What do you think?
Rate this book
Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir
Emmy Award–winning actress Sharon Gless tells all in this laugh-out-loud, juicy, “unforgettably memorable” (Lily Tomlin) memoir about her five decades in Hollywood, where she took on some of the most groundbreaking roles of her time.Anyone who has seen Sharon Gless act in Cagney & Lacey, Queer as Folk, Burn Notice, and countless other shows and movies, knows that she’s someone who gives every role her all. She holds nothing back in Apparently There Were Complaints, a hilarious, deeply personal memoir that spills all about Gless’s five decades in Hollywood. A fifth-generation Californian, Sharon Gless knew from a young age that she wanted to be an actress. After some rocky teenage years that included Sharon’s parents’ divorce and some minor (and not-so-minor) rebellion, Gless landed a coveted spot as an exclusive contract player for Universal Studios. In 1982, she stepped into the role of New York Police Detective Christine Cagney for the series Cagney & Lacey, which eventually reached an audience of 30 million weekly viewers and garnered Gless with two Emmy Awards. The show made history as the first hour-long drama to feature two women in the leading roles. Gless continued to make history long after Cagney & Lacey was over. In 2000, she took on the role of outrageous Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk. Her portrayal of a devoted mother to a gay son and confidant to his gay friends touched countless hearts and changed the definition of family for millions of viewers. Apparently There Were Complaints delves into Gless’s remarkable career and explores Gless’s complicated family, her struggles with alcoholism, and her fear of romantic commitment as well as her encounters with some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Brutally honest and incredibly relatable, Gless puts it all out on the page in the same way she has lived—never with moderation.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2021
206 people are currently reading
1412 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Gless
20 books23 followersFew actresses have the distinction of being recognized and revered worldwide for multiple iconic roles in groundbreaking television shows. Sharon Gless is one of them.
Sharon Marguerite Glessis an actress known for her television roles which began with her 1972 Universal contract, where she appeared in top-rated television series including: The Rockford Files, The Bob Newhart Show, Kojack, Adam-12, Faraday and Company, Marcus Welby and several television movies.
She went on to play outstanding characters such as Maggie Philbin on Switch (1975–78), Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey (1982–88), the title role in The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (1990–92), Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer as Folk (2000–2005), and Madeline Westen on Burn Notice (2007–2013).
Throughout her TV and film career, Gless has also acted on stage, to rave reviews in various productions in the US and London, England.
She also recorded many radio plays.
A 10-time Emmy Award nominee and seven-time Golden Globe Award nominee, she won a Golden Globe in 1986 and Emmys in 1986 and 1987 for Cagney & Lacey, and a second Golden Globe in 1991 for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill. Gless received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995.
She is passionate about issues involving human rights and LGBTQ causes.
She has been married to Barney Rosenzweig, a television producer, since 1991.
Sharon Marguerite Glessis an actress known for her television roles which began with her 1972 Universal contract, where she appeared in top-rated television series including: The Rockford Files, The Bob Newhart Show, Kojack, Adam-12, Faraday and Company, Marcus Welby and several television movies.
She went on to play outstanding characters such as Maggie Philbin on Switch (1975–78), Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey (1982–88), the title role in The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (1990–92), Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer as Folk (2000–2005), and Madeline Westen on Burn Notice (2007–2013).
Throughout her TV and film career, Gless has also acted on stage, to rave reviews in various productions in the US and London, England.
She also recorded many radio plays.
A 10-time Emmy Award nominee and seven-time Golden Globe Award nominee, she won a Golden Globe in 1986 and Emmys in 1986 and 1987 for Cagney & Lacey, and a second Golden Globe in 1991 for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill. Gless received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995.
She is passionate about issues involving human rights and LGBTQ causes.
She has been married to Barney Rosenzweig, a television producer, since 1991.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
October 9, 2023
"Shortly after [my 70th] birthday party, I had my first severe pancreatic attack . . . A friend [of my husband] asked me why I had decided to get sober again at this point in my life. I didn't want to go into the medical history of the attacks, so I answered 'Apparently, there were complaints.' [My husband] tipped his head back and roared with laughter. My book title was born." -- on page 296
Actress Sharon Gless is one of those ubiquitous figures on American television, with an amazing four full decades (1973-2013) of nearly non-stop acting work split among headlining roles in dramatic or comedic shows (Switch, House Calls, Cagney & Lacey, The Trials of Rosie O'Neill, Queer as Folk, and Burn Notice) and TV-movies (such as the inspirational true story The Miracle of Kathy Miller, back when the non-cable networks used to dependably churn out quality dramatizations), earning her an armful of Emmy and Golden Globe awards as well. And before all of that success she paid her dues, so to speak, by being a contract player through Universal Studios - said to be the final one on their roster - and pre-stardom she was initially a perpetual guest star presence on their various prime-time shows (including Marcus Welby, M.D., Ironside, Adam-12, The Rockford Files, Emergency!, Kojak, and Black Sheep Squadron) that ruled the 70's airwaves. (Gless credits Universal's then-talent scout / manager Monique James - a coffee-drinking and chain-smoking force of nature - with setting her on the path to a successful career. Her recollections of Ms James are some of my favorite parts of the book.) So on the eve of her 80th (!) birthday Gless decided to pen a memoir, resulting in the entertaining Apparently There Were Complaints. It was a nice fast read - and it was easy to imagine it all being narrated in Gless' throaty Martini- and cigarette-affected voice - and likely the only 'complaint' I have is that I wish there was even more behind-the-scenes detail about working on those notable shows.
