Long before then, however, the 91-year-old actor — whose
sharp sense of humor remains intact (“I don’t look a day over 90”) — had
established himself amid the microphones and cameras.
At the ripe age of 18, he found himself announcing for
the Brooklyn Dodgers and rubbing elbows with Babe Ruth (“such a bright and
funny man”). By the 1940s, Forsythe’s show-business career was in full swing,
as he soon became an original member of the esteemed Actors Studio.
The list of personalities with whom he worked and
befriended reads like a Who’s Who from Hollywood’s halcyon days: Marlon Brando,
Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock, Audrey Hepburn and Dean Martin.
Along the way, he came to know writer Truman Capote while
starring in the 1967 film version of “In Cold Blood,” the renowned author’s
magnum opus.
What’s more, Forsythe took time during World War II to
serve the Air Force as a speech-rehabilitation counselor.
Indeed, one would be hard-pressed to find any celebrity
whose dossier matches the substantial scope and breadth of Forsythe’s.
You would hardly know it from talking with the man, as
modest as he is quick-witted.
“There were so many talented people,” says Forsythe from
his magnificent home among the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley
countryside — where he lives with his wife, Nicole, and a panoramic view. “But
I was willing to talk about myself only if they were interested.”
How could they not be? It comes as no surprise that
Forsythe was never awestruck by his fellow actors; perhaps it should’ve been
the other way around, considering his 100-plus entertainment credits.
Not bad for the man born John Lincoln Freund in Penns Grove, N.J. (from where Bruce Willis also hails) and
whose father was a stockbroker. In fact, Sam Forsythe wasn’t pleased with his
son’s career of choice — until witnessing a Broadway play and, later,
accompanying John to an event where Fred Astaire appeared.
“That changed my dad’s mind,” recalls Forsythe with a
chuckle.
His first performance in a motion picture — “Northern
Pursuit” starring Errol Flynn, of all people — went unbilled. But the name
Forsythe would become familiar to filmgoers, Broadway patrons and TV devotees
alike, all the way to “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” in 2003 and “Dynasty
Reunion” just three years ago. The latter festivity, he says, was comprised of
“very nice” company. No wonder, he adds, “I always got along with all the
girls.”
And so it was in 1994, at the Breeders’ Cup, that
Forsythe — as passionate about horses as he was about acting — met
businesswoman Nicole Carter. Forsythe was instantly smitten, more so after
Carter walked up and whispered in his right ear, “You are the most handsome man
who ever lived, ” to which he replied with an enthusiastic and elongated “WOW.”
That memorable exchange led to their first date, at Ivy
restaurant in Los Angeles; eight years later, they got married.
The doting couple recently celebrated anniversary number
seven within their El Tesoro estate (“The Treasure”), which includes their
longtime Japanese housekeeper Toyoko Kida (whose name
aptly translates as “abundance of happiness”), a cheerful poodle named
Nicholas, several barn cats and two beloved horses. About five years ago,
Forsythe sold his costly stable of thoroughbreds: “There’s a reason it’s called
the sport of kings.”
An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, he
banters with Nicole — a proud product of UCLA — and vice versa. “I finally got
my East Coast man,” she says, nudging her husband.
Among the things a guest first notices at Forsythe’s
residence are the exceptional photos, paintings and movie posters adorning the
home’s walls. It’s certainly no coincidence that art collecting has been one of
Forsythe’s hobbies in recent years.
If you can take your eyes off the array of framed works,
a magnificent view of sprawling Oak Trail Estates awaits; a winding path leads
visitors to the home perched atop El Tesoro. A charming guest house, hemmed
with shrubs and flowers, stands poised along the driveway.
It’s a breathtaking expanse but, much like its owner,
utterly unpretentious. The homestead exudes a provincial elegance that suits
Forsythe’s reserved manner, one shaped in part by a stint in the armed forces.
Rather than bemoan his civic duty, he sees it as a positive.
“The military didn’t affect my acting career; in fact, it
helped because it gave me discipline,” he explains.
After serving Uncle Sam, Forsythe tackled a plethora of
Broadway and on-screen projects, including TV’s popular “Bachelor Father.”
But it was the actor’s introduction to a director named
Hitchcock that catapulted Forsythe’s career into the stratosphere. Although
they would later collaborate on “Topaz,” it was the duo’s first partnership
with “The Trouble with Harry” that remains foremost in Forsythe’s mind.
What he recalls about the legendary filmmaker may come as
a surprise to some: Hitchcock was exceptionally funny.
“He could make me laugh on set, even when I was supposed
to be dying,” recalls Forsythe. Whenever the actor squirmed about reviewing the
post-production dailies, Hitchcock reassured him: “John, it’s only a movie.”
That’s the type of modest approach Forsythe took, even
with his 1965 self-titled television program, which he half-heartedly wishes
had been renamed.
When he wasn’t polishing his tennis game, enjoying a
round of golf with Dean Martin or hanging out with Walter Matthau at the racetrack,
Forsythe continued with movies — not the least of which was “In Cold Blood.”
For his role as a detective, he was ordered to chain
smoke, initially a point of contention with director Richard Brooks because
Forsythe had just kicked the habit. Anybody who recalls that film knows
Forsythe agreed to light up, though immediately after shooting culminated so
did the smoking: He was able to quit cold turkey.
Lest you think he’s always a good guy on screen, don’t
forget “…And Justice For All,” the bristly Al Pacino showcase in which Forsythe portrayed a dishonorable
judge.
Unlike Hitchcock, one of his larger-than-life mentors,
Forsythe dabbled as a director just once (for a revival of “Mr. Roberts”)
though his heart wasn’t in it.
“I had chances to direct but wasn’t really interested,”
admits Forsythe.
What interests him these days is wife Nicole, with whom
he relaxes daily, whether watching TV shows, doing crossword puzzles or
enjoying classic movies.
Even so, many of Forsythe’s show-business photos and posters
— tactfully displayed by his wife throughout their home — serve as vivid
testimony to the man’s extraordinary existence in the limelight. And the
self-effacing Forsythe doesn’t mind a bit.
“I never regretted my career for a moment,” he says. “I
loved all the people I worked with. It was such a delightful part of my life.”
Jim Luksic can be reached at
jluksic@syvjournal.com