WhatGoesAroundComesAround_DavisRob

frailty and dealing with the reality and implications of that frailty on
their financial circumstances.
The fact was that during his illness, she had been forced to turn down
several lucrative jobs that he’d been offered. She’d also blown through
much of their savings paying for the medical expenses not covered by
insurance. Moreover, it was apparent that he would not be returning to
full strength for some indeterminate amount of time. All of this provided
a stunning wake-up call and she determined to get matters in hand,
beginning immediately.
My father made his living as a character actor. He had come to New
York City from his family’s home in Meriden, Connecticut as a young
man to pursue a career in the theater. If success is measured by
following one’s heart and always doing for a living what one loves most,
then my dad was a great success. He spent pretty much his entire adult
life doing just what he set out to do, enjoying a career as an actor. He
began by touring the country with a Shakespearean troop, performing
different roles each day of the week. When radio was the rage, he would
race from studio to studio doing multiple characters on several shows
each day. When I was growing up, it was normal to see him on TV in a
soap opera or on Phil Silver’s “Bilko.” There were always various TV
commercials running and occasionally he’d land a Broadway or an off-
Broadway role.
He loved his work when he was working. Sometimes, however, there
were long stretches between jobs and during these times, his job became
finding the next job. He called it, “making the rounds.” Day after day,
he would drive into Queens from our Long Island home and take a
subway into the city. He’d spend the day dropping in on agents,
producers and casting directors to make sure they knew he was