1 00:00:14,836 --> 00:00:29,516 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hi. I'm Phil Donahue and I'm Marlowe Thomas, and 2 00:00:29,636 --> 00:00:32,596 Speaker 1: we're going on a series of double dates to find 3 00:00:32,596 --> 00:00:41,436 Speaker 1: out what makes a marriage last. To visit with actor 4 00:00:41,596 --> 00:00:45,836 Speaker 1: John Legozamo and his wife Justine. All we had to 5 00:00:45,876 --> 00:00:48,356 Speaker 1: do was get in a cab and head downtown to 6 00:00:48,516 --> 00:00:51,796 Speaker 1: Greenwich Village. It seemed easy enough. We had the address, 7 00:00:52,236 --> 00:00:54,596 Speaker 1: but as we cruised down their block amidst all these 8 00:00:54,636 --> 00:00:58,156 Speaker 1: beautiful brownstones, we could not, for the life of us 9 00:00:58,516 --> 00:01:02,356 Speaker 1: find number fifty one. What it's said on the building 10 00:01:02,556 --> 00:01:07,716 Speaker 1: was eighteen fifty four, eighteen fifty little plaque outside outside, 11 00:01:07,716 --> 00:01:11,796 Speaker 1: So you think it's ten years before, Yes, sir, yes, sir. 12 00:01:11,876 --> 00:01:14,556 Speaker 1: I love the field knows this Kindiston. Don't play trivial 13 00:01:14,596 --> 00:01:19,036 Speaker 1: for suit with him. You believe the room, they won't 14 00:01:19,036 --> 00:01:24,276 Speaker 1: fly forget trivial pursuit. This house was just teeming with history. 15 00:01:24,476 --> 00:01:27,156 Speaker 1: We've lived here about ten years in this house. And 16 00:01:27,396 --> 00:01:29,396 Speaker 1: is there is there another family above you or do 17 00:01:29,396 --> 00:01:31,276 Speaker 1: you have the home? We have the whole thing. Our 18 00:01:31,316 --> 00:01:35,476 Speaker 1: kids live upstairs when they're home, both in college, their 19 00:01:35,516 --> 00:01:38,916 Speaker 1: home for the summer, so it's just us. New a 20 00:01:38,916 --> 00:01:40,716 Speaker 1: little garden in the back. We have a garden in 21 00:01:40,756 --> 00:01:43,196 Speaker 1: the back that John takes care of. And did you 22 00:01:43,236 --> 00:01:47,396 Speaker 1: remodel a lot? We didn't gut renovation pretty much. Yeah, 23 00:01:47,436 --> 00:01:50,716 Speaker 1: we restorted back to what it was originally. Oh as closed, 24 00:01:50,716 --> 00:01:55,796 Speaker 1: like this floor from eight nineteen hundreds. Yeah, yeah, like 25 00:01:55,876 --> 00:01:58,076 Speaker 1: this part of the floor is the original floor from that. 26 00:01:58,276 --> 00:02:00,436 Speaker 1: You can tell by how beat up it is. I 27 00:02:00,436 --> 00:02:04,916 Speaker 1: mean it was underneath exactly exactly. We settled in by 28 00:02:04,956 --> 00:02:09,356 Speaker 1: a window overlooking the tree lined street outside. So how 29 00:02:09,356 --> 00:02:13,116 Speaker 1: did you, guys? Meat? Were you? We met out a 30 00:02:13,196 --> 00:02:17,556 Speaker 1: movie actually John was in Carlito's Way and I was 31 00:02:17,636 --> 00:02:20,636 Speaker 1: a costume pa and we met at a fitting. No, 32 00:02:20,716 --> 00:02:22,356 Speaker 1: I mean the first time I saw her it was 33 00:02:23,276 --> 00:02:25,796 Speaker 1: it was electric. I mean it was incredible, and she's 34 00:02:25,836 --> 00:02:29,156 Speaker 1: like the finest one I ever seen. And then we 35 00:02:29,716 --> 00:02:34,556 Speaker 1: started dating and then you know, and she said yes yeah, yeah, 36 00:02:34,556 --> 00:02:37,276 Speaker 1: eventually he said yes, yeah. I took a few years. 37 00:02:37,436 --> 00:02:41,036 Speaker 1: Was it electric for you? Absolutely? I knew, really, I 38 00:02:41,156 --> 00:02:44,556 Speaker 1: knew immediately that we should be together, But there was 39 00:02:44,836 --> 00:02:47,916 Speaker 1: at first fitting. I really did. Yeah. So she was 40 00:02:47,956 --> 00:02:51,036 Speaker 1: so first of all, incredibly sexy and beautiful, but also 41 00:02:51,076 --> 00:02:54,156 Speaker 1: at the same time she was like something really connected. 42 00:02:56,116 --> 00:03:00,476 Speaker 1: But I knew who he was from because he had 43 00:03:00,516 --> 00:03:04,516 Speaker 1: already done Mombo Malthain Spicker and so I was working 44 00:03:04,556 --> 00:03:07,236 Speaker 1: for the costume designers and I asked them if I 45 00:03:07,276 --> 00:03:14,476 Speaker 1: could go to the fitting and how Yeah, and it 46 00:03:14,516 --> 00:03:16,316 Speaker 1: was it was kiss may I mean she made it 47 00:03:16,356 --> 00:03:19,876 Speaker 1: happen in sort of a way and then it just yeah. 48 00:03:19,996 --> 00:03:23,996 Speaker 1: So and you had been married already. I was engaged. 49 00:03:24,236 --> 00:03:27,636 Speaker 1: I was engaged at the time that I was. We 50 00:03:27,756 --> 00:03:30,396 Speaker 1: knew each other a long time before we started dating. 51 00:03:30,836 --> 00:03:37,756 Speaker 1: I'm not. I'm not the police. Were you ever married before? No? No, No, 52 00:03:37,876 --> 00:03:41,516 Speaker 1: I wasn't either. Well you were mad before two? Yeah? 53 00:03:41,076 --> 00:03:48,156 Speaker 1: He had five children? Whoa yeah in six years birth 54 00:03:48,196 --> 00:03:52,876 Speaker 1: control was yeah. But it was interesting because I didn't 55 00:03:52,876 --> 00:03:56,316 Speaker 1: get married to him and I was forty And he said, uh, 56 00:03:57,036 --> 00:04:00,676 Speaker 1: how did you know? You know not to get married. 