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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.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
December 7, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797134222
- File size: 283726 KB
- Duration: 09:51:05
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Actor Sharon Gless's animated yet intimate tone, gentle pacing, and husky timbre will keep listeners glued to her fascinating memoir. Gless holds little back as she exposes her flaws and vulnerabilities. Listeners learn of her privileged but unsettled childhood in California, her struggles with weight and alcohol, and her unconventional romantic life, including her lengthy relationship with producer Barney Rosenzweig. And, of course, there is an extensive behind-the-scenes look at her film, theater, and television career, including her Emmy-winning role as Christine Cagney in the 1980s hit TV show CAGNEY & LACEY and her memorable performance as Debbie Novotny in Showtime's groundbreaking series QUEER AS FOLK. Listeners will enjoy spending time with the fiercely independent, frank, and appealing Gless. M.J. Winner of AUdioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine -
March 1, 2022
Emmy Award--winning actress Gless recounts her life in this hilarious, laugh-out-loud memoir. She grew up in California, with an idyllic upbringing (her grandfather was a prominent Los Angeles attorney who represented such clients as Howard Hughes and Katharine Hepburn). Her childhood was privileged but shadowed by her parents' divorce and her struggles with weight. She entered the acting profession in her late twenties and was one of the last contract players signed by Universal Studios in the early 1970s. She appeared in many television series and films before landing a major hit with Cagney & Lacey, which ran for seven seasons in the 1980s. She later made a notable impression with her portrayal of Debbie Novotny on the groundbreaking series Queer as Folk. Here Gless discusses her struggles with addiction, her affair with married producer Barney Rosenzweig (whom she later married), and her experiences dealing with sexist producers. There is also a generous bit of name-dropping, as Gless shares entertaining stories about her encounters with major Hollywood players. VERDICT This honest, humorous memoir will be an enjoyable listening experience for fans of Gless and her work.--Phillip Oliver
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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September 20, 2021
Emmy Award–winning actor Gless debuts with a no-holds-barred look at her long and storied career. One of Universal’s last contract players, signed in 1972, Gless made guest appearances on TV dramas including Emergency and Ironside before catapulting to international fame as NYPD Det. Christine Cagney on the popular ’80s series Cagney and Lacey (a role she was offered three times and declined twice). She followed that up with star turns as diverse as the brash Debbie Novotny on 2000’s Queer as Folk and Burn Notice’s fiery Madeline Westen. As she reflects on her ascendance through Hollywood, her signature wit and bold personality take the stage in entertaining stories such as going on a date with Steven Spielberg (“I had no idea who was”), sharing a flight with Betty White, and most poignantly, being one of the first female actors to address alcoholism on prime-time TV—a reality Gless was wrestling with off camera, and about which she is bluntly candid. Written by a masterful storyteller, this smart account boldly reveals both the grit and the glamour of Gless’s life, candidly contending with her substance abuse, various affairs, and the fact that writing her memoir took almost seven years. Fans will be delighted.
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