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Tony and Me: A Story of Friendship
The author pays tribute to his friend and colleague, Tony Randall, describing their work on the television program "The Odd Couple" and working for the National Actors Theatre.
141 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 8, 2024
Easy read that's pretty enjoyable, and also sweet.
April 18, 2014
Jack Klugman were not just co-workers; they were friends. That can be a difficult dynamic to find in a world of situation comedies where the stars laugh for the cameras and then retreat to their separate quarters with a snarl behind the scenes.
These two had each others' backs. When Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer and lost his voice, Randall refused to accept that this meant his career was over. He urged, nudged, supported and badgered his friend back into working again, and the two of them teamed on some wonderfully successful and entertaining plays, usually as part of Randall's beloved National Actor's Theatre repertoire.
Klugman is warm and engaging here, and as you read this slim volume, you can hear the smile behind his words. His love for Randall radiates from every page, as does his grief at Randall's then fairly recent passing. Now Klugman has left us, too, and we are the poorer for it.
These two had each others' backs. When Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer and lost his voice, Randall refused to accept that this meant his career was over. He urged, nudged, supported and badgered his friend back into working again, and the two of them teamed on some wonderfully successful and entertaining plays, usually as part of Randall's beloved National Actor's Theatre repertoire.
Klugman is warm and engaging here, and as you read this slim volume, you can hear the smile behind his words. His love for Randall radiates from every page, as does his grief at Randall's then fairly recent passing. Now Klugman has left us, too, and we are the poorer for it.
December 29, 2012
This book has been on my to-read list for awhile but after hearing about Jack Klugman's passing earlier this week, I knew I should see about getting it.
It is an easy, entertaining read on the relationship between Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. It shows that friendship can take many form and in this case it was not only a professional friendship, but a very personal one as well. Jack relates many funny stories of their relationship through the run of the Odd couple (the show that brought them together) and afterwards, through Jack's cancer, and also Tony's dream of the National Actor's Theater based out of New York City.
Also a DVD accompanies the book....a ten minute blooper reel from the Odd Couple.
Great and fast read for the fans of the Odd Couple or either Jack Klugman or Tony Randall.
It is an easy, entertaining read on the relationship between Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. It shows that friendship can take many form and in this case it was not only a professional friendship, but a very personal one as well. Jack relates many funny stories of their relationship through the run of the Odd couple (the show that brought them together) and afterwards, through Jack's cancer, and also Tony's dream of the National Actor's Theater based out of New York City.
Also a DVD accompanies the book....a ten minute blooper reel from the Odd Couple.
Great and fast read for the fans of the Odd Couple or either Jack Klugman or Tony Randall.
January 28, 2024
There is a lot of passion in these pages, but not a lot of content. I wanted much more.
August 24, 2011
Jack and Tony - the story of a friendship. Before reading this book, I didn't know all the much about Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. I knew they both starred in the television series The Odd Couple. I also knew Tony married a young woman late in his life and fathered two children when most people his age are enjoying visits from their grandchildren at the retirement community in which they live.
What strikes me the most about the two of these men is the genuine, no-strings-attached friendship they shared. It's the kind of friendship that everyone should experience. Having the best friend who would drop anything for you, even if you don't know you need your friend there.
Tony was there for Jack when he experienced throat cancer and was unable to talk. It was Tony who encouraged Jack to take up acting again after his surgery. Jack was there for Tony, especially at the end of his life. He stood in for Tony at the National Actors Theatre benefit and was there by Tony's side until nearly the end of his life. Even thought Tony has passed, their friendship lives on.
What strikes me the most about the two of these men is the genuine, no-strings-attached friendship they shared. It's the kind of friendship that everyone should experience. Having the best friend who would drop anything for you, even if you don't know you need your friend there.
Tony was there for Jack when he experienced throat cancer and was unable to talk. It was Tony who encouraged Jack to take up acting again after his surgery. Jack was there for Tony, especially at the end of his life. He stood in for Tony at the National Actors Theatre benefit and was there by Tony's side until nearly the end of his life. Even thought Tony has passed, their friendship lives on.
June 1, 2018
I love these two! Quick read and very enjoyable.
January 6, 2025
literally, the best book I ever read, and it made me cry! Not a joke and not a plug!
I have always loved Tony and Jack. The odd couple was one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. This book did something that the other books have bever done to me, and that is, make me actually feel something. I am literally in tears right now. Normally, when I read books, it’s just a bunch of text that I get a story out of and I move on, but tonight was different. This is literally the most heartwarming book I have ever read in my entire life, and I thank Jack Klugman, wherever you are in the afterlife, For being truly amazing. This is a love story, but not a romance. This is about true friends, and what they went through really blew my mind. This is definitely a must read!
I have always loved Tony and Jack. The odd couple was one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. This book did something that the other books have bever done to me, and that is, make me actually feel something. I am literally in tears right now. Normally, when I read books, it’s just a bunch of text that I get a story out of and I move on, but tonight was different. This is literally the most heartwarming book I have ever read in my entire life, and I thank Jack Klugman, wherever you are in the afterlife, For being truly amazing. This is a love story, but not a romance. This is about true friends, and what they went through really blew my mind. This is definitely a must read!
