both felt like Tommy Lee DESERVED a recognition. The Oscar recognition made Sissy a movie star. The film's success transformed Sissy & Loretta's lives. Loretta says today she CAN NOT watch the film - at all. There is TOO MUCH REAL THROUGHOUT  it's ENTIRETY. Now Sissy was faced w/ what to do concerning her career.

Gloria Swanson

Sissy loves to make films, the only bother is the CONSTANT press w/ the SAME EXACT questions over-and-over again. When Sissy did a talk show, she had the opportunity to meet ICONIC screen LEGEND Gloria Swanson. She was there to promote her memoir. Gloria could see how EXHAUSTED Sissy was and was concerned that Sissy was in NO SHAPE to do the talk show. When Sissy was being introduced to go on-stage, she felt like she was watching TV w/ no sound. She could see the host's lips move, but couldn't hear the question. Sissy was TOO FAR gone.When she called her mom to tell her what's going on, Sissy's mom put things into perspective. She seen everything in a different light. Sissy was actually GRATEFUL & APPRECIATIVE of the ENTIRE trip, including taking advantage of what South America had to offer. Once Sissy reached her thirties, she APPRECIATED her mom more than ever. Sissy's mom became a confident and a friend.

This time period, things had changed. The sixties & seventies were DEFINITELY over. They were no longer nonchalant about nude scenes. For the film Raggedy Man, Sissy drew on what she knew about Jack's mom, used her own mother's spirit and gestures to create the character. Sissy's ENTIRE performance in that movie was an homage to her mom. The day after winning the Oscar for 'Coal Miner's Daughter', Sissy flew off to Mexico to film the movie 'Missing' that was based on a TRUE story. Sissy needed a lot of hugs during the film because it was emotionally exhausting, trying to imagine what these people were feeling. Sissy worried herself sick. Sissy became friends w/ the REAL family in which the REAL story of 'Missing' is based. She has kept in touch w/ the TRUE/REAL person in which Sissy portrayed.

Sissy's mom had become SERIOUSLY ill. She was undergoing treatment when Sissy was accepting her Oscar. She wanted to be w/ her mom for as long as possible. In November 1981, Sissy's mom took a turn for the worse. That morning she was taken to the hospital, she was walking and remembering what she LOVED best about home - taking it all in. She took a breath and turned to go. Sissy found out she was pregnant the week her mom died. When Sissy found out she was pregnant, she prepared for it like it was a film role. When Sissy was pregnant, she didn't have morning sickness and craved watermelon & pineapple.

The 'Coal Miner's Daughter' album w/ Sissy and Beverly D'Angelo doing their own singing sold well. Sissy was offered w/ a dream come true - to record her own album. Making the record was a high point in her career. Schuyler (pronounced Skyler) has grown up to be a fabulous singer/songwriter. Jack & Sissy decided on their daughter's name LONG AGO after a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When the time came for labor & delivery, Sissy was WRONG after reading what she was to expect. Sissy was SHOCKED how much something could hurt w/o killing you. Everytime a pain came, Sissy WANTED to scream & cuss. She couldn't in her dad's presence. She ACTED fine. Sissy WANTED a NATURAL childbirth, but things took too long. When they offered an epidural, she TOOK it. Schuyler was born on 7-8-1982. Sissy had to LEARN children are just who they are. The hardest part is letting go.

After learning she was pregnant w/ Schuyler, Sissy & Jack decided that the farm would be a quiet healthy place prepare for baby. So they spent more time up there. When they decided to move to Virginia for good, they wanted to live in small where their kids could have roots. Sissy wanted to live and raise her children in where she could know the name of the neighborhood grocery clerk, stretch her bare feet on the lawn and host her daughter's birthday parties. Living there in that commutative setting gave Sissy, Jack & the girls, Schuyler & Madison a sense of home. Schuyler & Madison became good riders on a horse. They rode in competitions and used their bedroom w/ ribbons. At the farm, the girls followed their mom and mostly used the horses for fun or transport.

