David Parkin goes all Hollywood and looks for legendary status
DRIVING home from work the other day, my eye was drawn to a billboard poster advertising new film release The Expendables 3.
I have no idea about the quality of Sylvester Stallone’s latest action movie but the big name cast is impressive, with the names of what looks like about 20 actors listed along the top of the poster.
And among the line-up of stars are Sly, as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Jason Statham and Antonio Banderas.
Some other names, which sound great, such as Ronda Rousey and Randy Couture also adorn the poster. I have no idea who these characters are, but a friend who takes rather too close an interest in professional wrestling tells me they are big box office in the grappling world.
And there at the far end of the poster is the name Robert Davi.
Robert Davi. Remember him?
No I thought you didn’t. Fortunately for you, I do and, further, can also say I met him.
Where you ask? On Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, as you do, or natch babes, as younger readers may say.
I’ve waited 10 years to tell this story, because then (as now) he wasn’t particularly well known and hasn’t appeared in much since.
The craggy-faced actor is perhaps best remembered for his turn as the villain Franz Sanchez in James Bond film Licence to Kill and was the opera-singing baddie in The Goonies and also appeared in Die Hard.
Since his 1980s heyday, he has appeared in films like Maniac Cop 2 and 3 and The Hot Chick, none of which garnered awards, surprisingly.
I met him in the restaurant of a private club in Los Angeles called the Grand Havana Room.
I was on something of a high, having interviewed new Governor of California Arnie Schwarzenegger the day before. I was then taken out for dinner by the man who arranged the interview, John Bryan, a financier based in LA who Lord Hanson used as his fixer and man on the ground on the West Coast of the USA.
John, you may remember, made headlines as the man who sucked the Duchess of York’s toes in a photo captured by paparazzi on a holiday in the South of France.
So there I am sitting with him in his club on Rodeo Drive, marvelling at the surroundings which included a walk-in humidor full of lockers with brass plates on them bearing names like Robert de Niro, Joe Pesci, Michael Jordan and Mel Gibson.
After ordering the best bottle of Sancerre on the wine list and commissioning the sushi chef to make us something special not on the menu, Johnny Bryan’s attention turned to fellow diners.
“Robert, baby! How are you?” he exclaimed as a burly, swarthy figure passed our table.
The two embraced like long-lost pals and John turned to me and said: “David do you know Robert?” I admitted I hadn’t bumped into him previously in Yorkshire.
“Great to see you Robert, baby, we must do lunch,” he said as the actor agreed lunch would be good and the two embraced again and then headed off towards the door.
“How long have you known Robert?” I asked John, impressed by how close they were.
“I’ve never met him before,” he replied.
That’s Hollywood, as they say.
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A COUPLE of weeks ago I commented on the demolition of the old home of the Yorkshire Post in Leeds and suggested the delay in levelling the final part of the building might be due to consideration being given to a blue plaque being put up to recognise my seven years hard work in the concrete bunker.
I said that perhaps it ought to be put up on the former premises of La Grillade restaurant further up Wellington Street given the time I used to spend ‘story-gathering’ there.
It prompted corporate coach and speaker Jon Hammond to post this comment: “Ah yes David, but what would the Blue Plaque say – I wonder if some of the creative readers of the Business Desk could suggest…..I’ll give a prize! “
It prompted a deluge of ideas.
Well, three.
My old colleague at the YP, Jason Taylor, said: “I’m glad to see the back of the Yorkshire Post building – having worked there with yourself in the ‘concrete Death Star’. I thought you were the business editor there and not a restaurant critic?”
PR man extraordinaire and Sage of Doncaster, Malcolm Cowing offered this contribution: “La Grillade Restaurant – Where the Leeds legend business journalist David Parkin ate frites “
And finally, the thoughts of Mark Pownall, former Baker Tilly corporate partner, now the finance director of fast-growing Yorkshire firm Kings Security Systems.
“Here once stood La Grillade, best French restaurant in Leeds. And here once fell over David Parkin, best business journalist in Yorkshire.”
I’m not quite sure I like the suggestions of idleness or intoxication but I’m sure they are easily cancelled out by being elevated to legendary status.
Over to you Jon, to pick a winner.
Have a great weekend.