Actress Sharon Gless is one of those ubiquitous figures on American television, with an amazing four full decades (1973-2013) of nearly non-stop acting work split among headlining roles in dramatic or comedic shows (Switch, House Calls, Cagney & Lacey, The Trials of Rosie O'Neill, Queer as Folk, and Burn Notice) and TV-movies (such as the inspirational true story The Miracle of Kathy Miller, back when the non-cable networks used to dependably churn out quality dramatizations), earning her an armful of Emmy and Golden Globe awards as well. And before all of that success she paid her dues, so to speak, by being a contract player through Universal Studios - said to be the final one on their roster - and pre-stardom she was initially a perpetual guest star presence on their various prime-time shows (including Marcus Welby, M.D., Ironside, Adam-12, The Rockford Files, Emergency!, Kojak, and Black Sheep Squadron) that ruled the 70's airwaves. (Gless credits Universal's then-talent scout / manager Monique James - a coffee-drinking and chain-smoking force of nature - with setting her on the path to a successful career. Her recollections of Ms James are some of my favorite parts of the book.) So on the eve of her 80th (!) birthday Gless decided to pen a memoir, resulting in the entertaining Apparently There Were Complaints. It was a nice fast read - and it was easy to imagine it all being narrated in Gless' throaty Martini- and cigarette-affected voice - and likely the only 'complaint' I have is that I wish there was even more behind-the-scenes detail about working on those notable shows.
June 23, 2022
There's the title, for starters. Excellent title for a memoir.
Then there were the blurbs - submitted by Tyne Daly, Rosie O'Donnell, Lily Tomlin and Jane Lynch.
Sharon has a lot of great friends. And you do get the sense, about halfway through the work, that these are the people responsible for encouraging this enterprise. Because she really kind of, sort of, doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to be going over this life with a fine-toothed comb. I don't blame her. Tough road.
At seventy-eight years of age, you've got to ask yourself if it's actually worth dredging up the feckless father, the tippling mom, the hyper-critical grandmother (upon whose good graces your survival depended), the harsh Dominican nuns, the boarding school, the childhood fantasies, the teenage delusions, the aimlessness of an untended soul...and all of this before the arduous choice to become an actress. Few supported her in anything she did, and she paid a hefty price for this - most apparent to the reader in her many attempts to take full responsibility for every bad patch she experienced. Hardest to hear was her husband's ridiculously self-serving admission about her weight gain:
"Sharon, I was a poor Jewish boy from East L.A. All I ever dreamed about was a beautiful blonde shiksa. I finally had my dream, and within a year you were gone."
While she tries to take responsibility for this, too, I try to have hope that her inclusion of the remark is evidence of an awareness of just who the injured party was in that exchange.
This is the sort of memoir it is, and she claims she's not writing another.
Again, can't blame her.
Then there were the blurbs - submitted by Tyne Daly, Rosie O'Donnell, Lily Tomlin and Jane Lynch.
Sharon has a lot of great friends. And you do get the sense, about halfway through the work, that these are the people responsible for encouraging this enterprise. Because she really kind of, sort of, doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to be going over this life with a fine-toothed comb. I don't blame her. Tough road.
At seventy-eight years of age, you've got to ask yourself if it's actually worth dredging up the feckless father, the tippling mom, the hyper-critical grandmother (upon whose good graces your survival depended), the harsh Dominican nuns, the boarding school, the childhood fantasies, the teenage delusions, the aimlessness of an untended soul...and all of this before the arduous choice to become an actress. Few supported her in anything she did, and she paid a hefty price for this - most apparent to the reader in her many attempts to take full responsibility for every bad patch she experienced. Hardest to hear was her husband's ridiculously self-serving admission about her weight gain:
"Sharon, I was a poor Jewish boy from East L.A. All I ever dreamed about was a beautiful blonde shiksa. I finally had my dream, and within a year you were gone."
While she tries to take responsibility for this, too, I try to have hope that her inclusion of the remark is evidence of an awareness of just who the injured party was in that exchange.
This is the sort of memoir it is, and she claims she's not writing another.
Again, can't blame her.