September 7, 2025
This a quick read, and it's delightful! I read the entire book in two sittings... and enjoyed every minute. This memoir by Jack Klugman shares insights into his professional and personal relationship with Tony Randall. The pair are best known for co-starring in the 1970s TV Show "The Odd Couple", a true classic of television comedy. Their professional affiliation began earlier, in live theater, and their partnership and friendship endured long after their TV show went off the air. The book features an excellent collection of photos, and the hardback edition includes a DVD featuring a hilarious collection of outtakes from The Odd Couple TV show. If you want to bring a smile to your face, watch that DVD and enjoy the book!
September 1, 2018
Amazing book- I couldn't help but cry in a few spots...I don't have enough words of praise, and I definitely want to buy this book for myself since i borrowed this from a local library.
Debated wether I should wait to watch the accompanying DVD or not, but figure the book review should be about the book of course...the dvd sounds awesome though, and I am going to pop it in now to unwind a little.
Debated wether I should wait to watch the accompanying DVD or not, but figure the book review should be about the book of course...the dvd sounds awesome though, and I am going to pop it in now to unwind a little.
July 8, 2023
Again, just like Dewey, my previous book, this was a simple little easy fun read. And again, like Dewey, I wasn’t really vested in it because the Odd Couple was a bit before my time and I never really got into it. Would I have enjoyed it more if I was a bigger fan…probably. Did I like it less because I wasn’t a fan…definitely not.
December 31, 2024
Sure, the book could use some light editing but overall it was a treat to read for someone currently watching "The Odd Couple." Tony Randall and Jack Klugman exhibit such skill and presence, and learning more about them enriches the experience.
October 19, 2020
Yes, the book was brief & informal, but it was a very sweet tribute to his friendship with Tony Randall. Can't wait to watch the DVD!
Read
December 30, 2020Nice to read; strongly impressed by American style of telling (not writing). Makes fun, but not very much new or impressing - if you are an fan of actors from "Old Couple"
May 27, 2021
Wonderful! If you have a few hours, enjoy this book of life and friendship.
December 9, 2021
Great story. Reads like Jack talks.
March 27, 2025
A wonderful read about an enduring friendship. Beautiful and sweet--I choked up quite a few times!
May 29, 2025
Quick read but such a lovely book and testament to a wonderful friendship. Made me like them even more than I already did.
July 13, 2025
Simply a lovely book. Love the story about the friendship and the behind the scenes of The Odd Couple.
December 31, 2020
I read this in an evening.
I watched the entire series of "The Odd Couple" over the pandemic. It was nice to laugh, and watch something (almost) brand new to me in the middle of all the chaos. Once again, a Garry Marshall production that I throughly enjoyed, but it wouldn't have been as good without the two lead actors. And, as I always do when I get entrenched in a show, I wanted to find out as much as possible about the actors' lives. Enter this book.
I think what made this book work was that, yes it was a memoir of a time in Jack Klugman's life, but it was framed in the context of his friendship with Tony Randall. There was just enough backstory about Klugman's life growing up and how it got into acting that it wasn't outside the scope of the story, and nothing took a hard left turn or went off on a tangent. Everything tied together and everything mentioned was necessary to the story.
I think, too, what makes this work well is that sometimes celebrity memoirs can get a bit naval gazing, or be dramatic, as celebrities can be, but the way this one is framed, learning about Jack through his friendship with Tony, and then learning about Tony subsequently as well, removes any potential for that element.
I haven't watched the DVD of outtakes yet, but I'm excited to do so.
I watched the entire series of "The Odd Couple" over the pandemic. It was nice to laugh, and watch something (almost) brand new to me in the middle of all the chaos. Once again, a Garry Marshall production that I throughly enjoyed, but it wouldn't have been as good without the two lead actors. And, as I always do when I get entrenched in a show, I wanted to find out as much as possible about the actors' lives. Enter this book.
I think what made this book work was that, yes it was a memoir of a time in Jack Klugman's life, but it was framed in the context of his friendship with Tony Randall. There was just enough backstory about Klugman's life growing up and how it got into acting that it wasn't outside the scope of the story, and nothing took a hard left turn or went off on a tangent. Everything tied together and everything mentioned was necessary to the story.
I think, too, what makes this work well is that sometimes celebrity memoirs can get a bit naval gazing, or be dramatic, as celebrities can be, but the way this one is framed, learning about Jack through his friendship with Tony, and then learning about Tony subsequently as well, removes any potential for that element.
I haven't watched the DVD of outtakes yet, but I'm excited to do so.
March 7, 2010
The book "Tony and Me: A Story Friendship" is Jack Klugman's loving tribute to his long time co-star and dear friend the late Tony Randall. The book covers the extent of their decades long friendship from their first meeting on the set of a 1950's TV show, to their days on "The Odd Couple", to Mr. Klugman's battle with cancer and ultimately with the passing of Mr. Randall in 2004.