57 00:04:00,956 --> 00:04:03,556 Speaker 1: How did you not do it? I said, because I'm 58 00:04:03,636 --> 00:04:07,996 Speaker 1: a female. You know, guys think you know somebody else 59 00:04:08,036 --> 00:04:10,436 Speaker 1: is gonna take care of all. Yeah, I knew. I 60 00:04:10,476 --> 00:04:12,636 Speaker 1: don't want. I don't want to do that. I want 61 00:04:12,676 --> 00:04:15,076 Speaker 1: to be an actress, yeah, I want. I want to study, 62 00:04:15,116 --> 00:04:17,556 Speaker 1: I want to travel. I went to London and did 63 00:04:17,596 --> 00:04:20,556 Speaker 1: a play and you know, I was going but I 64 00:04:20,636 --> 00:04:27,116 Speaker 1: still forward thanking for somebody even back then. Oh yeah sixties. Yeah. Um. Anyway, 65 00:04:27,196 --> 00:04:30,396 Speaker 1: so you met and you got married much later if 66 00:04:30,396 --> 00:04:34,076 Speaker 1: we had children first, So our kids, our daughter was 67 00:04:34,116 --> 00:04:36,436 Speaker 1: born in nineteen ninety nine. Why we just thought you 68 00:04:36,556 --> 00:04:38,636 Speaker 1: didn't want to be married or I think we had 69 00:04:38,676 --> 00:04:42,556 Speaker 1: different reasons. Actually, for me, I didn't feel like I 70 00:04:42,596 --> 00:04:46,476 Speaker 1: wanted to be married. Um, it just didn't mean anything 71 00:04:46,556 --> 00:04:48,716 Speaker 1: to me. I always knew my whole life I wanted 72 00:04:48,716 --> 00:04:50,796 Speaker 1: to have children, but I just never really saw marriage 73 00:04:50,796 --> 00:04:52,716 Speaker 1: as part of my life. I didn't see the point. 74 00:04:53,116 --> 00:04:55,116 Speaker 1: It just wasn't it. I thought that was really sexy. 75 00:04:56,676 --> 00:04:58,716 Speaker 1: I thought that was like, oh yeah, I like that. 76 00:04:58,756 --> 00:05:02,156 Speaker 1: You'll raise again Katholic and Seven day Adventists. Oh really? 77 00:05:02,196 --> 00:05:04,996 Speaker 1: And then all my family converted to Evangelism. Oh wow, 78 00:05:05,596 --> 00:05:08,036 Speaker 1: How did your parents feel about you not marrying a Latin? 79 00:05:08,156 --> 00:05:10,076 Speaker 1: Was that a problem? We'd line of people. We don't 80 00:05:10,076 --> 00:05:13,236 Speaker 1: have those issues. We love everybody, We want everybody to 81 00:05:13,436 --> 00:05:18,636 Speaker 1: love everybody. Yeah, we fearful. So I was raised sort 82 00:05:18,676 --> 00:05:22,676 Speaker 1: of Jewish, but barely. I mean really, my parents were atheists, 83 00:05:22,716 --> 00:05:24,956 Speaker 1: so they never said a word about it. I think 84 00:05:25,076 --> 00:05:27,556 Speaker 1: they were so relieved that I had found someone I 85 00:05:27,596 --> 00:05:30,156 Speaker 1: don't know that they ever thought I really would. I 86 00:05:30,196 --> 00:05:33,836 Speaker 1: was extremely independent, and so when they saw how much 87 00:05:33,876 --> 00:05:38,036 Speaker 1: I loved John and how what a wonderful man he is, Uh, 88 00:05:38,596 --> 00:05:39,956 Speaker 1: they never said a word about it. They were a 89 00:05:39,956 --> 00:05:43,076 Speaker 1: beautiful man. They really accepted me like right away, and 90 00:05:43,116 --> 00:05:45,116 Speaker 1: I love them too. You know it was easy. What 91 00:05:45,316 --> 00:05:49,036 Speaker 1: made you get married? Huh? With the kids are older 92 00:05:49,116 --> 00:05:50,756 Speaker 1: and you felt it think, yeah, I think we were 93 00:05:50,796 --> 00:05:52,636 Speaker 1: going they were going to go to school, and we'd 94 00:05:52,676 --> 00:05:55,036 Speaker 1: have we'd have separate different names, and all that stuff 95 00:05:55,076 --> 00:05:58,996 Speaker 1: gets complicated for me. I felt after nine eleven happened 96 00:05:59,036 --> 00:06:01,116 Speaker 1: and there was all that talk of like you can't 97 00:06:01,476 --> 00:06:04,436 Speaker 1: travel with someone's nut, you don't have to say name, 98 00:06:04,716 --> 00:06:07,276 Speaker 1: and there was like this weird moment, I mean, yeah, 99 00:06:08,196 --> 00:06:11,196 Speaker 1: made you really think, rethink life and the values of 100 00:06:11,356 --> 00:06:14,276 Speaker 1: in your values. And so we got married, We got 101 00:06:14,276 --> 00:06:17,156 Speaker 1: a country house. We just changed life a little bit, 102 00:06:17,196 --> 00:06:21,356 Speaker 1: just to just focus more on on the moments, the 103 00:06:21,436 --> 00:06:25,436 Speaker 1: important moments, you mean, the family, Yeah, family, values, friends, 104 00:06:25,476 --> 00:06:27,756 Speaker 1: you know, the things that really matter that really count. 