Fall Down Laughing: How Squiggy Caught Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody

by David L. Lander

The actor who played "Squiggy" on television's Laverne and Shirley offers fans an inspirational, touching memoir of his long fight with multiple sclerosis with humor and pathos. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2000

About the author

David L. Lander was an American character actor, comedian, musician, and baseball scout who was best known for his portrayal of Squiggy on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley. He also served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Reviews

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very guilty of typecasting this man simply as "Squiggy", but after reading this book, I'm shocked and amazed. Mr Lander is an amazing man. With strength and intelligence, he relives his beginning stages of MS and how he hid and dealt with it. Knowing nothing about MS, David does a examplary job of telling the average person what it really means to battle this condition. Mr Landers is a hero in my book and I'm thankful he's got the courage and wisdom to share his story so others can benefit. A great book to add to your collection.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, whether you have MS or if you're just a fan

As a kid, I always thought of Lenny and Squiggy as the two dolts that live upstairs from Laverne & Shirley. I've been watching the DVD collections of the show with my kids and I've noticed something. Usually, I grade papers when I watch TV (one of the perks, lots of papers!) and I find myself listening to Laverne & Shirley, but I stop and WATCH Lenny and Squiggy. Squiggy, in particular, is in constant motion and always doing something weird/quirky/downright odd and inappropriate!

So, I was inspired to go out and find Fall Down Laughing: How Squiggy Caught Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody and read more about Lander's struggle with MS. Plus, it's always interesting to see how someone made it to the big time.

Both parts of the book are interesting and a pleasure to read. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and blasted through the book in no time. Landers stories about his early career, how he hid his MS and how he deals with it now are told with all of the grace of a natural born storyteller.

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[Bert Edens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a huge Squiggy fan and having a dear friend with multiple sclerosis, I had to check this book out. And boy am I glad I did. Lander tells not only how he got into show business, but also how the characters of Lenny and Squiggy (initially, Lenny and Anthony) developed.

He also tells of how the first signs of MS appeared and how he struggled with not only the symptoms, but post-diagnosis, how he hid his MS from everyone but his immediate family. The book progresses to where he finally goes public and ultimately becomes a Goodwill Ambassador for the National MS Society.

Told with plenty of humor, as you would expect, the book is also very honest and open, which was good to see.

This book is recommended for anyone who likes a good biography, has MS or any other life-altering diagnosis, or knows someone who does. It's very heart-warming.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of the book is very accurate ... this memoir is largely about the author / actor's discovery of his multiple sclerosis and his attempts to keep it hidden from his professional community. It's about a man dealing with an illness, its effect on his career & his family, and the decision to reveal its existance to the world - eventually.

This does not mean that you won't learn about David L. Lander, the man - you will. This does not mean you won't get a few glimpses behind the scenes of Hollywood - you will. (VERY little, but there.) BUT, it DOES mean that if you're looking for the insider's dirt on "Laverne & Shirley", you should probably pass on this book and find something more to your liking.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a well written story of a man dealing with one of life's crises - ongoing crises, no less - and who just happens to be a comedian, this is definitely a good investment of your time and money.

P.S. I have a couple of friends who are concerned that they might have MS - tests are pending. I've recommended this book to them.

[Janet Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few days ago, the man we all know as Squiggy died. I have always loved this character so I was saddened to hear of his passing. I was surprised to learn that he had MS and looking further, saw that he'd written a memoir. Checking the book out from Internet Archive, I found myself transported into David Lander's life and what it was like to get MS and how it affected his life through the years. David's writing is breezy and readable, full of interest and introspection. I really appreciated gaining a real understanding of what MS is and how it affects a person. I had no idea there were four types and that one can progress into another. I didn't know that MS can come and go and can be hidden from people in many cases. David hid his illness for 15 yrs before finally coming out. He then became an ambassador for the disease and spent the rest of his life as one of its many champions. It amazes me that he was able to act in so many roles after his diagnoses, and nobody knew for 15 yrs, not even his co-star from Laverne & Shirley, Michael McKean. I can see how it must have hurt to learn this secret had been kept from you but I also understand why he did it. Hollywood is merciless and any defect will cause the hoards of jackals to rip you apart.

A fast, easy, interesting and entertaining read, David's story will enlighten but also leave you feeling sad. You'll feel that you've gotten to know this man as a good friend but now he's gone. But still, I'm happy to have gained a deep understanding about MS.

LLAP, David and our beloved Squiggy. You may have been typecast, but your memory will never be forgotten.

[Lynnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book - I read it in one evening. The beginning starts out with how David Lander became Squiggy with interesting facts (like how his last name is really Landeau but he had to change it to Lander because union rules wouldn't allow two people with the same name)and then developed into his diagnosis and hiding of MS.
He shares his frustrations with the uncertainties and unpredictable nature of MS. He tells of times after walking for a while he would be so tired he needed a wheelchair but than after resting for a little bit he was able to walk again and the looks/questions he would get, as if he was making it up. I love his honesty, even though it hits too close to home.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was diagnosed with MS over ten years ago, I made my husband swear to keep it a secret. So much of what David Lander writes in this book hits so close to home. It took me over a year to say the words out loud, "I have MS". And even then, I didn't want to be pitied. I am still the same person I was before! This book touches me in so many ways because the author puts into words so many of the things that I have had to deal with. I highly recommend this for anyone who has MS, has a loved one with MS, or just wants to know what it is like to live with this very unpredictable disease

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I laughed and cried and the best part, I was able to talk about MS more with my father. He's been dignosed with MS for 4 years, however my father was misdignosed and had a really hard time talking about MS to anyone because he didn't know how to feel or what to feel. Then, after reading this book, I was able to relate and understand my father a lot better. We laughed and cried and told everyone about this book. A must read!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a long book to read but enjoyable all the same.

