Thursday, June 15, 2023

Glenda Jackson & Robert Gottlieb RIP

This week two titans of their respective crafts -- the legendary book editor Robert Gottlieb and the famous actress/British politician Glenda Jackson -- passed away at the ages of 92 and 87, respectively. 

Just a few months ago I blogged about the wonderful documentary Turn Every Page about the career of Robert Gottlieb -- and the countless great authors he worked with and their books that he published, especially his special working relationship with Robert Caro. A New Yorker to the core, Gottlieb not only edited books but also fundraised and helped run the New York City Ballet and was a huge part of the cultural life of this city. RIP

Glenda Jackson was not a New Yorker -- she was English and acted in movies, theater, and TV for decades except for when she took a 23-year break from acting to serve in the British House of Commons as a Labour MP (she even served as a minister in Prime Minister Tony Blair's government). She won two Oscars and many other awards and, if you've ever seen it, the 1971 mini-series where she plays Queen Elizabeth I is one of the best things I've ever seen. Fortunately I got to see her on Broadway -- twice -- in Three Tall Women in 2018 and King Lear in 2019. You can read my reviews of them here. She was a giant of acting and politics. RIP.

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