105 00:06:27,796 --> 00:06:32,036 Speaker 1: At the end, I'm Lebanese, which is actually Arab, right, 106 00:06:32,116 --> 00:06:36,276 Speaker 1: and so people were talking terribly about right people, so 107 00:06:36,676 --> 00:06:39,076 Speaker 1: you know, and I found myself having to say, well, 108 00:06:39,116 --> 00:06:41,916 Speaker 1: you know, I'm kind of arab Lebanese jo. I couldn't 109 00:06:41,996 --> 00:06:44,836 Speaker 1: let it go. No, you have to have to speak up. Yeah. 110 00:06:44,876 --> 00:06:47,836 Speaker 1: So coming from different cultures, because you really did come 111 00:06:47,836 --> 00:06:50,556 Speaker 1: from the Hispanic culture, right, Yeah, yeah, definitely. I mean 112 00:06:50,596 --> 00:06:53,916 Speaker 1: we came from very different socio economic backgrounds. But I 113 00:06:53,956 --> 00:06:56,556 Speaker 1: think opposites attract for a reason. I mean, I mean 114 00:06:56,596 --> 00:06:59,676 Speaker 1: it's just that such a natural thing. So what was 115 00:06:59,876 --> 00:07:05,596 Speaker 1: your background? Us? Upper west Side Private School in New York. Uh. 116 00:07:05,636 --> 00:07:09,396 Speaker 1: You know, my grandparents came from Russia, and then my 117 00:07:09,436 --> 00:07:13,036 Speaker 1: parents were both born in Brooklyn, and my dad worked 118 00:07:13,076 --> 00:07:16,516 Speaker 1: hard and after the Upper Warst Side exactly so, and 119 00:07:16,756 --> 00:07:22,596 Speaker 1: my nice Jewish Yeah, I went to Field thin everyone 120 00:07:22,636 --> 00:07:25,036 Speaker 1: I knew was just like me, and it was a 121 00:07:25,036 --> 00:07:28,116 Speaker 1: pretty small world. And yeah, and then I grew up, 122 00:07:28,436 --> 00:07:32,036 Speaker 1: you know, kind of ghetto in Queens and you know, 123 00:07:32,236 --> 00:07:36,476 Speaker 1: getting in trouble and fresh air, fun kid. And then 124 00:07:36,516 --> 00:07:39,796 Speaker 1: I started to find creativity as a as a sort 125 00:07:39,796 --> 00:07:42,716 Speaker 1: of means that saved me, gave me a future, and 126 00:07:42,756 --> 00:07:46,396 Speaker 1: gave me a whole way of using everything that I'd 127 00:07:46,396 --> 00:07:49,996 Speaker 1: grown up with as ammunition and as and I used 128 00:07:50,076 --> 00:07:52,796 Speaker 1: art as a weapon to you must have been getting 129 00:07:52,836 --> 00:07:55,636 Speaker 1: left too. I mean, talking about it as a kid, 130 00:07:55,676 --> 00:07:56,996 Speaker 1: did you get left? Oh? Yeah, you know. I was 131 00:07:56,996 --> 00:07:59,156 Speaker 1: a funny guy. Yeah, at the same time, but I 132 00:07:59,156 --> 00:08:02,036 Speaker 1: was also getting into a lot of trouble because I 133 00:08:02,036 --> 00:08:06,716 Speaker 1: couldn't I wouldn't shut up. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. 134 00:08:06,756 --> 00:08:08,716 Speaker 1: I mean I came up at a time where I 135 00:08:08,796 --> 00:08:12,836 Speaker 1: felt like we were incredibly invisible, even though in my 136 00:08:12,876 --> 00:08:16,556 Speaker 1: personal life Latin people were everywhere, but they weren't in 137 00:08:16,596 --> 00:08:19,076 Speaker 1: the media. And it's still kind of like that, were 138 00:08:19,076 --> 00:08:22,316 Speaker 1: still at less than three percent of the faces in 139 00:08:22,356 --> 00:08:25,116 Speaker 1: front of the camera, and yet LA is fifty percent Latin. 140 00:08:25,276 --> 00:08:28,236 Speaker 1: How is that possible. It's almost like present day apartheid 141 00:08:28,596 --> 00:08:31,116 Speaker 1: and in New York City where the same number as 142 00:08:31,156 --> 00:08:33,516 Speaker 1: white people, and yet there was such a dearth. It 143 00:08:33,596 --> 00:08:36,036 Speaker 1: was just a desert of our stories being told. And 144 00:08:36,076 --> 00:08:37,996 Speaker 1: I just couldn't understand that, and I didn't want it 145 00:08:38,516 --> 00:08:40,836 Speaker 1: to perpetuate it. So I started writing my stories so 146 00:08:40,876 --> 00:08:43,276 Speaker 1: I could see my people even though I was playing 147 00:08:43,276 --> 00:08:46,756 Speaker 1: them all right, when you say that you were living 148 00:08:46,796 --> 00:08:49,476 Speaker 1: among them, did you live in Hispanic neighborhood? Yeah, I 149 00:08:49,476 --> 00:08:51,636 Speaker 1: grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood. You know, my school 150 00:08:51,836 --> 00:08:55,716 Speaker 1: was black and Hispanic Latin into New York. Yeah, I 151 00:08:55,756 --> 00:08:58,396 Speaker 1: went down. I went to high school at Bertram High. Yeah, 152 00:08:58,396 --> 00:09:00,236 Speaker 1: and there was a lot of pride. And that's that's 153 00:09:00,276 --> 00:09:04,116 Speaker 1: I guess that's what gave me the confidence that our 154 00:09:04,156 --> 00:09:08,756 Speaker 1: stories aren't any lesser. Well, i've seen you in concert. 155 00:09:09,436 --> 00:09:13,036 Speaker 1: We're both every time. Actually, yeah, that's awesome. Thank you 156 00:09:13,036 --> 00:09:17,116 Speaker 1: for supporting. I know it came down to the public, remember, yeah, yeah, 157 00:09:17,116 --> 00:09:19,836 Speaker 1: we love the Moron Show and then Lumbo Mouth. Thank you. 158 00:09:19,876 --> 00:09:24,676 Speaker 1: That was nineteen ninety. Yeah. With John's cultural identity so 159 00:09:24,796 --> 00:09:28,436 Speaker 1: central to his life, I wanted to know if Justine 160 00:09:28,436 --> 00:09:32,316 Speaker 1: felt connected to a Jewish community. Not at all, except 161 00:09:32,316 --> 00:09:33,996 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of the people that I grew 162 00:09:34,036 --> 00:09:38,156 Speaker 1: up with are so I hear about it through them. 163 00:09:38,356 --> 00:09:41,556 Speaker 1: But