December 8, 2022
This book is one that I devoured in one day. Sharon Gless is a personal favorite actress if mine and her story is fascinating. Great way to spend some time.
November 8, 2024
Book started out a bit slowly, and it didn’t hold my interest at all until probably she got to her Cagney and Lacey days. Until then, I guess it was background to this first build up. Maybe it’s because I love women and the friendships we have that it finally started to groove for me. But also, the early stories were over before they started. It was like a couple of pages of this and a few of that and before you know it, she’s all grown up and striking out on her own. I felt like I didn’t really get a chance to know her.
She did a much better job once her career was in swing. She’s had a much more interesting and varied career than I realized. Aside from her role as Cagney, the only other show I’d seen her on was Burn Notice, which was a cute show. I had no idea how big a heart she has for the LGBTQ+. That made me luv her just a bit more.
One thing I would’ve liked more of was her relationships. Book was largely about her acting with a little bit about the people who were important to her. I especially would’ve liked to know more about the dynamic she had with her mother.
Actually, I would’ve liked for her to talk more about sizeism and fatphobia. Obviously Hollywood is full of both, but she grew up with it in her family too and then gave into her body’s hungry later in life. With so many women struggling with body image and self love issues (thanks sexist patriarchy!), this felt like a missed opportunity. She described often about what happened to her without getting into how she felt about it. If she had, this book would’ve been so much stronger.
I’ve got to see this Queer as Folk show! Have put it on my list. Probably going to be a while before I get to it. Too many books and other shows on the list ahead of this one, but I surely will get to it eventually.
She did a much better job once her career was in swing. She’s had a much more interesting and varied career than I realized. Aside from her role as Cagney, the only other show I’d seen her on was Burn Notice, which was a cute show. I had no idea how big a heart she has for the LGBTQ+. That made me luv her just a bit more.
One thing I would’ve liked more of was her relationships. Book was largely about her acting with a little bit about the people who were important to her. I especially would’ve liked to know more about the dynamic she had with her mother.
Actually, I would’ve liked for her to talk more about sizeism and fatphobia. Obviously Hollywood is full of both, but she grew up with it in her family too and then gave into her body’s hungry later in life. With so many women struggling with body image and self love issues (thanks sexist patriarchy!), this felt like a missed opportunity. She described often about what happened to her without getting into how she felt about it. If she had, this book would’ve been so much stronger.
I’ve got to see this Queer as Folk show! Have put it on my list. Probably going to be a while before I get to it. Too many books and other shows on the list ahead of this one, but I surely will get to it eventually.
May 8, 2021
Actress Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey, Queer as Folk) is a 5th generation Angeleno and is the perfect voice to write a memoir about growing up and living in Hollywood. She grew up in privilege, but most of that privilege was a facade and she realized that very early on. Despite knowing many major actors/executives growing up, (her grandfather was Neil McCarthy, a prominent Los Angeles attorney for Howard Hughes, and many actors) Sharon Gless never internalized that *I'm Somebody* mindset and that's what shines through in the memoir. She is what you see. A remarkable actress who doesn't take herself as a woman too seriously, although she takes her profession seriously.
Gless discusses her battles with her weight, alcoholism and becoming involved with a married man. This is not a tell-all memoir about her interactions with Hollywood stars, although she does write about them. She gives actors grace in the book, albeit there is one actor who she detested working with and for good reason. You'll have to read the book to find out who.
*I read an advance copy and was not compensated
Gless discusses her battles with her weight, alcoholism and becoming involved with a married man. This is not a tell-all memoir about her interactions with Hollywood stars, although she does write about them. She gives actors grace in the book, albeit there is one actor who she detested working with and for good reason. You'll have to read the book to find out who.
*I read an advance copy and was not compensated
December 17, 2021
This is Nonfiction/Memoir/Autobiography. I am unfamiliar with this author's earlier acting jobs. I only know her from Burn Notice and I loved her on that show. (It was a great show.)
I liked that Sharon Gless was so personable. This felt honest and unapologetic, which is how I like the memoirs I read. I liked her attitude too. She covered her life as a whole...from childhood...to acting...to other life choices. So 4 stars.
I liked that Sharon Gless was so personable. This felt honest and unapologetic, which is how I like the memoirs I read. I liked her attitude too. She covered her life as a whole...from childhood...to acting...to other life choices. So 4 stars.
July 10, 2021
Gless's autobiography is a must for any fan of her work and for television fans in general. As a fan of her groundbreaking work in Cagney and Lacey, it was striking to me how much of Gless's own life played into Christine Cagney. For example, Gless was a child of privilege who went to boarding school and was deeply affected by her parents' divorce when she was a teen. What's more, Gless struggles with alcoholism, like Cagney. In fact, the well-known scene in the show where Cagney guzzles wine in an Italian restaurant when her on-screen dad, Charlie, who had supposedly given up drinking, orders wine with dinner is based on something Gless did in real life in an argument with her alcoholic boyfriend.
