Cast of Characters

by Sean Catherine Derek

What it's like to grow up in Hollywood when your father is John Derek and your stepmothers are Ursula Andress, Linda Evans and Bo Derek...

Genres: Memoir

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1982

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I re-read Cast of Characters recently after having read it when it was first published. The sad truth of this book... is that it's very watered down. The behavior of those involved was worse than was written. Linda Evans was my godmother, know all the players personally, and I had a front row seat for much of what occurred... and far, far more. Bunky and Linda aren't given enough credit for the special people they are. The book is honestly... shallow. The breeding ground of narcissism is unresolved pain and fear. And there are no great insights in this book, other than descriptions of events... and some fabrications to cover other events. Not all that glitters is gold.

[Ellyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely horrendous schlock that I am ashamed to admit I devoured greedily. Poorly written and edited, but nonetheless outrageously compelling, this memoir by Sean Catherine Derek, daughter of actor and director John Derek, is sort of a manual of the bad behavior of privileged Hollywood families. The drama is bigger than Dynasty, which starred one of the romantically prolific disastrous Derek's wives, Linda Evans. Sean Derek doesn't behave much better than her nasty dad, but it's a wonder she and her brother (barely) survived. Good trashy beach read.