Review of "Nevertheless: A Memoir" by Alec Baldwin

 

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin is an American actor, writer, comedian, producer, and political activist. Baldwin is among the most popular performers of his time, as illustrated by the many times he's hosted Saturday Night Live. This memoir tells Baldwin's story.

Starting in childhood, Alec talked to himself.


Alec (Xander) Baldwin as a child

Alec would repeat lines from films, TV shows, and commercials, trying different dialects and ethnicities. This undoubtedly contributed to Baldwin's abilities as an actor and a mimic, and his impersonations - during his appearances and in the audiobook - are fun and entertaining.

As a youth, Baldwin did not plan to become an actor. Called Xander as a boy, Baldwin grew up in a Catholic family in Massapequa, Long Island.

Xander's father Alexander was a high school teacher/sports coach, his mother Carol was a homemaker, and - with six children - the family never had enough money. Utility and phone bills went unpaid, Mrs. Baldwin became anxious, Mr. Baldwin felt inadequate, and Xander's parents grew distant from each other. The family's dysfunction had a strong impact on Xander, and he determined to attend college, become a lawyer, and make money.


Alec Baldwin's yearbook photo

Baldwin's descriptions of his early years are honest and unflinching, and - though times were hard - it's clear Alec loves his parents and appreciates what they did for him. Baldwin also mentions his siblings: his sisters Beth and Jane - who maintain low profiles as adults; and his brothers Daniel, William and Stephen - who are also actors.


Alec Baldwin with his mother Carol


The Baldwin brothers: Daniel, Alec, William and Stephen (left to right)


The Baldwin clan: Daniel, Jane, Alec, Carol, William, Beth, and Stephen (left to right)

For college, Baldwin attended George Washington University (GW) in DC, financed by Pell Grants, TAP loans, and sacrifices by his parents. For Alec, college was a social equalizer, unaffected by what he 'didn't have' in his parents' home. College was also where Alec developed an interest in politics - majoring in political science, working at an internship in his congressman's office, and later at a law firm specializing in FCC filings.

At GW, Alec was constantly plagued by insolvency, and - almost on a whim - decided to audition for the theater program at NYU.....where he was offered a needs-based scholarship. At NYU Baldwin helped subsidize his education by working as a busboy at Studio 54, selling men's shirts in a discount apparel store, waiting tables in a bistro, and being a chaperone for a tour bus company. Baldwin decided to give up law for the theatre, and the actor was born. Meanwhile, Baldwin's parents separated, his father moved out, and his mother became a successful market researcher - which helped restore her self-confidence and personal pride. Carol went on to become a civic champion and source of pride to her family.


Carol Baldwin won the Ellis Medal of Honor which recognizes individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate

After graduating from NYU, Alec - who had very little acting experience - was lucky enough to land a role on the daytime soap opera 'The Doctors.' There Baldwin started to make connections and learn skills that assisted him throughout his career. Alec mentions being helped by soap opera star David O'Brien, calling the actor "one of the kindest, most intelligent and urbane men I've ever known." On the downside, during this time Baldwin began drinking heavily and using cocaine.


Actor David O'Brien was very helpful to Alec Baldwin

To advance his career, Alec headed out to Los Angeles for more opportunities, 'snorting and drinking' all the way. By now Baldwin's use of liquor and cocaine was out of control, but he was enchanted with Hollywood and the people he met there. The actor - who had good looks going for him - went to lots of auditions, and says, "In the majority of my early auditions, I was either dreadful or totally unmemorable. But it didn't matter. I was perfect for TV in the 80s." Producers wanted to make Alec the next Bill Bixby.




Young Alec Baldwin's heartthrob good looks spurred his career


Alec Baldwin was being promoted as the next Bill Bixby (shown here)

Baldwin got a little work in LA, but his father became ill with cancer, and Alec returned to New York shortly before his dad died. Feeling bereft, Alec grew close to his agent, Michael Bloom, who became a kind of surrogate parent. Baldwin writes, "[Bloom] would become among my dearest friends, as my life turned fortunate and gratifying on one hand, and abruptly and numbingly painful on the other."

Baldwin's first major break was scoring a role on the prime-time soap opera 'Knot's Landing', set in Los Angeles.


Alec Baldwin starred in Knot's Landing with Lisa Hartman

There Alec worked with the talented Julie Harris, whom he reveres. The actor notes, 'No one I've worked with during my career has come close to Julie Harris in terms of the reservoir of humanity, talent, and professionalism that she embodied."


Alec Baldwin with Julie Harris

In retrospect, Baldwin wishes he'd taken more of Harris's advice, which might have forestalled some of his troubles. Baldwin's substance abuse landed him in the hospital, after which he joined Cocaine Anonymous. It took a while longer for Alec to give up alcohol, but in time he did. There were setbacks, but Baldwin got permanently clean in 1985.