Hollywood stories and personal stories abound in Gless's autobiography and, like the woman herself, they are irreverent and bawdy, but with deep loyalty and lots of heart.
Hollywood stories and personal stories abound in Gless's autobiography and, like the woman herself, they are irreverent and bawdy, but with deep loyalty and lots of heart.
November 23, 2021
Often when reading celebrities memoirs, one is anxious to get to the part where fame arrives. This book is the exception. You won’t hear about Cagney and Lacey until half way through, but you won’t mind at all. Sharon Gless is brutally honest, names names, and is a thoroughly entertaining story teller. A very enjoyable book.
January 25, 2022
I have watched most of the shows Sharon Gless was in since I was a child up to and including Burn Notice. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half. It was fun and funny. I liked (not loved) the second half and looked forward to more antidotes about Burn Notice but only a few were included. I just loved her character in that show. I do recommend this book if you enjoy the actress.
May 18, 2021
I downloaded this digital galley and got about 4 hours sleep because this book was too much fun to put down. The voice is perfect--it's as if Sharon Gless is talking to you as a friend. The stories are poignant, outrageous, and fascinating. Absolutely terrific!
March 17, 2022
I am a sucker for celebrity memoirs, especially "older Hollywood"--not so much old Hollywood, but the figures I grew up watching as a kid who tell tales about making TV and movies in the 60s, 70s, 80s. The last standout in this arena for me was Alison Arngrim's book, and Sharon Gless's ranks up there for me as well. It delivers exactly what you expect it to: early childhood context with a Hollywood spin (Gless's family was old LA money/old Hollywood power players!), and then a chronological move through early career to breakout to Emmy awards to decline to second wind with lots of wit, insights, some "spilling tea" and moving vulnerability. Gless is shockingly honest in parts, which just makes me love her all the more.
For me, as an elder Millennial, Gless is pure Deb. I fell in love with her watching Queer as Folk as a teen--never seen a single episode of Cagney and Lacey. I enjoyed reading all that came before that career comeback, realizing how huge that show was, and being delighted by the twists and turns that were new to me. Cheating on the set scandal! Alcohol and drugs! Gless is candid about it all--including where she f*cked up. I was fascinated especially with how frank she was about her 30-year marriage to her Cagney and Lacey showrunner--that's the one she had a years-long affair with on the set! me: GASP. It was both heartbreaking and engrossing to read about the ups and the downs, and I won't spoil the good parts but Gless gets REALLY candid.
I just like her. It felt like going out for an epic drinks session (not that Gless can drink any more!) with a fabulous new friend/woman you've admired for years, who regales you for hours with just the BEST stories. Some of the chapters are short vignettes or asides--a memorable celebrity encounter, a big moment on the show--most cresting to a killer punchline. I laughed a lot. I also cried--the chapter about the important women of Gless's life who succumbed to cancer hit me right in the gut.
This book was just a good time. If you have a soft spot for Gless as I do, I recommend it. That said, the Queer as Folk part is really only a chapter or so, but it was still more than worth it for all the rest.
For me, as an elder Millennial, Gless is pure Deb. I fell in love with her watching Queer as Folk as a teen--never seen a single episode of Cagney and Lacey. I enjoyed reading all that came before that career comeback, realizing how huge that show was, and being delighted by the twists and turns that were new to me. Cheating on the set scandal! Alcohol and drugs! Gless is candid about it all--including where she f*cked up. I was fascinated especially with how frank she was about her 30-year marriage to her Cagney and Lacey showrunner--that's the one she had a years-long affair with on the set! me: GASP. It was both heartbreaking and engrossing to read about the ups and the downs, and I won't spoil the good parts but Gless gets REALLY candid.
I just like her. It felt like going out for an epic drinks session (not that Gless can drink any more!) with a fabulous new friend/woman you've admired for years, who regales you for hours with just the BEST stories. Some of the chapters are short vignettes or asides--a memorable celebrity encounter, a big moment on the show--most cresting to a killer punchline. I laughed a lot. I also cried--the chapter about the important women of Gless's life who succumbed to cancer hit me right in the gut.
This book was just a good time. If you have a soft spot for Gless as I do, I recommend it. That said, the Queer as Folk part is really only a chapter or so, but it was still more than worth it for all the rest.
October 29, 2024
Honest and at times hilarious, if you watched Cagney and Lacey or Queer as Folk, you will really enjoy this read!
February 12, 2022
This book is so much fun! Although there are many serious moments and events, Gless is entertaining through it all. She is self-aware with a wry sense of humor.
Plus she's done lots of interesting stuff.
