I was going to purchase a signed photo of Michael J. Pollard, no questions asked, when I saw that he was going to be appearing at the Chicago Hollywood Celebrities Show on October 1, 2011, based solely on the strength of him being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as C.W. Moss in the classic Bonnie and Clyde. Although I have seen the movie, I could not specifically remember what Pollard looked like, and it wasn’t until we met face-to-face that it clicked that I knew this fella!
I finally remembered exactly how I was so familiar with his face. He had played the role of Herman in Scrooged, which I have seen multiple times. Or it may have been from his roles in The Andy Griffith Show as Barney’s cousin, or perhaps The Many Loves as Dobie Gillis as Maynard’s G. Krebs’ cousin. Or it could have been Wings, or Becker, or Roxanne. Whatever it was, I knew him.
As if no one had ever asked this before, both he and his handler seemed to become confused when I requested a photo with him. Finally they came up with the price of $10, to which I countered with an offer of $0. And fortunately, Pollard was nice enough to pose for a free picture or two or three. I’m not sure if he knew my affinity for Stan Laurel when he posed with a similar smile to Stan’s. I’m not quite ready to add a “J” to my name in his honor (as Michael J. Fox did), but I’m now a fan of the man, as well as the actor.
Celebrities of the Fall 2011 Chicago Hollywood Celebrities Show will continue…
Michael is one of my most talented friends, proud to have known him for 40 years.
we grew up a few miles apart, and his famous part in “Bonnie And Clyde”led me to a lifetime of supplying antique cars for films. I have been blessed to have such a great friend in Michael, He’s loved, Thank you, Art Tedeschi..Good Luck.
Art Tedeschi
December 22nd, 2011