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Dancing on the Edge

A Journey of Living, Loving, and Tumbling through Hollywood

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Actor. Artist. Cultural icon.

Dancing on the Edge

A bold memoir of an extraordinary, singular life lived by one of the world's most beloved and acclaimed figures: Russ Tamblyn.

With more than eighty years as a celebrated artist and actor under his belt, Russ Tamblyn is a cherished figure to cinephiles and pop culture fans alike, working with such legendary directors as Robert Wise, David Lynch, and Quentin Tarantino. He tumbled through his acclaimed starring role in the original West Side Story as an actor and acrobatic dancer, taught Elvis Presley some signature dance moves, and became an unlikely visionary in the counterculture movement of the sixties alongside peers and friends Henry Miller and Dennis Hopper.

Russ deftly guides readers through his star-studded life and his search for a deeper, more connected existence: attending school with Elizabeth Taylor, earning an Academy Award nomination for Peyton Place, dropping out of Hollywood at the height of his career to become a fine artist in Topanga Canyon, and forging a lifelong friendship with Neil Young. He shares the painful breakup of a twenty-year marriage and the joy of finding true love and inspiration as a husband, father, and mentor in his own right.

Perfect for old and new fans alike, Dancing on the Edge is an intimate and powerful story about the singular life of one of our most gifted storytellers, artists, and stars of the silver screen.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 12, 2024
      In this rollicking debut memoir, actor and dancer Tamblyn recounts his storied screen career with the aid of journalist Tomlinson (Good Girl). Born to actor parents in 1934 Los Angeles, Tamblyn resolved at an early age to join them on the silver screen. He began to study dance and acting at age 11; two years later, he landed his first role in a play written by actor Lloyd Bridges. His success in that show led to film offers, and before Tamblyn was 20, he’d signed an MGM contract. His breakout screen role came in 1954’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in which he garnered attention for his dancing prowess. From there, Tamblyn went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for his performance in 1957’s Peyton Place. Throughout the narrative, Tamblyn drops big names and amusing anecdotes: he once gave Howard Hughes $10 for gas when the millionaire forgot his wallet, and gave Paul Newman a ride in the trunk of his car. But what sets this account apart is Tamblyn’s sunny disposition (“Whenever I’ve had the urge to do something, instead of worrying about what could go wrong or what people might think, I’ve just done it”) and frankness about his transgressions, including habitual adultery during his second marriage. This is one of those rare Hollywood memoirs whose appeal stretches far beyond its subject’s star power. Agent: David Dunton, Harvey Klinger Literary. (Apr.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misidentified the film for which Tamblyn received an Academy Award nomination.

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  • English

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