I'm a big fan of Gless, starting with Cagney & Lacey and even her guest spots on various shows before that. I loved her in Burn Notice and Queer as Folk. She is an interesting and brave actress.
Gless discusses her work, her loves, her alcoholism and sobriety. The book is emotionally satisfying, on many levels. I was less interested in the family background but that's me, I am rarely interested in origin stories but I was interested in the wealth and dysfunction that she inherited.
A good luck at "the business" and at a very full life that is still going strong at 78.
Plus she's done lots of interesting stuff.
I'm a big fan of Gless, starting with Cagney & Lacey and even her guest spots on various shows before that. I loved her in Burn Notice and Queer as Folk. She is an interesting and brave actress.
Gless discusses her work, her loves, her alcoholism and sobriety. The book is emotionally satisfying, on many levels. I was less interested in the family background but that's me, I am rarely interested in origin stories but I was interested in the wealth and dysfunction that she inherited.
A good luck at "the business" and at a very full life that is still going strong at 78.
April 29, 2022
Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir (Audio CD) by Sharon Gless.
This was off my beaten path of mysteries but chosen because of that wonderful show Cagney and Lacey. A favorite show of mine with Tyne Daily and Sharon Gless.
Sharon narrated this autobiography of her life in show business as well as her personal life. There was so much of it I never knew outside of Cagney and Lacey. She led a full life to say the least. Always on the move with new projects and people. She was/is a no holds barred type of person. That was a new one on me. A consistently motivated person who was ready to accept criticism coming from a person she respected.
This was a non-stop read for me and I found it quite interesting. I still think she may have more on the horizon.
This was off my beaten path of mysteries but chosen because of that wonderful show Cagney and Lacey. A favorite show of mine with Tyne Daily and Sharon Gless.
Sharon narrated this autobiography of her life in show business as well as her personal life. There was so much of it I never knew outside of Cagney and Lacey. She led a full life to say the least. Always on the move with new projects and people. She was/is a no holds barred type of person. That was a new one on me. A consistently motivated person who was ready to accept criticism coming from a person she respected.
This was a non-stop read for me and I found it quite interesting. I still think she may have more on the horizon.
May 27, 2024
When I was a kid I LOVED Cagney & Lacey. I wanted to be like Christine Cagney, a female cop with attitude who wasn’t beholden to any man.
Fast forward hundreds of years later and Sharon Gless has finally got round to writing her autobiography, which I pounced on with glee. And guess what, it pretty much appears that there are distinct similarities between the author and Christine Cagney.
The book kicks off with Sharon’s childhood where her wealthy grandmother, Grimmy, plays a pivotal role but despairs of where the future will take Sharon. Sharon despairs too but then fate takes hold and in the early 70s her acting career starts, and the rest is history.
It’s such a wonderfully well written and honest biography. Sharon doesn’t hold back and I was absolutely fascinated to read the life story of a woman who has been an icon of mine for so long. Her voice bursts from the pages; she made me laugh with her self deprecating comments (of which there are many) and she made me smile at so many of her antics and actions. This book was an absolute joy to read, from start to finish.
I love Sharon Gless even more than ever now. She’s a smart, strong, inspirational trailblazer. Just like Christine Cagney.
Fast forward hundreds of years later and Sharon Gless has finally got round to writing her autobiography, which I pounced on with glee. And guess what, it pretty much appears that there are distinct similarities between the author and Christine Cagney.
The book kicks off with Sharon’s childhood where her wealthy grandmother, Grimmy, plays a pivotal role but despairs of where the future will take Sharon. Sharon despairs too but then fate takes hold and in the early 70s her acting career starts, and the rest is history.
It’s such a wonderfully well written and honest biography. Sharon doesn’t hold back and I was absolutely fascinated to read the life story of a woman who has been an icon of mine for so long. Her voice bursts from the pages; she made me laugh with her self deprecating comments (of which there are many) and she made me smile at so many of her antics and actions. This book was an absolute joy to read, from start to finish.
I love Sharon Gless even more than ever now. She’s a smart, strong, inspirational trailblazer. Just like Christine Cagney.
January 21, 2022
Unsatisfying memoir from an actress with way too much ego and self-centered attitude. What could have been a deeply insightful look into her privileged upbringing and unmerited career instead is just another chance for mouthy, obnoxious Gless to spew her insecurities. There are some good stories but it's difficult to get past the fact that Gless confirms all the horrible things we've ever heard about her.
Despite her unwillingness to state it outright, she had a Cinderella upbringing with rich grandparents and two family members deeply involved in Hollywood. Her early adulthood was spent wandering around because she stubbornly wouldn't let anyone give her direction or fund her education--a typical elitist rich girl who is handed everything but rebels at every chance because her daddy left her when she was young. She's so dumb as a teen that she turns down a bribe to meet with Cary Grant if she'll just do what her family wants, but her Irish stubbornness makes her go her own way to a young life of smoking, drinking, drugs, quitting school, and dead-end jobs.
