Joker To Journalist Charles Grodin always itched for something more substantial than Hollywood; he found it on "60 Minutes II" ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER Special to the Jewish News Ill or Charles Grodin, com- Novi Expo Center Novi, MI a4R). April 20, 21, 22, 2001 Su arloaf • air (&) Ar koR0 e admission coupons available at Farmer Jack, from sugarloafcrafts.com e or call 800-210-9900 irul Friday - Sunday 10-6 Adult Daily Admission $6 Under 12 and Parking FREE Off 1 96 NW of Detroit at Ex. 162. Go Discount South on Novi Rd. R. on Expo Ctr. Dr. Observer 6 - .centrir - ficikabWN Buy crafts online at craftsontine.com • Marvin Q. Yagoda, owner, Brings You The Best of Rembrandt This Coupon Good For 4 Quarters r. 1 Coupon Per Person S AMU" Mon -Sat • 10-11 Sunday • 11-11 LEGAL usrop,*! Pv G. Free quarters for use only on games at Marvin's 3 1005 ORCHARD LAKE RD. BEHIND. F&M, SOUTH OF 14 MILE • (248)626-5020 Expires 412610 1 A Great Home-Cooked Dining Tradition Since the 20's mentator on 60 Minutes II, the transition from film star to television news was easy. "I worked in theater and movies, but my personal life has always been more focused in news," says Grodin, who starred in more than 30 films, includ- ing Beethoven, Heaven Can Wait, Catch 22, Rosemary's Baby and Midnight Run. "When I was 12 years old, I was the humor editor in school, and I wrote a piece about Truman and Dewey. I think I know more about government than govern- ment people know about show business." Grodin's training ground for his coveted CBS news position was cable television. He was a talk-show host on CNBC from 1995-1998 and MSNBC from 1998-1999, dealing with social and political issues. "When they hired me to be on CNBC, they knew me as someone who was in the movies, and thought it would be more of an entertainment type program," he says. "But on my second night, my guest was New York Gov. Mario Cuomo for a whole hour. About four months Charles Grodin later, the O.J. Simpson trial began and I was able to move "My mother passed away three years more toward social issues, which was ago at the age of 88 and I had an where my head was anyway." extraordinary relationship with her. It's Born and raised in a predominantly hard to talk about her even now. My Jewish suburb of Pittsburgh, Grodin mother was buried next to my father, began acting when he left the even though he predeceased her by 42 University of Miami after one semes- years. The same rabbi officiated at ter. "My dad had just died and I was both funerals." too depressed to stay in college, While Grodin, who lives in although I was doing well," he says. Connecticut with his wife, Elissa, and "So I came home and began acting 13-year-old son, Nicky, doesn't formal- classes at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, ly practice Judaism now, he says he has which is what I eventually wanted to a strong identification. "My wife do anyway." joined the synagogue up here, but I'm After years of performing in summer more of a cultural Jew," says Grodin, stock, he appeared in an Off-Off- who has an older married daughter Broadway show called Don't Destroy from a previous marriage. Me, and made his Broadway debut in As for his heroes, Grodin's cousin Tchin Tchin, starring Anthony Quinn. Phyllis Zusman, of Farmington Hills, In 1962 he made his first feature film, is one of the people who come to Sex and the College Girl. - ANN SAYLES DINING ROOM Classic American Home-Cooked Cuisine at Very Reasonable Prices Home-Cooked Food Like Grandma Used to Make! SINCE 1970 AFFORDABLE Catering Home or Office 4/20 2001 80 For the location nearest you Tease N.VWW. pa p:Arom all OS .COM • Sauteed Chicken Livers • Broiled Whitefish • Lake Perch • Meat Loaf • Broiled Salmon • Grilled Beef Liver And So Much More! FRESH ROASTED TURKEY CUT FROM THE BIRD! Lunch & Dinner Entrees Include: Appetizer or Soup, potato, vegetable, dessert & beverage. Open 6 Days • Closed Mon. • Carry-Out & Group Parties 4313 W. 13 Mile Rd. 2 Blocks East of Greenfield • Royal Oak (248) 288-6020 • Fax (248) 288-6020 While his career continued to take off, he branched out and wrote several books, including It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here (1989) and How I Get Through Life (1991). Grodin grew up in a close-knit fami- ly. His father, Ted, who had changed his last name from Grodinsky, sold hangers, buttons and suit liners to cleaners, tailors and dressmakers. His mother, Lena, helped with the business. She was an Orthodox Jew, and kept a kosher home. "But my father did not practice," Grodin says.