I haven't been to a temple since I was 164 00:09:42,276 --> 00:09:45,156 Speaker 1: ten twelve years old. Way, did you give anything to 165 00:09:45,236 --> 00:09:48,356 Speaker 1: your kids like that? Or did you celebrate Christmas or oh, yeah, 166 00:09:48,396 --> 00:09:51,356 Speaker 1: we did. We celebrate Christmas and Eastern and then my 167 00:09:51,396 --> 00:09:54,916 Speaker 1: family comes and they celebrate Passover as well. Yea, my 168 00:09:54,996 --> 00:09:56,876 Speaker 1: mom comes to all that stuff. We love getting to 169 00:09:57,156 --> 00:09:59,476 Speaker 1: love traditions. But I mean I'm not religious. I mean 170 00:09:59,476 --> 00:10:02,716 Speaker 1: I believe in in in a higher power, and we 171 00:10:02,716 --> 00:10:05,196 Speaker 1: did this. We did a Palm Sunday. We would go 172 00:10:05,276 --> 00:10:08,796 Speaker 1: Palm Sunday. And it's beautiful because these people improvised this 173 00:10:09,356 --> 00:10:11,796 Speaker 1: and then there's a lot of singing, this gospel, this 174 00:10:12,036 --> 00:10:15,156 Speaker 1: Latin music. It's so beautiful. I love the colors and 175 00:10:15,276 --> 00:10:18,756 Speaker 1: the you know, the robes, and yeah, yeah, I love it. 176 00:10:18,956 --> 00:10:22,516 Speaker 1: But I don't believe in God. I don't have that 177 00:10:22,636 --> 00:10:25,276 Speaker 1: sort of a faith, but I certainly believe in God. 178 00:10:25,316 --> 00:10:28,316 Speaker 1: I think there's somebody there. He always says, will you 179 00:10:28,316 --> 00:10:31,036 Speaker 1: think they're in the sky as I didn't think. Marlo 180 00:10:31,116 --> 00:10:34,916 Speaker 1: blesses herself in turbulence when we're on an airplane. That's smart. 181 00:10:35,276 --> 00:10:59,716 Speaker 1: Calms down, we'll have more. After a quick break, we're 182 00:10:59,756 --> 00:11:04,276 Speaker 1: back to our interview with John and Justine Legozamo. While 183 00:11:04,316 --> 00:11:07,796 Speaker 1: they seem entirely on the same page, they grew up 184 00:11:07,836 --> 00:11:13,436 Speaker 1: in very different circumstances. So challenges do arise, especially when 185 00:11:13,436 --> 00:11:17,036 Speaker 1: you're raising kids and sharing a home. To me, I 186 00:11:17,076 --> 00:11:19,476 Speaker 1: always thought like, of course they'll go to private school. 187 00:11:19,476 --> 00:11:21,796 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have thought it wouldn't even occur to me 188 00:11:21,916 --> 00:11:24,316 Speaker 1: to do anything else. I think, But we were just 189 00:11:24,396 --> 00:11:27,636 Speaker 1: actually today having this conversation where John really wanted them 190 00:11:27,676 --> 00:11:30,236 Speaker 1: to go to public school and because that's all I knew. 191 00:11:30,236 --> 00:11:32,876 Speaker 1: I grew up going to public schools. And why did 192 00:11:32,916 --> 00:11:36,196 Speaker 1: you think that's better? Just because the real world. Yeah, 193 00:11:36,236 --> 00:11:39,596 Speaker 1: it's a real world, and everybody's of color, and it 194 00:11:39,716 --> 00:11:42,676 Speaker 1: just it was so much fun and I don't know, 195 00:11:42,996 --> 00:11:44,956 Speaker 1: sometimes it was tough, but a lot of times it 196 00:11:45,036 --> 00:11:49,356 Speaker 1: was incredibly fun and exciting. And I learned so much 197 00:11:49,356 --> 00:11:52,156 Speaker 1: in school from people then, not from the teachers that 198 00:11:52,236 --> 00:11:54,836 Speaker 1: were different. You mean, just our culture is so much 199 00:11:54,876 --> 00:11:56,716 Speaker 1: from black and land culture is so much fun that 200 00:11:57,316 --> 00:11:59,556 Speaker 1: we're always in and dated with it, you know, right, 201 00:11:59,836 --> 00:12:02,516 Speaker 1: I loved it. So was that an accommodation that you 202 00:12:02,796 --> 00:12:07,516 Speaker 1: decided to make. I don't know that you voiced those 203 00:12:07,676 --> 00:12:11,876 Speaker 1: feelings at that time. Oh you did, Yeah, I just said, 204 00:12:12,116 --> 00:12:14,836 Speaker 1: listen in the ear it but your kids went to 205 00:12:14,876 --> 00:12:19,356 Speaker 1: public school? No, they went to private schools. Oh so 206 00:12:19,556 --> 00:12:24,116 Speaker 1: you may become yes, interesting why I tried to weigh 207 00:12:24,236 --> 00:12:26,916 Speaker 1: all all the factors and go, you know, they're going 208 00:12:26,956 --> 00:12:29,676 Speaker 1: to have a celebrity name, and maybe that might not 209 00:12:29,756 --> 00:12:32,836 Speaker 1: be so easy going into a public school system to 210 00:12:32,876 --> 00:12:35,316 Speaker 1: have coming from where where we come. Now, our kids 211 00:12:35,676 --> 00:12:39,036 Speaker 1: this sort of new income. Right, it may not be 212 00:12:39,076 --> 00:12:41,316 Speaker 1: as comfortable, right, you know what I mean? Like I 213 00:12:41,356 --> 00:12:42,836 Speaker 1: had nothing, and all the kids that I went to 214 00:12:42,876 --> 00:12:45,876 Speaker 1: school had nothing, so we were all pretty even an equal, right. 215 00:12:46,036 --> 00:12:48,076 Speaker 1: But what happens if you if you have all this 216 00:12:48,196 --> 00:12:51,076 Speaker 1: and you're and then you go to school with kids 217 00:12:51,076 --> 00:12:53,236 Speaker 1: that don't have enough? How is that going to feel? Right? 218 00:12:53,396 --> 00:12:55,076 Speaker 1: So I thought maybe that might not be so good 219 00:12:55,116 --> 00:12:57,436 Speaker 1: a name. You have a name, then it's like, is 220 00:12:57,436 --> 00:13:00,716 Speaker 1: that going to cause problems and strife? Right? Now? We 221 00:13:00,756 --> 00:13:04,156 Speaker 1: live in the Brownstone because I need separation to be 222 00:13:04,196 --> 00:13:06,836 Speaker 1: able to write. Oh, I can't be on the same 223 00:13:06,996 --> 00:13:09,636 Speaker 1: floor because I can't write. So she made that concession 224 00:13:09,676 --> 00:13:11,916 Speaker 1: living in a Brownson when she rather live in an apartment. 225 00:13:12,476 --> 00:13:14,756 Speaker 1: We tried living in an apartment for a few years, 226 00:13:15,156 --> 00:13:19,716 Speaker 1: but John was so miserable that it just wasn't worth it. Hi. Yeah, 227 00:13:19,716 --> 00:13:21,876 Speaker 1: and there's too much stimuli and I can't. I need 228 00:13:21,916 --> 00:13:24,036 Speaker 1: to be with my thoughts. I mean, look, I married 229 00:13:24,076 --> 00:13:27,716 Speaker 1: an actor who was his life. It was no surprise 230 00:13:27,836 --> 00:13:30,476 Speaker 1: to me. I knew him for years before we got married. 231 00:13:30,596 --> 00:13:32,916 Speaker 1: I knew that he was going to be traveling a lot, 232 00:13:33,036 --> 00:13:36,836 Speaker 1: and that there was no clear schedule and it's not easy. Yeah, 233 00:13:36,876 --> 00:13:38,836 Speaker 1: we're like circus folk, you know what I mean. It's 234 00:13:38,876 --> 00:13:41,516 Speaker 1: like I've been an actor for so long that I 235 00:13:42,236 --> 00:13:44,636 Speaker 1: didn't understand the sacrifices she was making because I was 236 00:13:44,636 --> 00:13:47,436 Speaker 1: so used to being uprooted all the time. I had 237 00:13:47,476 --> 00:13:52,716 Speaker 1: no control over geography or time or destiny. That you 238 00:13:52,836 --> 00:13:56,316 Speaker 1: just surrendered to it. You got work. But that's what 239 00:13:56,356 --> 00:13:57,996 Speaker 1: I mean. Yeah, I mean it was that's hard on 240 00:13:58,036 --> 00:14:00,836 Speaker 1: a on a marriage, It's hard on race. Did you 241 00:13:59,916 --> 00:14:03,116 Speaker 1: take We tried at first, Yeah, but it was really 242 00:14:03,156 --> 00:14:06,076 Speaker 1: difficult to travel till they were five. We took them 243 00:14:06,156 --> 00:14:10,396 Speaker 1: and then we stopped and then I stopped, We stopped going. 244 00:14:10,916 --> 00:14:13,836 Speaker 1: Was that hard on your marriage? Yeah? But you know 245 00:14:13,916 --> 00:14:17,756 Speaker 1: we tried to keep a two week maximum. That was 246 00:14:17,796 --> 00:14:21,276 Speaker 1: a thing. I don't remember any sort of that, Yeah, 247 00:14:21,276 --> 00:14:23,796 Speaker 1: but that was that was That was may We tried. 248 00:14:24,116 --> 00:14:26,836 Speaker 1: But you know there were months. We didn't see each 249 00:14:26,836 --> 00:14:28,756 Speaker 1: other for months at a time. I mean, it just 250 00:14:29,516 --> 00:14:33,756 Speaker 1: was it hard on the marriage. I mean I guess 251 00:14:33,836 --> 00:14:37,876 Speaker 1: at times, you know, marriage isn't easy. So when all 252 00:14:37,916 --> 00:14:40,476 Speaker 1: that traveling, there must have been some jealousy, right, a 253 00:14:40,516 --> 00:14:43,116 Speaker 1: little bit of jealousy. I was very jealous of Pella, 254 00:14:43,236 --> 00:14:46,996 Speaker 1: you know right now when when he traveled or yeah, 255 00:14:47,116 --> 00:14:50,716 Speaker 1: and he's away and the women love famous people or 256 00:14:50,796 --> 00:14:55,356 Speaker 1: men love famous people, and you know, there's something alluring 257 00:14:55,676 --> 00:15:01,396 Speaker 1: about a person who's talented, very sorry, oh and famous, famous, 258 00:15:01,436 --> 00:15:04,756 Speaker 1: good looking, funny. Hey yeah, No, I think the jealousy 259 00:15:04,796 --> 00:15:06,596 Speaker 1: is the other way around, right, Yeah. I am not 260 00:15:06,636 --> 00:15:10,116 Speaker 1: a jealous person. I don't have it. It's but I'm 261 00:15:10,116 --> 00:15:12,716 Speaker 1: a jealous person. Oh yeah, yeah, So when you left 262 00:15:12,756 --> 00:15:14,476 Speaker 1: for a long time, that musn't have been hard. Yeah, 263 00:15:14,516 --> 00:15:16,876 Speaker 1: that bothers me. Yeah, you know, and like yeah, so yeah, 264 00:15:16,996 --> 00:15:21,596 Speaker 1: no I had issues, So tell us what did you do? Well? 265 00:15:21,596 --> 00:15:24,196 Speaker 1: We talked about it. We talked. We were pretty articular. 266 00:15:24,236 --> 00:15:26,116 Speaker 1: It wasn't like fighting. It was just more like, you know, 267 00:15:27,076 --> 00:15:29,796 Speaker 1: voicing that, you know, I'm uncomfortable with this. I'm uncomfortable 268 00:15:29,796 --> 00:15:34,396 Speaker 1: with that. That bothers me. And she's incredibly understanding about that. 269 00:15:34,796 --> 00:15:37,836 Speaker 1: So like male friends and stuff like that. Right, that's 270 00:15:38,076 --> 00:15:40,676 Speaker 1: exactly because I lived in Hollywood and Phil lived in 271 00:15:40,756 --> 00:15:43,316 Speaker 1: Chicago when we first met. In our first a couple 272 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:46,196 Speaker 1: of years of marriage, we traveled and he would read 273 00:15:46,356 --> 00:15:49,196 Speaker 1: the paper that I'd gone out to dinner with, like 274 00:15:49,316 --> 00:15:52,436 Speaker 1: Chuck Groton, who like an old old friend. And he'd 275 00:15:52,436 --> 00:15:54,876 Speaker 1: say he went to dinner with Chuck Rodan. I'd say, 276 00:15:55,156 --> 00:15:57,076 Speaker 1: he's like this old friend of mine. He directed me 277 00:15:57,116 --> 00:15:59,636 Speaker 1: in Two Things, co starred with him in a movie. 278 00:15:59,676 --> 00:16:02,636 Speaker 1: You know he said, yeah, but you know I feel 279 00:16:02,636 --> 00:16:05,036 Speaker 1: a little uncomfortable. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right right, there's the 280 00:16:05,196 --> 00:16:09,316 Speaker 1: two of you. Yeah yeah, okay, did you stop? Yeah? Yeah? 281 00:16:09,316 --> 00:16:11,596 Speaker 1: I mean too, Yeah, it's not worth it. But I 282 00:16:11,596 --> 00:16:14,596 Speaker 1: would watch him on television and all these women would 283 00:16:14,596 --> 00:16:16,436 Speaker 1: look at him like it was a big ice cream cone. 284 00:16:17,836 --> 00:16:20,276 Speaker 1: I think, oh God, are they going to come up 285 00:16:20,276 --> 00:16:22,996 Speaker 1: to him afterward and tickle his fancy? And what's going 286 00:16:23,036 --> 00:16:26,476 Speaker 1: to happen here? None of that matters because I know 287 00:16:26,996 --> 00:16:30,276 Speaker 1: that his ultimate commitment is to me and my children 288 00:16:30,276 --> 00:16:33,836 Speaker 1: and our life together. How do you fight and how 289 00:16:33,876 --> 00:16:35,196 Speaker 1: do you come back? Because if you don't know how 290 00:16:35,196 --> 00:16:38,076 Speaker 1: to come back, that's usually how marriages. I believe you 291 00:16:38,076 --> 00:16:40,956 Speaker 1: shouldn't say things you can't take back, and I try. 292 00:16:41,396 --> 00:16:43,276 Speaker 1: She's not as so as good. She's not as good 293 00:16:43,276 --> 00:16:45,436 Speaker 1: as with that part of it. I mean, I'm more mean. 294 00:16:45,996 --> 00:16:51,156 Speaker 1: She'll say anything. I can be enraged, but not say 295 00:16:51,276 --> 00:16:55,276 Speaker 1: things that you can't take back or do things that 296 00:16:55,356 --> 00:16:58,116 Speaker 1: I can't take back. It's very rare that he really 297 00:16:58,156 --> 00:17:00,476 Speaker 1: loses control. When I say rare, I mean less than 298 00:17:00,516 --> 00:17:03,196 Speaker 1: five times and the whole time I've known him. When 299 00:17:03,556 --> 00:17:08,796 Speaker 1: you are less, I have less of that skill. Maybe 300 00:17:09,236 --> 00:17:11,636 Speaker 1: I mean I don't get mad like that very often, 301 00:17:11,716 --> 00:17:16,156 Speaker 1: but maybe tend to lose control of my emotions more 302 00:17:16,316 --> 00:17:18,676 Speaker 1: than John does. And then how do you come back? 303 00:17:18,756 --> 00:17:22,236 Speaker 1: Who comes back? John? Before? You should be me all 304 00:17:22,236 --> 00:17:24,636 Speaker 1: the time? It was always me like, come out, Let's 305 00:17:24,636 --> 00:17:26,756 Speaker 1: try to make up. There's not going to bed mad, 306 00:17:26,876 --> 00:17:29,796 Speaker 1: Let's try to fix this up. We just let it 307 00:17:29,796 --> 00:17:33,196 Speaker 1: out and we're fine. Now let's just go back to talking. 308 00:17:33,596 --> 00:17:35,956 Speaker 1: Let's talk it out. And I don't have as much 309 00:17:36,036 --> 00:17:38,876 Speaker 1: problem apologizing, I think as I is too. I'll just 310 00:17:38,916 --> 00:17:41,356 Speaker 1: I'm much easier to say I'm sorry. I think getting 311 00:17:41,436 --> 00:17:45,556 Speaker 1: rid of that kind of pride is so important. Yeah, yeah, 312 00:17:45,556 --> 00:17:49,116 Speaker 1: it doesn't help anything. Who was it that said to it? Oh? 313 00:17:49,196 --> 00:17:52,876 Speaker 1: Rob Reiner said? Whoever said that love me is ever 314 00:17:52,916 --> 00:17:55,916 Speaker 1: having to say your sorary has never been in love? Right? Right? 315 00:17:56,716 --> 00:18:00,116 Speaker 1: If you don't say I'm sorry, you're in love really right? Yeah? 316 00:18:00,116 --> 00:18:02,876 Speaker 1: Because you got you gotta make amend and you got 317 00:18:02,956 --> 00:18:06,236 Speaker 1: it often, and you gotta take accountability. If you don't 318 00:18:06,276 --> 00:18:08,436 Speaker 1: have somebody who's accountable, I mean, who, what kind of 319 00:18:08,436 --> 00:18:11,996 Speaker 1: those were you with? Try right? When when do you 320 00:18:12,076 --> 00:18:14,636 Speaker 1: think either one of you can answer this that you 321 00:18:14,756 --> 00:18:18,116 Speaker 1: first trusted, knew that this was a person you could trust, 322 00:18:19,876 --> 00:18:22,756 Speaker 1: you know, with not just sexually, but with your head, 323 00:18:22,836 --> 00:18:26,076 Speaker 1: you know, with your heart, you know. To give you 324 00:18:26,116 --> 00:18:30,836 Speaker 1: an example, when Phil and I were going together, we 325 00:18:30,916 --> 00:18:33,916 Speaker 1: met in January and this was August, and so this 326 00:18:33,996 --> 00:18:37,676 Speaker 1: was his big vacations, two week vacation. At While we're 327 00:18:37,716 --> 00:18:40,076 Speaker 1: in Italy, I get a phone call from Elaine May, 328 00:18:40,116 --> 00:18:42,916 Speaker 1: who you know, my good friend and we had worked 329 00:18:42,916 --> 00:18:48,476 Speaker 1: on a screen screenplay together. And she said, Mike Nichols 330 00:18:48,476 --> 00:18:51,156 Speaker 1: movie has just gone has just gone caput, and he's 331 00:18:51,156 --> 00:18:52,996 Speaker 1: looking for a new project. You've got to come back 332 00:18:53,076 --> 00:18:55,756 Speaker 1: right away because we have a chance to get Mike 333 00:18:55,836 --> 00:19:00,836 Speaker 1: to direct this. I said, Oh God, Atlanta, this guy's 334 00:19:00,876 --> 00:19:03,716 Speaker 1: only got two weeks. This is it. I said, if 335 00:19:03,756 --> 00:19:06,316 Speaker 1: I if I come back now, I'm done with this 336 00:19:06,356 --> 00:19:09,596 Speaker 1: guy and I we're pretty crazy about each other. It 337 00:19:09,676 --> 00:19:11,796 Speaker 1: was a really hot time in It'll lay the two 338 00:19:11,796 --> 00:19:15,396 Speaker 1: of us. Ah, God Jesus, So I go back to 339 00:19:15,476 --> 00:19:19,596 Speaker 1: the room and I explain the whole thing. He says, well, 340 00:19:19,596 --> 00:19:21,516 Speaker 1: it has to be this week, but is it's a funeral. 341 00:19:21,556 --> 00:19:23,436 Speaker 1: I said, no, it's no, but it's just you know, 342 00:19:23,436 --> 00:19:26,276 Speaker 1: he's going to decide now. And he looked at me 343 00:19:26,316 --> 00:19:29,036 Speaker 1: like I was the most disposable human being he'd never 344 00:19:29,076 --> 00:19:32,556 Speaker 1: known in his life. And I and I said, look, 345 00:19:33,156 --> 00:19:36,276 Speaker 1: I don't know your business, but and I know this 346 00:19:36,356 --> 00:19:39,796 Speaker 1: is a really great time we're having, but is there 347 00:19:39,836 --> 00:19:43,116 Speaker 1: anybody if you got a call to do an interview 348 00:19:43,156 --> 00:19:48,156 Speaker 1: with that you would leave? And he just thought a moment, 349 00:19:48,156 --> 00:19:52,116 Speaker 1: he said, Jimmy Carter, and when president at the time, 350 00:19:52,236 --> 00:19:55,436 Speaker 1: right right right when he said that, I thought, I 351 00:19:55,476 --> 00:19:57,636 Speaker 1: can trust this guy. This guy is not going to 352 00:19:57,716 --> 00:20:00,236 Speaker 1: bullshit me, right and say no, there's no one. There's 353 00:20:00,276 --> 00:20:03,116 Speaker 1: no way I would leave you. You know that he 354 00:20:03,236 --> 00:20:06,476 Speaker 1: was willing to think and say, yeah, okay, there's one 355 00:20:07,116 --> 00:20:10,956 Speaker 1: Jimmy Carter, and I I think I feel deeply in 356 00:20:10,996 --> 00:20:14,916 Speaker 1: love with him that he would not, you know, sexually 357 00:20:15,036 --> 00:20:19,156 Speaker 1: calm me like that. Anyway, I didn't go. We didn't 358 00:20:19,156 --> 00:20:23,156 Speaker 1: get Mike anyway, but I didn't leave for you. Yeah, 359 00:20:23,916 --> 00:20:27,276 Speaker 1: I think those are those are important life moments. In life, 360 00:20:27,276 --> 00:20:31,436 Speaker 1: when you go this person i'm with is more important 361 00:20:31,436 --> 00:20:33,716 Speaker 1: than my career, right, you have to make that decision 362 00:20:33,956 --> 00:20:37,316 Speaker 1: and show it. Sometimes that's what I could trust. That. 363 00:20:37,316 --> 00:20:40,076 Speaker 1: That's I don't know of a safer thing than that. 364 00:20:40,076 --> 00:20:42,156 Speaker 1: That's a big one. Mine is a small one, though, 365 00:20:42,276 --> 00:20:44,596 Speaker 1: but even a small one. Small one is that we 366 00:20:44,996 --> 00:20:52,196 Speaker 1: had a date early on, and it was at the Angelica, 367 00:20:52,236 --> 00:20:54,316 Speaker 1: because when the Angelica was everything, you know, like all 368 00:20:54,316 --> 00:20:57,276 Speaker 1: the hipsters, everybody was cool, was going to Angelica to 369 00:20:57,316 --> 00:21:01,236 Speaker 1: see the latest in the indie film and you were late, 370 00:21:02,836 --> 00:21:06,236 Speaker 1: and I flipped out over lateness. Really it sets me 371 00:21:06,316 --> 00:21:10,796 Speaker 1: off because I was pathologically early, so I was there 372 00:21:10,836 --> 00:21:14,636 Speaker 1: for like forty five minutes too early. And then she 373 00:21:14,756 --> 00:21:20,676 Speaker 1: comes late, so I was really upset, and she was 374 00:21:20,716 --> 00:21:22,756 Speaker 1: so upset. She started crying and I was like, oh 375 00:21:22,796 --> 00:21:25,196 Speaker 1: my god, you don't remember any of this, Oh my god, 376 00:21:25,196 --> 00:21:27,116 Speaker 1: if you're standing in the corner. And I was very upset, 377 00:21:27,156 --> 00:21:29,996 Speaker 1: trying to not be upset with its very early odd 378 00:21:30,476 --> 00:21:34,596 Speaker 1: and but she was okay with me being this hotheaded 379 00:21:35,276 --> 00:21:39,396 Speaker 1: about a stupid little thing, and yeah, and I was like, 380 00:21:39,396 --> 00:21:43,236 Speaker 1: oh my god, she cares about my feelings and she doesn't. 381 00:21:43,316 --> 00:21:45,836 Speaker 1: She's not saying you're an asshole, You're an idiot, you're 382 00:21:45,876 --> 00:21:48,876 Speaker 1: a moron, what the hell is wrong with you? Crazy? 383 00:21:49,036 --> 00:21:52,436 Speaker 1: I'm only like twenty minutes later. Whatever it was, And 384 00:21:52,476 --> 00:21:54,316 Speaker 1: I don't know, And we spent a lot of time 385 00:21:54,356 --> 00:21:55,916 Speaker 1: talking about it, and we didn't go to the movie 386 00:21:56,276 --> 00:21:58,116 Speaker 1: and we just spent a lot of time just talking 387 00:21:58,116 --> 00:22:01,236 Speaker 1: about and she was trying to calm me down, and 388 00:22:01,396 --> 00:22:04,916 Speaker 1: I just, I don't know, I felt really heard, really 389 00:22:04,956 --> 00:22:08,516 Speaker 1: respect it, and I don't know, I just, yeah, maybe 390 00:22:08,516 --> 00:22:10,916 Speaker 1: fall in love with her even more. She's never disappointed 391 00:22:10,956 --> 00:22:13,476 Speaker 1: that she's always been like that. Yeah. I think the 392 00:22:13,516 --> 00:22:16,716 Speaker 1: first moment for me was we started I think we 393 00:22:17,076 --> 00:22:19,596 Speaker 1: had started dating in August, and it was like very soon. 394 00:22:19,636 --> 00:22:22,436 Speaker 1: We had been together about a month and Thanksgiving was 395 00:22:22,516 --> 00:22:24,756 Speaker 1: coming up and we were starting to think about Thanksgiving 396 00:22:24,956 --> 00:22:27,636 Speaker 1: and John said to me, let's get all our families 397 00:22:27,636 --> 00:22:30,676 Speaker 1: and all have Thanksgiving together. But we'd only been together 398 00:22:30,756 --> 00:22:33,956 Speaker 1: a month, and I thought, Wow, this is really serious, 399 00:22:34,116 --> 00:22:36,836 Speaker 1: Like he wants my entire friend and they did, and 400 00:22:36,876 --> 00:22:38,876 Speaker 1: so we had all the families that we had, like 401 00:22:39,316 --> 00:22:43,996 Speaker 1: fifty people it was, and I so, yes, I trusted 402 00:22:44,076 --> 00:22:46,356 Speaker 1: him at that point, I thought, well, he's really serious 403 00:22:46,396 --> 00:22:51,356 Speaker 1: about this. I think it's this one beautiful thing about Justine. 404 00:22:51,436 --> 00:22:55,956 Speaker 1: She tries whatever the situation, where the problem is, She's 405 00:22:55,956 --> 00:22:59,916 Speaker 1: willing to put the effort and just try, and that's it. 406 00:22:59,956 --> 00:23:04,396 Speaker 1: Doesn't have to succeed at whatever the challenges, but she's 407 00:23:04,436 --> 00:23:07,516 Speaker 1: willing to try for me, and that makes me fall 408 00:23:07,516 --> 00:23:11,796 Speaker 1: in love with her every single time. That's nice. I 409 00:23:11,876 --> 00:23:15,436 Speaker 1: think seeing a bigger picture than just what's happening today, 410 00:23:15,676 --> 00:23:21,356 Speaker 1: you know, whatever sort of annoying small things are happening 411 00:23:21,396 --> 00:23:25,356 Speaker 1: on a daily basis, just remembering, you know, we have 412 00:23:25,596 --> 00:23:28,556 Speaker 1: a bigger life that we've created together, and we have 413 00:23:28,636 --> 00:23:32,076 Speaker 1: a past and we have a future. Marriage goes in cycles, 414 00:23:32,316 --> 00:23:34,916 Speaker 1: and there's good times and bad times, and if you 415 00:23:35,036 --> 00:23:38,876 Speaker 1: just hang on, you'll get to the next cycle. Yeah. 416 00:23:38,916 --> 00:23:41,516 Speaker 1: I mean, you got to know somehow that this is 417 00:23:41,516 --> 00:23:43,956 Speaker 1: the person you want to spend the rest of your 418 00:23:44,036 --> 00:23:47,276 Speaker 1: days with. I know that Justine and I could have 419 00:23:47,316 --> 00:23:55,356 Speaker 1: a great life forever, forever. So there you have it, 420 00:23:55,596 --> 00:24:00,476 Speaker 1: our lively conversation with John and just Stine Lebozamo Until 421 00:24:00,596 --> 00:24:04,916 Speaker 1: next time. I'm Phil Donahue and I'm Marlow Thomas, and 422 00:24:04,956 --> 00:24:06,756 Speaker 1: I think that that makes us work on it. It 423 00:24:06,796 --> 00:24:09,356 Speaker 1: makes me work on it, and I think that's that's 424 00:24:09,356 --> 00:24:12,876 Speaker 1: fun too. That's what keeps it exciting. Double Date is 425 00:24:12,876 --> 00:24:16,636 Speaker 1: a production of Pushkin Industries. The show was created by 426 00:24:16,716 --> 00:24:21,756 Speaker 1: US and produced by Sarah Lilly. Michael Bahari is associate producer. 427 00:24:22,236 --> 00:24:26,836 Speaker 1: Musical adaptations of It Had to Be You by Sellwagon, Symfinette, 428 00:24:27,356 --> 00:24:31,716 Speaker 1: Marlo and I are executive producers, along with Mia Lobell 429 00:24:31,916 --> 00:24:37,476 Speaker 1: and Letal Molad from Pushkin. Special thanks to Jacob Wiseberg, 430 00:24:37,836 --> 00:24:44,156 Speaker 1: Malcolm Gladwell, Heather Faine, John Snars, Carly Migliori, Eric Sandler, 431 00:24:44,476 --> 00:24:50,916 Speaker 1: Emily Rostek, Jason Gambrel, Paul Williams, and Bruce Kluger. If 432 00:24:50,956 --> 00:24:55,356 Speaker 1: you like our show, please remember to share, rate, and review. 433 00:24:56,316 --> 00:25:11,196 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, bo