Little by Little: People I've Known and Been

by Rich Little

"How did I become an impersonator? Perhaps my mother was conceived by a Xerox machine!" So, how did a kid from Ottawa, Canada, growing up in the 50's become an impersonator? No one in our family had ever been in show business. No one ever had "show business" yearnings. My father was a doctor. My mother was a housewife. So where did it come from? I've often asked myself this question. I didn't know the answer, but I did love the movies. As a boy, I would go every weekend, sometimes staying to see the show twice. Just going to the movies and getting so involved in the story-telling and the characters made me want to be that person up on the screen; never dreaming that I could turn it into a career. The glory days of Hollywood and their icons, like no other, have remained as indelible images in our hearts and minds for decades. I, like many, idolized these giants of the screen and comedy, but was so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet, work with and get to know many of them along the way during my career. From the genius of Jack Benny, the unmatched humor of George Burns, the debonair, handsome Cary Grant, the unforgettable John Wayne, the king of late night hosts Johnny Carson, and the former actor-turned-President Ronald Reagan to name a few. In this gem of a book are insights into the likes of many of these great people I've had the privilege and fortune to meet and imitate, shining new light on our beloved stars. This is really not a biography, but more of a humorous glimpse of the people I've impersonated and some of the funny stories that happened along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

252 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2016

Reviews

[Mediaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy-to-read short book that demands little of the reader, but provides little as well. Rich comes across as an easy-going guy who tells memories of some of the famous people he worked with. That's all there is to it. This is not a biography, is incredibly repetitive about minor details, and is surprisingly incomplete.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different star, and all but one are men. Most are older Hollywood stars with a few politicians mixed in. He makes sure to point out the Republicans so that we don't think he's one of them, but he never points out those that are Democrats. Why the bias?

The book also contains many interesting photos of Rich with famous people, but many of those pictured are barely or never mentioned in the text, including Doris Day, Fred MacMurray, Julie Andrews, Liberace, Gene Kelly, Loni Anderson, Tom Selleck, Dolly Parton, Nancy Reagan, Jackie Gleason, Kirk Douglas, Phyllis Diller, and Sammy Davis Jr. He also says pretty much nothing about the TV shows he acted in.

Much of what is included is insignificant or about throw-away meetings. Give him credit for bluntly slamming a few of the people he knew well (like Paul Lynde and Stewart Granger) but he sure seemed to break up with many of his "friends," leading to the obvious question about why he had so much trouble getting along with others. The oddest story is about him sharing a birthday with Robert Goulet and getting upset that people didn't fawn over him at Goulet's birthday party--so much for his claimed lack of ego. He instead should have written a biography talking about his four marriages, his kids, his struggles, and more behind-the-scenes of the many television shows he did. What's here is okay, but it's just plain too little.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up when Rich Little was hugely popular and I loved him so this book was enjoyable! It was very interesting to learn of the relationships he had with the people he imitated. So many wonderful stars of the past. He has lived an amazing life - such a talented guy!

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich Little writes about his career and the many famous people that he has imitated and met.