When Gless suddenly, out of nowhere, gets called for a television role that she is totally unqualified to take, she wonders why and refuses to face the fact that her famous relatives were getting her work. She had two things working for her: great looks and inside connections. This feminist won't admit to either, but that's the way most people make it in the business and there's nothing inspirational reading about how she was given TV work despite her lack of abilities. It probably helped that her reputation was that she slept around and loved to party with lots of drinking and drugs. Gless, however, interprets it as she has great talent despite her inexperience at acting.
She then starts to brag about really minor roles in relatively obscure shows, leading her to demand top billing for Cagney and Lacey despite her being the third actress to play Cagney! She should be embarrassed by her ballsy attempt to force others to honor her as top dog when she has little to show for it. And, to be blunt, beyond Cagney she doesn't have much to show for most of her entire career (her Queer as Folk turn was not only a bizarre performance but proved she was probably miscast).
While she does mention "struggles," she rarely admits her own failures and to this day continues to dance around her alcoholism. She tells us that others saw her as that and she saw her family members as alcoholics, but Gless never really commits to admitting she had a serious drinking problem that she wants to name. Sharon still seems mad that she was forced to give up liquor and she's no poster child for the recovery movement, refusing to go to regular AA meetings and starting to drink again.
She does the same with all the random sex, married man-stealing, chain smoking, and drugs. She acts as if all of it is no big deal, which may have been true in her naive twenties but not when the worst of it comes during her most successful years on Cagney and Lacey. I still don't understand why she and her Cagney-producer husband are together when she does nothing but talk about why she should have divorced him.
And, BTW, his book is much, much better. Or if you want an autobiography about a great hot-headed Irish Catholic actress who knows how to put introspection in writing, get Kate Mulgrew's first memoir.
This is one bull-headed chick who marries the only man who ever had power over her, a daddy figure who would give her whatever she wanted on set and treat her like a queen, but once the show was done she constantly clashed with. I don't know if there's anyone in the book she actually doesn't have trouble with, since she throws her husband, best female friend, brother, mother, father, grandparents, co-workers, and psychologists under the bus.
The Gless book is too short and glib, lacking the depth needed to provide humble self-analysis. She appears to be bragging about everything, overstating her acting qualifications and history. No wonder so many people, including her c0-stars and husband, thought she was a selfish jerk. "Apparently" there were many complaints from those she insulted or hurt and they were all totally justified, but to the end she simply doesn't care.
Despite her unwillingness to state it outright, she had a Cinderella upbringing with rich grandparents and two family members deeply involved in Hollywood. Her early adulthood was spent wandering around because she stubbornly wouldn't let anyone give her direction or fund her education--a typical elitist rich girl who is handed everything but rebels at every chance because her daddy left her when she was young. She's so dumb as a teen that she turns down a bribe to meet with Cary Grant if she'll just do what her family wants, but her Irish stubbornness makes her go her own way to a young life of smoking, drinking, drugs, quitting school, and dead-end jobs.
When Gless suddenly, out of nowhere, gets called for a television role that she is totally unqualified to take, she wonders why and refuses to face the fact that her famous relatives were getting her work. She had two things working for her: great looks and inside connections. This feminist won't admit to either, but that's the way most people make it in the business and there's nothing inspirational reading about how she was given TV work despite her lack of abilities. It probably helped that her reputation was that she slept around and loved to party with lots of drinking and drugs. Gless, however, interprets it as she has great talent despite her inexperience at acting.
She then starts to brag about really minor roles in relatively obscure shows, leading her to demand top billing for Cagney and Lacey despite her being the third actress to play Cagney! She should be embarrassed by her ballsy attempt to force others to honor her as top dog when she has little to show for it. And, to be blunt, beyond Cagney she doesn't have much to show for most of her entire career (her Queer as Folk turn was not only a bizarre performance but proved she was probably miscast).
While she does mention "struggles," she rarely admits her own failures and to this day continues to dance around her alcoholism. She tells us that others saw her as that and she saw her family members as alcoholics, but Gless never really commits to admitting she had a serious drinking problem that she wants to name. Sharon still seems mad that she was forced to give up liquor and she's no poster child for the recovery movement, refusing to go to regular AA meetings and starting to drink again.
She does the same with all the random sex, married man-stealing, chain smoking, and drugs. She acts as if all of it is no big deal, which may have been true in her naive twenties but not when the worst of it comes during her most successful years on Cagney and Lacey. I still don't understand why she and her Cagney-producer husband are together when she does nothing but talk about why she should have divorced him.
And, BTW, his book is much, much better. Or if you want an autobiography about a great hot-headed Irish Catholic actress who knows how to put introspection in writing, get Kate Mulgrew's first memoir.
