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Death, Sex & Money

How Harvey Fierstein's Bad Sex Led to Good Art

Death, Sex & Money

Slate Podcasts

Business, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Careers, Relationships, Sexuality

4.67.6K Ratings

🗓️ 8 June 2022

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The acclaimed actor and playwright tells me about coming of age during the gay rights movement, why a rubber band signifies financial stability, and how he thinks he'll be remembered.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, I'm Harvey Firestein and my memoir is called I Was Better Last Night.

0:07.0

When I say it, I didn't, I didn't, you like hit the last as much as you, you really get it.

0:15.0

Well, because I've lived it, you know.

0:20.0

This is Death, Sex, and Money.

0:25.0

The show from WNYC about the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.

0:32.0

I'm Anna Sale.

0:41.0

Theater is an act of faith, as you know.

0:44.0

You go to a performance, only the people in the theater know that that performance happened.

0:49.0

Either you were there that night or you didn't or else it was better last night.

0:54.0

Which is why I think actors hang on to so much crap.

0:57.0

You know, they all have like pieces of costumes and you know, in posters and programs and all this stuff.

1:03.0

Because we can't hang on to what we actually love doing.

1:06.0

You know, a furniture can make a can make them self-retable and say that's what I do.

1:12.0

But an actor can't.

1:15.0

Harvey Firestein's life is one of dreams coming true.

1:19.0

He's won four Tony's for his acting and writing and shows like Torch Song Trilogy, Hair Spray, and Lakaja Full.

1:26.0

He played Robin Williams' brother, Mrs. Doubtfire.

1:29.0

And one night in his dressing room after a performance, he got to kiss his childhood crush Richard Chamberlain.

1:36.0

Well, Richard Chamberlain, I mean, it's a gorgeous creature.

1:41.0

And especially on television, he's absolutely flawless.

1:44.0

And you know, it's this beautiful man.

1:49.0

And I was very attracted to him as a child and followed his career.

...

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