Enjoyable book which gives us the inside story how it is to live with MS and all that goes along with it.

David Lander provides an educational book while entertaining us with his writing.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best "celeb" written book on this subject. Following reading it I was invited to attend a private reception held by the MN MS Society which featured "Squiggy"...of course had my book signed :)

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining book but it is also true. I was diagnosed in 1998 and I had a lot of the same things happen. It is a must read for anyone with MS or knows anyone with MS.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. He talks about his MS and I have MS as well. I met him twice and the second time he even remembered me, which was pretty cool.

[Jill Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed reading Mr. Lander's honest account of his fight with multiple sclerosis. I could totally relate to his reluctance letting anyone in on his secret.

[Dalene Kolk]

As a person with MS I could sympathize with David. The book is well written and interesting.

[Edmund Davis-Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying it so far, but got lost and due back on the library. There is always another time. Got to page 58. My cat Squiggy approves of me reading about Squiggy.

[Robin Helman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The struggle is real, does not matter how rich or famous you are, MS will still make things miserable!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative, short read about MS. It's pretty light on Andrew Squiggman, unfortunately, who has a solid and special place in my childhood. The book is pretty solidly focused on how he hid his disease for many years.

[Jennifer Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was born in 1976. I remember watching re-runs of Laverne and Shirley with my mom, all the time. Of course, back then I didn't know what MS was. I never even heard of it until Montel Williams announced that he had it. That was another show that my mom watched and I watched with her back in the 90's. Even after I heard that he had it, I still didn't know what it was. That was, until I started displaying symptoms of it myself. I didn't really think much of it even then, I just thought I must have some weird virus or something. Then one day my mom called me and practically yelled at me that I had to see a doctor, she had read an interview with Montel and the weird things that were happening to me and I had MS. I asked her, "WTF is MS, really"? She made me promise to see the doctor.
I was 29 and I thought it was something that older people got but it took less than 3 months to be diagnosed. Then I started finding out how many famous people have MS! Even then, there were re-runs of Laverne and Shirley on occasion and I watched them. I was amazed at how well "Squiggy" hid his symptoms! When I saw this book on Ebay, I just had to buy it!

The book is really worth reading for fans of Laverne and Shirley or even people who are pretty new to the disease themselves. He chronicles his acting life as far back to the late 60's and the problems he sometimes had with higher-ups in the business giving him problems when the symptoms he couldn't explain reared their ugly heads. He talks about problems in his marriages, at the time he wrote this book he had already been divorced twice and was married for the 3rd time.
He talks about doctors not having the slightest idea what was wrong and sometimes just writing him off, and doctors that told him he might have MS when he was refusing to do anything about it. Even when the first treatments for MS came out, how he didn't want to take them because his insurance would know he had probable MS and he'd never be able to get work again. The book goes through an immense length of his life and reading it was eye-opening. I'd never thought someone could suffer for so long and hide it so well, but I am glad that now he is an MS Ambassador and he works with the Multiple Sclerosis Society. It would be awesome if he ever came back to my area to appear at one of the events, I'd love to see him and thank him for writing this book that everyone with MS can enjoy!!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squiggy writes! David Lander details his entertainment career, how he got started with Michael McKean and Harry Shearer (some fabulous shots of Harry with long hair in the book!), his work on "Laverne & Shirley", and how he realized he had Multiple Sclerosis and proceeded to keep the information from his friends and colleagues. Lander keeps the stories flowing fast, and the book reads like an extended conversation with an entertainment insider. A quick read, and an entertaining autobiography.

[Margaret]

This was a fast weekend read. Enjoyed learning more about David Lander (did you know that Lenny and Squiggy started out as Lenny and Anthony?). I also learned a lot more about MS (multiple sclerosis) of which I was woefully ignorant. Besides being such a funny guy, David Lander is a really couragous person and I admire his perservering spirit and determination to help others.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous biographical book about David Lander's (Squiggy from Laverne and Shirley) personal struggle with MS... I really enjoyed it and felt more understanding towards those with MS. Wow, it could happen to any of us!

[Cecelia]

Just got it!

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book. It isn't just for people with MS.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and funny. I related to this book a lot.

[Pam Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! David Lander has such and easy going style of writing and is an inspiration for the newly diagnosed, hope to be finally diagnosed people with MS.

[Jeff Somogyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sometimes funny, but mostly heartbreaking look at how Lander deals with his diagnosis and subsequent living with MS.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really gives some insight into what it's like to live with MS. It's too bad I don't think I'd like the man very much.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick interesting read. Very inspiring!

[Michelle Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!

[Shirley Givens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was living with MS for years before being officially diagnosed in 2021.  I got annual MRIs, and I did not take any meds due to side effects.  I had one flare up in 2021.  My legs decided to a break and I was numb from the waist down. I decided to try MS-4.  The numbness and Muscle spasms went away after a couple of weeks, but it took almost 3 months to walk properly without a cane.  In June, it will be four years without incident, and I am extremely happy that I made the decision to not take any meds and went for the MS-4 formula even though my neurologist got upset and one told me to quit my job because I will be disabled.  Well, I am not disabled, I still refuse to take those meds, and I am doing just fine.  Believe in yourself and go with your instincts.  Doctors don't know it all. I’m surprised a lot of people with MS haven’t heard of the MS-4 protocol, Visit uinehealthcentre. net I hope you find it helpful