By Heidi Simmons
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Accidentally on Purpose
By Michael York
Autobiography
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Barbara Stanwyck, Johnny Carson and Katherine Hepburn are Hollywood legends. Their respective biographers: Victoria Wilson, Henry Bushkin and Scott Berg, have each given part of themselves to share with readers the fantastic lives these showbiz icons lived. Each knows his and her subjects intimately.
Although Stanwyck, Carson and Hepburn have all passed away, there is still an opportunity to know them through these informative and detailed personal stories. Over the last few weeks while reviewing these books, I kept thinking how would Stanwyck, Carson and Hepburn consider their own lives. Might it be quite different from how they are depicted in these fine books. Biographers are able to give a big picture perspective, an overview of a life and the times that is often difficult for that individual to see while actually living it.
These dedicated authors, Wilson, Bushkin and Berg will be speaking at the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival in January and it will be great to hear what they have to say about their subjects and the challenge to write a quality biography.
If it is not enough to just hear about Hollywood royalty from biographers, the Writers Festival will also include a living Hollywood icon. Actor Michael York will be speaking during the Festival.* In his autobiography, Accidentally on Purpose (Simon and Schuster, 432 pages) York gives an exceptionally detailed account of his life and career through 1991.
Born March 27, 1942 in Buckinghamshire, England, York came into a world during the war. His father was an officer in the Royal Air Force. When he would come home on leave, his mother would get pregnant. York was the only boy and the middle child. One of his twin sisters died shortly after birth in 1947.
Early on, York showed a desire to entertain. In grammar school he was in “The Merchant of Venice.” It would be the first of many Shakespearian plays. York attended Oxford University and was in the Dramatic Society. He was in the Dundee Repertory and Olivier’s National Theatre.
Transitioning from theater to film, York had a role in Franco Zeffirelli’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” He met his wife, American photographer, Patricia McCallum during a photo shoot. They married in 1968 and remain married today. York has been making one or more movies a year since 1967! He has worked with the finest actors in the world.
York includes a useful index, which in itself is fun to scan since it’s such a who’s who of Hollywood. There are terrific pictures of the beautiful blond and blue eyed York at work, many of which were taken by his wife.
Accidentally on Purpose is a dense read. Certainly overwritten, but it’s like being locked in a car with York on a cross-country trip. If you don’t mind spending ordinary time with him talking the whole time, then the long trip doesn’t matter.
It’s impossible to read York’s story without hearing his distinctive, melodic voice. It is prominent right from the beginning. He writes with gentle humor and never has a bad thing to say about his costars or directors. So don’t expect any bombshells about himself or anybody else.
York goes into great detail about the events in his life. He even includes correspondence between friends, Hollywood directors and neighbors. I don’t think it especially adds to the narrative to include the polite back and forth letters regarding a barking dog.
However, these are often the moments that show York’s charm and personality. After all, he is British. Although, he’s an American citizen now. It is hard to list his most popular films because there are so many. But I think it’s safe to say some favorites are “Cabaret,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Four Musketeers,” and “Logan’s Run.” He is also known for the “Austin Powers” series of films. But Accidentally on Purpose was publish prior to those films. On a personal note, I believe there has never been a better D’Artagnan.
The title of York’s autobiography is unusually apropos. Overall, it is a memoir about a regular guy who finds his gift early and pursues it with purpose and then finds himself in an amazing career that seems to have happened by accident. He seems genuine and recognizes his good fortune.
His wife Pat York will also be speaking at the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival. Her book, Going Strong (Arcade Pub, 255 pages) is a collection of interviews and portraits of men and women 75 years or older who continue to live interesting lives. Filled with photographs, the first person stories shed light on the simple things that bring about longevity and maintain a quality life.
It may be that Accidentally on Purpose will someday be used as source material for a serious biographical book on Michael York the man and the actor. Accidentally on Purpose was written 23 years ago and perhaps York was too young and too close to the subject to really do himself justice.
* Rancho Mirage Writers Festival list of authors may be subject to change. For more information on the Festival contact the Rancho Mirage Library.