This is one bull-headed chick who marries the only man who ever had power over her, a daddy figure who would give her whatever she wanted on set and treat her like a queen, but once the show was done she constantly clashed with. I don't know if there's anyone in the book she actually doesn't have trouble with, since she throws her husband, best female friend, brother, mother, father, grandparents, co-workers, and psychologists under the bus.
The Gless book is too short and glib, lacking the depth needed to provide humble self-analysis. She appears to be bragging about everything, overstating her acting qualifications and history. No wonder so many people, including her c0-stars and husband, thought she was a selfish jerk. "Apparently" there were many complaints from those she insulted or hurt and they were all totally justified, but to the end she simply doesn't care.
December 16, 2021
Complaints?
What a life from childhood through today. Give this woman a show! I loved this good. My complaint…..I want more. Reading this felt like just sitting listening. I could hear her voice while I was reading this. I may get the audiobook, just to hear it allowed. Thank you Ms Gless for sharing your stories.
What a life from childhood through today. Give this woman a show! I loved this good. My complaint…..I want more. Reading this felt like just sitting listening. I could hear her voice while I was reading this. I may get the audiobook, just to hear it allowed. Thank you Ms Gless for sharing your stories.
April 17, 2022
I don't know how truthful the tale was, but it was an interesting read: a privileged Oliver Twist with grandmother Fagin. A psychologist would have a field day.
December 27, 2021
I've thought a lot as to whether I should write a review. I have decided not to, since I would probably regret down the road what I would say here. But I think the one-star rating speaks for itself, so I will let it go at that.
November 27, 2022
What a wonderful book to start off the new year with. I’ve loved Sharon Gless most of my life. I loved her and Cagney and Lacey. But I really loved her as Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk. Sharon is a national treasure and this autobiography is the perfect way to get to know her a little bit better.
December 13, 2021
BRAVO
My only "complaint" is how fast I read this jewel . I just couldn't put it ďown. I've always been a fan but now I'm also in love. Bravo Sharon and thank you.
My only "complaint" is how fast I read this jewel . I just couldn't put it ďown. I've always been a fan but now I'm also in love. Bravo Sharon and thank you.
February 14, 2022
Ms. Gless' sense of humor comes through the pages of her memoir; I could almost hear her reading the words aloud.
January 11, 2022
Most people that I know would know Sharon Gless from her time on Cagney and Lacey TV show which I watched religiously every week. I didn't realize that she's had a working life since then (or even before then). The Irish certainly comes out in this memoir. Gless has certainly lived her life on her own terms.
February 19, 2022
I have always been a fan of Sharon Gless. This book is so much fun. You laugh, cry and empathize with her. Her heritage, family upbringing and struggles through her adolescent were interesting. It was a page turner and you did not know what person or place would be on the next page. Thank you, Sharon Gless for sharing your story!
December 5, 2021
I enjoy reading celebrity memoirs. I watched Cagney and Lacey as a kid. I gravitated to Gless’ character since she seemed cool, hip, and sauve. It was interesting to read about her life preceding the show and what she has been up to since it aired. She has pulled reckless stunts and had personal issues. She gets her pot shots in, but hey it’s her book. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the early read.
December 5, 2021
I love a good show biz memoir, especially when the author waits until later in life to write it.
Sharon Gless, best known for her multiple Emmy-winning performance in Cagney and Lacey, was born into a prominent Los Angeles family--her grandfather was a powerful entertainment attorney who hobnobbed with such luminaries as Cecil B. DeMille and Louis B. Mayer. She says she was "rambunctious and expressive" from an early age and was obsessed with movies but didn't decide on an acting career until late in her twenties. She didn't fit the usual starlet mold but nevertheless scored a 10-year contract from Universal and has the distinction of being the very last contract player in Hollywood.
In her memoir, which she says took her 8 years to write from contract to publication, she frankly discusses her ongoing battles with alcoholism, depression, and her weight, her many romantic relationships, her encounters with a host of celebrities you will recognize, her closest friends and family, and her many professional successes (and failures). What I particularly enjoyed was the refreshing transparency and humor with which Gless narrates her life--warts and all. I felt like I came to know her better and appreciate her more as I read this entertaining book.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
Sharon Gless, best known for her multiple Emmy-winning performance in Cagney and Lacey, was born into a prominent Los Angeles family--her grandfather was a powerful entertainment attorney who hobnobbed with such luminaries as Cecil B. DeMille and Louis B. Mayer. She says she was "rambunctious and expressive" from an early age and was obsessed with movies but didn't decide on an acting career until late in her twenties. She didn't fit the usual starlet mold but nevertheless scored a 10-year contract from Universal and has the distinction of being the very last contract player in Hollywood.