Sissy says something in this book that I'm sure rings TRUE for alot of people: "It's a wonder that children survive their childhoods and that parents survive their children." Sissy confesses that she's always been a fainter. Something that runs in the family from her dad and is brought on by different triggers: such as pain or surprise.

For some reason, as soon as Sissy & the family moved to Virginia, the entertainment media decided she MUST HAVE retired. She couldn't convince them and kept on working. After a string of serious films, Sissy found it a relief to do a comedy like 'Crimes Of The Heart' in 1985. With great co-stars on-set, Jessica Lange, Diane Keaton & Tess Harper, there were NO divas on-set. Diane played w/ 3-yr-old Schuyler w/ her doctor's kit. In Virginia, Sissy lives in a place & town that hardly exists in the world anymore: A place where neighbors & people don't do for each other anymore without wanting their's first. Just for neighborly niceness.

Sissy and both of her daughters

 In early 1988, Sissy found out she was pregnant again. Sissy wanted and called a recently good friend to be there when she gave birth who wanted to document it. During labor, Sissy was MEAN. After an hour later, Sissy & Jack scooped up their new daughter and went home. They named their daughter Virginia Madison Fisk Schuyler and her cousin considered Madison their personal plaything.

Madison was a tomboy. Schuyler was a born performer. She made her film debut in at age 7 in a dark comedy directed by her dad. It was called 'Daddy's Dying . . . Who's Got The Will?' With her goal to be a performer, Schuyler started small in school plays. She won a major role at the age of 11 in the film 'The Baby-Sitters Club'. Sissy's daughter's came along at just the right time in her life. She spent most of 1994 in Texas working on 2 projects, 'Secrets Of Laredo' and 'The Good Old Boys', which was Tommy Lee Jones' directorial debut! Madison wanted to be an extra in the film. Sissy dressed her and Madison had fun.

One of the best films/characters for grown women that Sissy found to be rich & nuanced was the character of Ruth Fowler  in the film 'In The Bedroom'. Sissy states that the most fun on films are when no one is getting rich and everyone is there for the right reason. They love their craft. Schuyler, who was 18 at the time, got her first experience in set decoration on that film. The most important thing Sissy did when arriving on location for the TRUE story 'The Straight Story' was meet the REAL person's daughter,  Alvin Straight's daughter, Diane, absorbing her voice and learning her body language.

After witnessing the scene of an accident that took a man's life right in front of her, it reminded Sissy not to take anyone/anything for granted. To live without regrets and enjoy every minute that we have. In his late years, Sissy cared for her dad up until his passing at 90 years old. There TRULY are valuable lessons everywhere in the world, but you have to be willing to learn and read the signs.

After attending college, Schuyler moved to L.A. She continues to act in films, but for the past few years, her energy goes into music w/ 2 released CD's. Sissy will sing w/ her or Schuyler will bring her mom in on a harmony while she performs. Madison started painting & sculpting in CA w/ a yearning to be an artist & filmmaker. She is paying her dues to her real goal: becoming an art director living in Texas. Madison's paintings are expressions of the world around her. When Sissy is HOME in Virginia, that's EXACTLY what it is without the glitzy and notoriety of Hollywood.  One of the best things Sissy has ever done in life came late: the author of 'To Kill A Mockingbird', Harper Lee, asked Sissy to read the audiobook version. Doing that made Sissy re-fall in love w/ the book & the movie all over again.

Sissy almost didn't do 'The Help'. She created her character, Missus Walters, from her father's sisters that she grew up with in Texas. In the summer of 2011, Sissy was honored, after 40 years w/ a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Jack worked on the film 'The Tree Of Life'. Sissy seen it and could barely control her emotions thanks to the setting & scenery of the film in Texas in 1950s. At the end of the film, Sissy was moved beyond words. The film spoke to her on a level so deep she wept. Sissy was grateful. Of all of the places she's been and the people she's met, Sissy's FAVORITE place in the world is:" a place where she can spend all day in the house in her pajamas puttering around the house". Their house is made to be LIVED in and it's their HOME. For the life she's led, through it all, Sissy is TRULY GRATEFUL!