After leaving Knot's Landing, Baldwin returned to New York, did theatre work, and met some of the best stage actors in the business, including Charles Keating, Zoë Wanamaker, Zeljko Ivanek, and Joe Maher.


Charles Keating


Zoë Wanamaker


Zeljko Ivanek


Joe Maher

Afterwards Baldwin returned to California to film a movie, and his career began to seesaw between the East and West Coasts. The actor includes LOTS of stories about this in the book, including anecdotes about films he made, plays he did, people he worked with, parts he had, roles he lost, agents he fired, etc.

Baldwin takes the opportunity to settle some scores, and readers interested in inside dirt and name dropping will find it here. For instance, Baldwin doesn't like Harrison Ford, who replaced him in the role of Jack Ryan after Alec made 'The Hunt for Red October.'




Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October

Baldwin met Kim Basinger in 1989, and the actor was smitten with Kim's beauty and independent spirit.


Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger

The couple's relationship was never easy, in part because Kim got embroiled in a contentious lawsuit with a studio, which left her embittered and bankrupt. Nevertheless, Alec and Kim married in 1993 and had a daughter named Ireland in 1995. The couple split six years later, and their custody battle is the stuff of legend.


Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger wed in 1993


Alec Baldwin with his daughter Ireland

In 2007, in the heat of the custody war, Baldwin left a harsh voicemail message for his daughter Ireland....and the fallout went on for years. Baldwin tells the entire tale in his memoir, and it's a sad story all around. Baldwin berates California divorce lawyers and family court judges, and he lambastes erstwhile attorney and TV personality Harvey Levin, who REALLY made hay of the incident. In any case, Baldwin is now on good terms with Ireland, though permanent damage was done by his rant.


Alec Baldwin with grown up daughter Ireland

Baldwin includes a few sentences each about many of the plays, films, and TV shows he did, and writes a LOT about his admiration for actors like William Holden, Anthony Hopkins, and Al Pacino. Alec also writes a good deal about making the movie 'The Edge'; acting in the play and movie 'Prelude to a Kiss'; hosting 'Saturday Night Live'; being in '30 Rock'; making his podcast; and more.







Baldwin also admits to being a belligerent guy, and mentions physical fights with confrontational men and aggressive paparazzi. Alec observes, "Whenever these eruptions occur, sanctimonious tabloid types get on some bullshit show like 'Nancy Grace' and scoff at celebrities who insist on some degree of privacy, especially for their children." After some of his tirades, Baldwin has been called racist and homophobic, charges he STRONGLY denies.

Baldwin despaired of finding love after his divorce from Kim, but met and fell in love with yoga instructor/fitness expert Hilaria Thomas in 2011. The couple wed in 2013, now have six children together, and seem to be very happy.


Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria


Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with four of their children


Hilaria Baldwin with the couple's six children

Though Baldwin never got a degree in political science, he's been active in politics for a long time. The actor explains his interest in government, and talks about the work he's done on behalf of democratic candidates. Alec brilliantly lampooned Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, and was horrified when Trump was elected.


Alec Baldwin playing Donald Trump on SNL

Baldwin doesn't want something like that to happen again, and hints he might become a political candidate himself. He writes, "If I ran for president of the United States, you'd be lucky. Just as if you ran for president, I would be lucky. This country needs to see some new faces in that arena."

Baldwin wraps up by saying, "I offer [this book] to you to entertain, to motivate, to inspire, and to learn....My thanks to you for reading it."

In an afterward, Alec observes, "I never had many actors as friends.....but I have loved so many actors. Their wit, charm, and style. Their vanity, insanity, and courage." The author then provides an index, from A to Z, mentioning the actors he loves best, with little blurbs about them.

For example:

A is for Julie Andrews, the most elegant movie star of them all. And Woody Allen, the funniest screenwriter of them all. And for Jean Arthur in movies like Shane and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town....


Julie Andrews

B is for Burstyn and Blanchett, Beatty and Bening. For Banderas. For Javier Bardem. B is for Brando - and I'll watch it all, the good, the bad and the great....


Marlon Brando

C is for Cagney and his athleticism, passion and tenderness. It's for Joan Crawford. It's most definitely for Tom Cruise.....and so on.


Jimmy Cagney

I love the index and Alec's comments, which are amusing and fun.

I enjoyed this memoir, which seems essentially honest and open. Of course Baldwin presents himself in the best possible light, and people he dislikes in the worst possible light....but who wouldn't? I recommend the book to Baldwin fans and to readers who enjoy celebrity memoirs.

Rating: 4 stars