think people think of me in those terms. I don't go after such parts, but they do seem to come to me." Weitz, good-looking and well-built, is wired into suc- cess right now But then there is nothing he is now earning for which he hasn't worked. One of five boys from a sup- portive Jewish family from Norwalk, Conn., Weitz aban- doned the sports field — where he was a high school All-American in baseball and football — for the field of ac- ting. "I put athletics away when I was about 17," says Weitz, 44. He had a more sporting chance in drama, he reason- ed. As for pursuing athletics as an adult, Weitz says with a sly grin, "That's why they call them the boys of sum- mer." Now that he's a seasoned actor, Weitz can look back on early influences and give credit where credit is due. He has always been grateful, he says, for the direction given him by his high school English teacher, Dan Bowden. Bowden, says Weitz fondly, recently visited him backstage. After graduating from Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, where he earned B.A. and MFA degrees, Weitz packed up his diploma and headed to New Haven, Conn., where he spent a season with the Long Wharf Repertory Theater. It was then onto Minneapolis for work with the Tyrone Guthrie Theater. Subsequent stops along the path to popular success in- cluded the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and Joseph Papp's Public Theater Shakespeare in New York's Central Park. Weitz also ap- peared on Broadway in Thieves and The Basic Train- ing of Pavlo Hummel. The basic training of Bruce Weitz . . . In 1978, he segued to Hollywood, landing parts in such television hits as "Quin- cy," "Kojak," "Lou Grant" and "The White Shadow." It was his first big role, however, that still casts a large shadow everywhere that Weitz goes. As the grum- py, growling Mick Belker, Weitz seized the public by the lapels. Here was an under- cover cop under siege. He pun- ched, pinched and plugged away at criminals, earning collars and copping a viewing audience's adoring attention. "Playing that character on that show gave me my whole career," says Weitz, who readi- ly admits that it didn't hurt that the show's creator and The French Gourmet A new name. A new face. • the famous bakery & pastry shop where quality is supreme • originator of Custom Roasted coffee, imported "green" & roasted to your order while you watch • purveyor of Yogourmet, the best tasting low-fat yogurt A new Clarion Hotel 1 COUPON FREE BUY ONE YOGOURMET FROZEN YOGURT GET ONE FREE SAME SIZE! OFFER GOOD THRU DEC. 31, 1988 • 1 Coupon Per Person • Not Valid With Other Coupons OPEN EVERY DAY MON.-SAT. 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SUNDAY 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 32920 MIDDLEBELT AT 14 MILE • 626-1700 Ring In A New Year With Us Our New Year's Eve Package In The Orchard Ballroom Includes: • Dinner at 8 p.m. (Prime Rib of Beef or Char-Broiled Breast of Chicken, Baked Potato, Vegetable, Amaretto Mouse) • 2 Drink Tickets • Cash Bar Until 2 a.m. • Dancing To Sounds of Trade Secrets • Overnight Accommodations • Champagne In Room • Brunch New Year's Day 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Late 4 p.m. Checkout • Party Favors Since 1939 Couple $ 1 79 99 • ! NN Clarion Hotel 7618 Woodward Ave. 871-1590 SPECIAL QUALITY PARTIES UP TO 200 Specializing In: Bar Mitzvahs, Sweet 16s, Discover a new name and a new face. Discover the Clarion Hotel of Farmington Hills. For reservations, call 3131553-0000. 31525 Twelve Mile Road Farmington Hills, Michigan 48018 The Pike Street Restaurant Showers, Anniversaries, Retirement Parties, Birthdays, Weddings, Etc. Invites You To Enjoy The Wonderful Cuisine Special Appetizer Parties Available Of It's Award Winning Executive Chef CALL ERNIE . . . AND ASK ABOUT OUR LOW BANQUET RATES FOR ALL OCCASIONS. Brian Polcyn FINE DINING . . . CATERING . . . BANQUET FACILITIES Let Us Help You Plan Your All-Occasion Parties Call For Further \ Information & Reservations West Pike Street off Wide Track (Woodward) • Pontiac 334-7878 ichad at the corners RESTAURANT • BAR • WINE BAKED SHORT RIBS DINNER CHOICE OF SOUP OR SALAD t m45 W Reservations Now Being Accepted For Our Gala New Year's Eve - Michael's is A Perfect Place For Your Holiday Parties And Business Meetings OPEN SUNDAYS 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 17600 W. 13 Mile (at Southfield Rd.) 540-4444 DELI and RESTAURANT I SHIVA DINNERS OR TRAYS Free Delivery Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ... Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 21754 W. 11 MILE AT LAHSER • HARVARD ROW 352-4940 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 71