Review # 18: Spotlights & Shadows: The Albert Salmi Story by Sandra Grabman

Description: (From book jacket)

      "You know the face. You know the credit list: Lost in Space, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Kung Fu, The Twilight Zone and hundreds more... But who was Albert Salmi? Born of Finnish parents in the Finnish section of Brooklyn, Albert Salmi had a childhood he would recall fondly, even though it was plagued by the hardships of the Great Depression. In an attempt to earn money as a teenager, he broke the law; and the very wise judge gave him a sentence that turned his life around. Salmi set his sights for an acting career and, thanks to the GI Bill, got the best training possible. The result was that for forty years he appeared on the Broadway stage (Bus Stop, etc.), national television (Alfred Hitchcock Presents, I Spy, That Girl, Dallas, etc., etc.), and in countless films (The Unforgiven, Caddyshack, etc.). Sandra Grabman's biography is a frank and loving tribute, combined with many memories from Salmi's family, friends, and co-stars, and includes never-before-published memoirs from the man himself. From humble beginnings -- to a highly successful acting career -- to a tragic death that shocked the world -- Albert Salmi's story is unlike any other you'll ever read."

Review:

     Very well researched and written biography, Spotlights & Shadows told the surprising true story of the life of Albert Salmi, a Finnish-American actor, and his struggles both in his career and in his personal life. I had never known much about his story until I received this book from LT Member Giveaways, and as very interested to find out about his childhood, rise to fame, and the eventual illness that led to his death. I believe Sandra Grabman did an excellent job researching and linking Salmi's autobiographical passages together, although I would have liked to read more about his film career. I would recommend this to anyone interested. 

Rating:  Bounty's Out (3.5/5) 

*** I received this book from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.