Although the book is not autobiographical Mr. Klugman, nonetheless, does spend the first couple of chapters detailing the path he took to become an actor. If you are a fan of "The Odd Couple" or Jack Klugman these chapters will provide some interesting incite into the man. The author spends the balance of the book recounting various stories and anecdotes of their career together.
The book is short (less than 150 pages) and I was able to read it in a single sitting. It is an at times a funny and very touching book. I found myself laughing out loud more than once and even getting choked up on a couple of occasions. The love Jack Klugman feels for Tony Randall is palpable as you read through portions of this book.
As a bonus, the book comes with a DVD containing out takes from the "The Odd Couple". This 15 minute DVD, introduced by Jack Klugman, contains some extremely funny out takes from the series. It alone is worth the price of the book.
If you are a fan of "The Odd Couple", or Jack Klugman, or Tony Randall or just of classic TV I highly recommend this book. The investment of time needed to read it is minor compared with the enjoyment you with derive.
Although the book is not autobiographical Mr. Klugman, nonetheless, does spend the first couple of chapters detailing the path he took to become an actor. If you are a fan of "The Odd Couple" or Jack Klugman these chapters will provide some interesting incite into the man. The author spends the balance of the book recounting various stories and anecdotes of their career together.
The book is short (less than 150 pages) and I was able to read it in a single sitting. It is an at times a funny and very touching book. I found myself laughing out loud more than once and even getting choked up on a couple of occasions. The love Jack Klugman feels for Tony Randall is palpable as you read through portions of this book.
As a bonus, the book comes with a DVD containing out takes from the "The Odd Couple". This 15 minute DVD, introduced by Jack Klugman, contains some extremely funny out takes from the series. It alone is worth the price of the book.
If you are a fan of "The Odd Couple", or Jack Klugman, or Tony Randall or just of classic TV I highly recommend this book. The investment of time needed to read it is minor compared with the enjoyment you with derive.
September 26, 2008
This was a wonderful story of friendship. Jack wrote this after Tony died. It briefly tells about how they met, how The Odd Couple came to be and how their friendship became a life savor for Jack, especially after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Tony was instrumental in building Jack’s confidence back after Jack lost his voice from cancer surgery so that Jack could perform again. Tony was also helpful in allowing Jack to see how important friendship is, especially during rough times. Jack never thought much of friendships. He was a loner and reluctant to open himself up to trusting anyone. But, Tony showed Jack how much he cared and how much he was routing for him when he was trying to come back as an actor. This book is a tribute to a partnership, a very successful partnership. Included in the book is a DVD of some outtakes from The Odd Couple. This was the icing on the cake.
December 30, 2011
This is more of a short treatise to friendship than a biography or even a book. Nevertheless, it is extremely good in that respect. In it's short form, I love that dates are indicated and photos illustrate the vignettes of the deep friendship between Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. The directness is refreshing to my constant complaint of over writing. Besides the sadness of the loss of Randall is that more might've been added to make this an overall excellent book and biography.
December 17, 2009
Yep took less than an hour to read this one. Mostly pictures. Still I picked up some interesting Tony Randall info. He was married for 54 years. When his wife died he quickly seduced and then married an intern at his theater company. Jack also feels both he and Tony were great stage actors and that's why the show is so enjoyable. Not a bad way to kill an hour all in all.
November 25, 2014
This very slim book is a tribute to Tony Randall by his "Odd Couple" costar, Jack Klugman. He talks about doing the TV show as well as touring with Tony doing theater of both an "Odd Couple" revival and also "The Sunshine Boys". A quick but fun read. There is a DVD of 8 minutes of "Odd Couple" bloopers included.
April 29, 2012
This is one those rare times where you can actually feel the love and respect this author had for his friend and acting partner of thirty plus years. Simple, beautiful tale. This was an easy, pleasurable one sitting read.
June 14, 2015
3.75 This was sitting on my shelves for a while. Not the best in terms of writing, but a touching story of the friendship between Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. Some fascinating behind the scenes info on The Odd Couple TV show, a nostalgic favorite from my childhood.
May 25, 2018
Actually Klugman's Bio
I am a huge "Odd Couple" fan and was hoping this book would provide lots of behind the scenes stories about the making of the show. Rather, it reads more like Jack's biography.
I am a huge "Odd Couple" fan and was hoping this book would provide lots of behind the scenes stories about the making of the show. Rather, it reads more like Jack's biography.
March 24, 2008
Jack Klugman's remembrance of his friend and colleague, Tony Randall. Didn't learn anything new, but still an enjoyable read.
April 7, 2010
Short, sweet, and generally well-written love letter to Tony Randall written by Jack Klugman. Nothing earth-shattering here but a very nice remembrance. I hadn't realized they were that close.
June 13, 2010
Insight into a friendship that lasted for years. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews