Hello Everyone!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I sure did. And, I am especially thankful because Linda Alexander, author of the newly released biography A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story, graciously permitted me to have an advance peek at the book. Here's my review:
With A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story, author Linda Alexander lassoes the reader's interest and doesn't turn it loose until the very last sentence as she explores the colorful life of Jack Kelly, who played charming brother "Bart" to James Garner's wily "Bret" on the popular Maverick television series.
Ms. Alexander introduces us to the actor, born John Augustus Kelly, Jr., whose theatrical family roots stretched all the way back to Ireland. Kelly's mother Nan was an ambitious model who pushed all but one of her four children into show biz careers. His older sister was Nancy Kelly, who began acting as a child and matured into an acclaimed leading lady. Jack Kelly himself performed as a youngster in films, in radio, and on stage. Following a grown-up stint in the military, he moseyed back into films and then into television.
After headlining on Maverick for five years, Kelly drifted into perennial TV guest stardom, pausing along the way to appear in movies and in summer stock. He even emceed a game show. Kelly also made successful forays into business and politics. He served as city councilman and mayor in Huntington Beach, California--while still accepting occasional acting roles--before his tragic death at age 65 in 1992.
A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story is a brisk read, but it doesn't skimp on detail or on insight into Kelly's life. In addition to thoroughly researching her subject, Ms. Alexander obtained invaluable input from Kelly's family members (including both of his wives and his beloved daughter) along with memories from his fellow thespians such as Sir Roger Moore and James Drury, star of The Virginian.
The author unmasks the complicated human being inside the ebullient entertainer and pulls no punches. For example, many fans have wondered why Jack Kelly's success on Maverick didn't translate into enduring major stardom. Ms. Alexander traces part of the answer to Kelly's predilection to alcohol. She also reveals that the actor's formative family ties kept him bound far into adulthood. He was deeply affected by upheavals in his personal and professional lives and by events such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Yet, Kelly remained in denial about his own life-threatening health condition until it was too late.
However, A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story is by no means a "downer". The reader also meets the Jack Kelly who was a loving father, a lively practical joker, an accomplished golfer, an expert cook, a talented writer, a dedicated politician, and a man who geniunely loved--and was loved by--some of the most glamorous gals in Hollywood.
And, once and for all, Linda Alexander busts the myth that Jack Kelly was just the "other guy" on Maverick. Ms. Alexander uncovers the behind-the-scenes intrigue and restores Kelly to his proper place in the Maverick equation.
A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story is generously illustrated with rare black and white photos from all phases of Kelly's life and career. Plus, the arresting color portrait on the cover perfectly captures the handsome actor in his most famous role: Bart Maverick.
As Linda Alexander puts it, "Jack Kelly really LIVED". A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story proves that he did, indeed.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I sure did. And, I am especially thankful because Linda Alexander, author of the newly released biography A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story, graciously permitted me to have an advance peek at the book. Here's my review:
With A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story, author Linda Alexander lassoes the reader's interest and doesn't turn it loose until the very last sentence as she explores the colorful life of Jack Kelly, who played charming brother "Bart" to James Garner's wily "Bret" on the popular Maverick television series.
Ms. Alexander introduces us to the actor, born John Augustus Kelly, Jr., whose theatrical family roots stretched all the way back to Ireland. Kelly's mother Nan was an ambitious model who pushed all but one of her four children into show biz careers. His older sister was Nancy Kelly, who began acting as a child and matured into an acclaimed leading lady. Jack Kelly himself performed as a youngster in films, in radio, and on stage. Following a grown-up stint in the military, he moseyed back into films and then into television.
After headlining on Maverick for five years, Kelly drifted into perennial TV guest stardom, pausing along the way to appear in movies and in summer stock. He even emceed a game show. Kelly also made successful forays into business and politics. He served as city councilman and mayor in Huntington Beach, California--while still accepting occasional acting roles--before his tragic death at age 65 in 1992.
A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story is a brisk read, but it doesn't skimp on detail or on insight into Kelly's life. In addition to thoroughly researching her subject, Ms. Alexander obtained invaluable input from Kelly's family members (including both of his wives and his beloved daughter) along with memories from his fellow thespians such as Sir Roger Moore and James Drury, star of The Virginian.
The author unmasks the complicated human being inside the ebullient entertainer and pulls no punches. For example, many fans have wondered why Jack Kelly's success on Maverick didn't translate into enduring major stardom. Ms. Alexander traces part of the answer to Kelly's predilection to alcohol. She also reveals that the actor's formative family ties kept him bound far into adulthood. He was deeply affected by upheavals in his personal and professional lives and by events such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Yet, Kelly remained in denial about his own life-threatening health condition until it was too late.
However, A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story is by no means a "downer". The reader also meets the Jack Kelly who was a loving father, a lively practical joker, an accomplished golfer, an expert cook, a talented writer, a dedicated politician, and a man who geniunely loved--and was loved by--some of the most glamorous gals in Hollywood.
And, once and for all, Linda Alexander busts the myth that Jack Kelly was just the "other guy" on Maverick. Ms. Alexander uncovers the behind-the-scenes intrigue and restores Kelly to his proper place in the Maverick equation.
A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story is generously illustrated with rare black and white photos from all phases of Kelly's life and career. Plus, the arresting color portrait on the cover perfectly captures the handsome actor in his most famous role: Bart Maverick.
As Linda Alexander puts it, "Jack Kelly really LIVED". A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story proves that he did, indeed.
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If you couldn't tell, I really LOVED this book. I'm sure you'll love it, too. If you haven't already reserved your copy, please visit the BearManor Media website. :)
Posts
Thanks for the review of Linda Alexanders book. Mine are pre-ordered and now I really can't wait to get my hands on this book. I have read some of Ms. Alexander's book and it's with good reason that she is one of my most favorite authors!
ReplyDeleteThanks,Bartista!
ReplyDeleteMy book is ordered and I can't wait to read it! Your review sounds like the book is just as I would expect from Linda! She really does her research, and 'gets close' to the person she is writing about. I have read Linda's Robert Taylor biography, "Reluctant Witness--Robert Taylor: Hollywood and Communism" and learned so much about him and the era in which he lived.
Thanks for your review of "A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story." Jack Kelly is someone I have loved since first seeing him as Bart Maverick, in 1957. I am thrilled that Linda chose to write his biography!!
-Janet Theador
I loved reading the review and it is a MUST have book. OH I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteGina
Enjoyed your review of Linda Alexander's Book "A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story." Anxiously awaiting my copy that is pre-ordered.
ReplyDeleteHow very interesting, thanks for the review. A Maverick Life has been added to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteThis'll go on the shelf beside "The Garner Files." Don't know what to make of the focus of her Robert Taylor book; haven't read it and I certainly can't admire Taylor's conduct during those hearings but he was an interesting actor.
ReplyDeleteWell, I take that back about Robert Taylor being an interesting actor. He had an extremely good voice and had a hell of a long career. At one point, as I recall, he took over Ronald Reagan's duties as host of "Death Valley Days" but maybe I'm imagining that.
ReplyDeleteJames Garner always mentions Kelly's drinking, in fact. I just rewatched his Archive of American Television interview and he spoke of it taking a couple of hours in the morning before Kelly recovered from the previous evening of imbibing with his wife, then he was fine and Garner and Kelly were "having fun again."
ReplyDelete