Richard Dysart was one of them.
I was casting a radio spot and I need a homey, Pepperidge Farm kind of voice. When I heard Richard's read of my script, I knew I'd found it.
At the time, he was enjoying his long-running ride as Leland McKenzie on L.A. Law. Because of that, he was in demand and I recall scheduling the session was difficult. I was asked more than once to recast with a different talent so we could get moving on it, but after hearing Richard that just wasn't going to happen.
I remember the session well. We recorded it at L.A. Studios (always a favorite place to work). It was the day before I was going to have surgery for the second time on my right arm, which I'd broken in three places in a serious car accident years earlier. The doctors had to put in a steel plate to hold the bone together while it healed. Once it did, there was no need to keep the plate in, but there was also no need to have another surgery if I didn't have to. So it stayed in for seven years, until one day, while playing volleyball and taking several direct hits where the plate was, my arm swelled up to twice its size. The muscles were inflamed from the hits and the repeated action of them rubbing the edge of the plate.
I decided then and there it was coming out.
Talking to Dysart after our session, we talked about my upcoming surgery the next morning. He could see I was anxious about it, and he went out of his way to take the time to comfort and reassure me it would all turn out fine.
Which it did.
After the surgery, I don't know how but Richard got my home phone number and called to see how things turned out. I was surprised to hear from him - to say the least - but extremely appreciative for his call.
I never worked with him again, but enjoyed many of his performances beyond L.A. Law, including the doctor in John Carpenter's The Thing.
I'll always remember Richard Dysart as a great actor. But even more than that, a class act.
Rest in peace.
