Deli Unique I 967-39991 25290 GREENFIELD North of 10 Mile Rd. CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS S CATERING TO GO! Beth Jacob Synagogue but can't remember any of his gifts. "Checks? I think there were checks." It was a memorable event in any case, held on Saturday, February 15, 1958, the same day of the (then) largest snowstorm in Baltimore's history. "In the morning it was all very pretty," he remembers, "but by 5 o'clock it was a serious storm and by 8 o'clock only half the guests made it to the party. The half that came were forced to stay for three days. Fortunately there was enough food:' Apocryphal Tale #2: Catching the Acting Bug. Opening night. The first time on stage and playing the lead role. Michael 'nicker star- ring in the Baltimore Actors Theater production of "Peter Pan:' Most fourteen year old boys wouldn't relish the thought of wearing tights in public but the experience was what convinced 'nicker to become an actor. That conviction sustained him through four years of training at Carnegie lbch in Pittsburgh and six years of regional theater before taking on New York. "By the time I went to New York I knew I could act. I'd been through it and felt like I had my feet under me," 'nicker explained with quiet confidence. It was performing in New York that provided 'nicker with some of his most satis- fying experiences in the theater. "Doing Shakespeare in the Park was incredible, and of course it's exciting to open on Broadway," he enthused. "Then again, to close on the same night . . ." he added, referring to "The Good-bye People," one of three Broad- way plays among his credits. Despite the success that comes with a hit television series, 'Ricker speaks most fondly of performing in front of an audience, not a camera. "As an actor, I was brought up in the theater," he acknowledges. But still you sense there is something more. Apocryphal Tale #3: The Leading Lady. The theater has been good to 'Ricker not only profes- sionally, but personally as well. It was while in the com- pany of the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. that he met his wife of thirteen years, ac- tress Jill Eikenberry. Eikenberry, who won an Obie Award last year for her performance in Lanford Wilson's "Lemon Sky," is cast opposite her husband on the new series. She plays Ann Kelsey, the pro bono partner who is smart, successful, stylish and sexy. True roman- tics find solace in the fact that the couple get to play lovers both on screen and off. Initially to viewers, the statuesque Connecticut Yankee and the dowdy tax at- torney might have seemed an unlikely pair, but the court- ship and recent travails of Ann and Stuart seem more interesting and honest than the granite-jawed angst or yuppie reserve of the pro- gram's other litigious love birds. Steven Bochco, creator of the series and the man behind "Hill Street Blues," is an old friend of 'Dickers and in cre- ating the characters tailored the roles to the couple. The result is an undeniable chem- "Work is the most relaxing part of this celebrity thing." istry for viewers and a rare opportunity for the acting spouses to work together. Although occasionally ap- pearing in the same produc- tions in the past, it wasn't un- til twelve years after they met that the two exchanged lines on stage. Now each week they relive their romance in prime time. The arrangement suits them both perfectly. "I enjoy working with Jill more than I've enjoyed work- ing with any other actor," 'nicker claims convincingly. "Working together is great fun," agrees Eikenberry, add- ing, "Working in general is great. Actually, work is the most relaxing part of this celebrity thing." There's little doubt of that. Since the premiere of "LA Law," Ricker and Eikenberry have received the lion's share of attention, suddenly mark- ed as a Hollywood fun couple. They have been the subjects of numerous articles, in- cluding a feature in People magazine, and have sat in the hot seat opposite Joan Rivers on her late night talk show.. Both actors, however, are quick to point out that they have never considered their careers to be linked together, and are anxious not to be seen as a "professional cou- ple!' "We have no interest in becoming the new Steve and Edie," insists 'Dicker. There seems to be little danger of that as Tucker is soon to be seen on the large screen teamed with actors who are not his wife, the sub- ject of Apocryphal Tale #4: Let's Do Lunch. It's been said that the for- tunes of an actor are limited to either feast or famine. In a town that loves taking its successes to lunch, 'Dicker won't be losing any weight in the near future. Having already appeared in many films, including Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo," and Barry Levison's "Diner," Tucker is featured in two more high profile pictures due out early this year. In "Radio Days," written and directed by Woody Allen, the actor gets to play his "largest and possibly best role to date." The film takes place in the early 40's during the golden age of radio and 'nicker plays the father of Allen's childhood alter ego, a kid whose life is inalterably in- fluenced by A.M. radio. Co- starring with him is Julie Kavner, the gifted come- dienne who portrayed Bren- da, Valerie Harper's sister on the old "Rhoda" TV series. She, too, has had a small sup- porting role in another Allen film. Allen offered Tucker the part without an audition or interview. Dismissing such a supreme vote of confidence from arguably the best film- maker in America, 'Ricker simply remarks, "Woody likes using his actors over again:' Before "LA Law" starts in- to reruns Tucker will be featured in another major release. "Tin Men" from lbuchstone is the story of aluminum siding salesmen in Baltimore and stars Richard Dreyfuss and Danny DeVito. In the film Tucker plays Bagel, a role he originated in "Diner." Also set in Baltimore, that film challenged the actor to retrieve the local accent forced out of him by a zealous speech coach back in college. "After shooting 'Diner' the producer told me I had the best Baltimore accent on the set," Tucker noted with amusement. "I didn't bother telling him origins always pay off." Tucker's origins are begin- ning to show substantial dividends, leading one to make Apocryphal Prediction #1: The Fan Club. His wife calls him "sexy, funny and terrific." The ratings says he's a hit. In- dustry insiders are talking Emmy. His mother is con- vinced he can do no wrong. Why not a fan club? After all, Ticker's the guy who took ordinary qualities, a few foibles and quirks, and with receding hairline, paunch and all, showed us yet another, unlikely way to become a star. No wonder everyone's a Michael 'nicker fan. Or soon will be. We Do It All! or Deliver Foods To Add To Your Party! • TEXAS BAR-B-Q • COMPANY PICNIC • OFFICE PARTY • GARDEN BUFFET • RECEPTIONS • ORGANIZATION'S • KOSHER (Cooked In Your Home) • HORS D'OEUVRES • TORTES • PASTRY MINIATURES 425-7705 Kitchen: Home: 5574721 Restaurant AT APPLEGATE SQUARE Northwestern Hwy. at Inkster Rd. 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