A-LISTS san diego pride Acclaimed actress Cloris Leachman and founder of the Harvey Milk Foun-
dation and human-rights activist Stuart Milk are serving as our San Diego Pride Parade Grand Marshals this year. Cloris Leachman has done many a role in shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Malcom in the Middle and classic cinema comedic turns in Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. After a busy day at her granddaughter’s graduation from nursery school, Leachman spent a few minutes talking over the phone with The Rage Monthly about gay marriage, her very early acting roles and turning down a date with actor Marlon Brando.
The Rage Monthly: You better bring your sunscreen while you’re riding in the parade. Cloris Leachman: What about a parasol?
Rage: Oh, that would be nice. Just like the drag queens do. CL: (Laughter) I could wear a mustache.
Rage: What is your philosophy on gay and lesbian rights, right now? CL: For marriage?
Rage: Yes. CL: Absolutely. It’s unconscionable to even have a discussion about it. It’s the stupid-
est thing I ever heard of. Stupid. How long does it take people to get to the point? What’s the point of not allowing gays to marry?
Rage: When did you first realize that there were gays and lesbians in the world? CL: I don’t know. But, I remember when I was around six-years old, my mother put
a little blue-knitted sweater and pants and a beret on my head. I was outside taking a drink of water in school and I thought, “I don’t know if I’m a boy or a girl.” Because I thought girls wear dresses. So, I was confused.
Rage: Yeah. It was that simple back then. Pink or blue. CL: Yeah…a dress or pants. They were little tight short pants and a sweater.
Rage: So, Marlon Brando asked you out for a date back in the early 1950s, huh? CL: I wouldn’t date him. He asked me out and I wouldn’t go with him. I knew he’d break my heart, so I said, “No. Not this one.”
Rage: You’ve played some very humorous villains in your career in films such as Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. What is one of your earliest memories of acting? CL: I was very upset when I was eleven. I hitched a ride on a coal truck from outside of
RIDES INTO SAN DIEGO AS OUR PRIDE PARADE’S CELEBRITY GRAND MARSHAL by bill biss
CLORIS LEACHMAN
Photography by Gor Megaera 14 RAGE monthly | JULY 2010
Des Moines on the east side all the way into town to Drake University. I got the lead in a little radio show there for a year. I was playing the little princess. Then, when I went to Drake University the next summer, in the little children’s theatre, I thought I’d get the part of the princess in The Birthday of the Infanta. But, I got cast as the ugly little dwarf! I was very shocked. I was very hurt (laughter).
Rage: You have received so many awards for your work. Eight Primetime Emmy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in The Last Picture Show. CL: No one ever mentions the Golden Globe Award for Phyllis I have or the Academy Award from England (laughter).
Rage: Of course, your career is quite remarkable. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? CL: I play the piano…classical music. I don’t do that as much as I love being with my children and grandchildren and going out to dinner and lunch sometimes.
Rage: Do you have any final thoughts on being our Pride Grand Marshal? CL: I’m very pleased. If you feed me…I’ll be there!
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