In her memoir, which she says took her 8 years to write from contract to publication, she frankly discusses her ongoing battles with alcoholism, depression, and her weight, her many romantic relationships, her encounters with a host of celebrities you will recognize, her closest friends and family, and her many professional successes (and failures). What I particularly enjoyed was the refreshing transparency and humor with which Gless narrates her life--warts and all. I felt like I came to know her better and appreciate her more as I read this entertaining book.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
February 8, 2022
Loved the title and loved her very candid book. I had forgotten some of her great performances, which surprises me since they were certainly memorable enough (clearly old age is catching up with me.) She's a few years older than I, so it was nice to relive the past seven decades through her stories and to read about her life experiences and about the actors she worked with throughout her long, multi-award-winning career. In the 1980s, I was in a giftshop in Cambria CA, looked up, and there stood Sharon, who was also shopping. I've seen literally hundreds of celebs over the years and some disappointed. She didn't in the least, and she's wrong to say she was never a beauty because she was (and is) stunning. What I didn't know until I read this book is just how warm and amusing she is. I appreciated that she didn't trash people and she didn't make excuses for herself. She's an extraordinary woman who has led a fascinating life. No complaints from this reader!
June 7, 2022
I loved Sharon Gless as Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk, but I wasn’t really familiar with her career or life outside of that role. I became interested in reading her memoir when I heard some positive stuff about it, especially in regards to how candid she was. I appreciate celebrity memoirs when they name names and don’t try to present a sanitized view of their life.
Sharon Gless’ book didn’t feel like it held much back. It was interesting to hear about her time being one of the last few people brought into Hollywood under the old contract system. And even though I hadn’t seen any of the shows or movies she was discussing in her early career, I loved her stories of how she fought for roles and tried to make them her own. She’s also very open about her struggles with alcoholism.
I’d definitely recommend checking out this book if you’re looking for a celebrity memoir that goes there.
Sharon Gless’ book didn’t feel like it held much back. It was interesting to hear about her time being one of the last few people brought into Hollywood under the old contract system. And even though I hadn’t seen any of the shows or movies she was discussing in her early career, I loved her stories of how she fought for roles and tried to make them her own. She’s also very open about her struggles with alcoholism.
I’d definitely recommend checking out this book if you’re looking for a celebrity memoir that goes there.
December 29, 2021
The new memoir by Sharon Gless was a joy to read. She is funny, sarcastic, open, and intelligent. She shares the truth about the life she were led as both a child of Hollywood, and as an actress for many decades. I found her stories both familiar and new, and I left the book feeling as though we were new-found friends.
April 26, 2022
This is a very interesting Hollywood memoir, entertainingly read by the author, the outspoken and sometimes delightfully bawdy actress Sharon Gless.
She doesn't appear to hold anything back. She begins with her childhood as a native Californian with a grandfather who was a top entertainment lawyer; often embattled parents, a wandering dad and functioning-alcoholic mom; body and food issues; boarding school; grandparents; and other stories of this bright and talented, but lonely and insecure, little girl.
Sharon's dream is to be an actress, and she works hard and realizes her dreams. She is a hardworking and hugely successful TV star, earning awards and wealth, all as a single and independent woman. She navigates family issues, and continues to fight weight battles.
Gradually she moves from heavy drinking to alcoholism to recovery. She finds lasting love (30+ years now) with her producer husband Barney Rosenzwieg, but not before years of turmoil. She reinvents her acting career over and over. She loves and loses dear friends. It is a very full and interesting life, and now in her 70s, I expect it will continue to be. I can see why publishers encouraged her to write a memoir.
Note: I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book, which I borrowed (downloaded) from the library. But as Sharon was talking, I just knew the print and e-book editions must include great photos, and so I also borrowed the print edition. I was right, don't miss the photos of young Sharon and present-day Sharon, and her loved ones, and career highlights.
She doesn't appear to hold anything back. She begins with her childhood as a native Californian with a grandfather who was a top entertainment lawyer; often embattled parents, a wandering dad and functioning-alcoholic mom; body and food issues; boarding school; grandparents; and other stories of this bright and talented, but lonely and insecure, little girl.
Sharon's dream is to be an actress, and she works hard and realizes her dreams. She is a hardworking and hugely successful TV star, earning awards and wealth, all as a single and independent woman. She navigates family issues, and continues to fight weight battles.
Gradually she moves from heavy drinking to alcoholism to recovery. She finds lasting love (30+ years now) with her producer husband Barney Rosenzwieg, but not before years of turmoil. She reinvents her acting career over and over. She loves and loses dear friends. It is a very full and interesting life, and now in her 70s, I expect it will continue to be. I can see why publishers encouraged her to write a memoir.
Note: I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book, which I borrowed (downloaded) from the library. But as Sharon was talking, I just knew the print and e-book editions must include great photos, and so I also borrowed the print edition. I was right, don't miss the photos of young Sharon and present-day Sharon, and her loved ones, and career highlights.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews