I’m going to Africa to film a movie at the end of this year. I have a lecture schedule that will take me around the country to meet new women, make new friends. My editor even said to me the other day, “Olympia, I have the perfect idea for your next book.” My next book? I’m not sure I have more to say, I told her, but then again…ask me again tomorrow.
Selected Reading
FOLLOWING IS A LIST of books that were amazing discoveries for me—each one has been an important resource in my search for identity and for meaning in the world around me.
Biaggi, Cristina, and Marija Alseikaite Gimbutas. Habitations of the Great Goddess. Manchester, Conn.: Knowledge, Ideas and Trends, 1994.
Christ, Carol B. The Rebirth of the Goddess: Finding Meaning in Feminist Spirituality. New York: Routledge, 1998.
Eisler, Riane. The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.
Gaydon, Elinor. The Once and Future Goddess: A Symbol for Our Times. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1989; London: Thorsons, 1995.
Gimbutas, Marija Alseikaite. The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe, 7000–3500 B.C.: Myths, Legends, Cult Images. London: Thames and Hudson, 1974. Revised edition, The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe, 6500–3500 B.C.: Myths and Cult Images. London: Thames and Hudson, 1982; Berkeley-Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1982, 1990.
———. The Language of the Goddess. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1989; London: Thames and Hudson, 2001.
———. The Civilization of the Goddess: The World of Old Europe. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991, 1994.
Lubell, Winifred Milius and Marija Alseikaite Gimbutas. The Metamorphosis of Baubo: Myths of Woman’s Sexual Energy. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 1994.
Meador, Betty De Shong. Uncursing the Dark: Treasures from the Underworld. Wilmette, Ill.: Chiron Publications, 1994.
———. Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High. Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press, 2001.
Perera, Sylvia Brinton. Descent to the Goddess. Toronto: Inner City Books, 1989.
Sjöö, Monica and Barbara Mor. The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1987, 1991.
Starbird, Margaret. The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Bear, 1993.
Stone, Merlin. When God Was a Woman. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1976.
Walker, Barbara G. Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. San
Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1983.
———. The Crone: Woman of Age, Wisdom, and Power. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1985, 1988.
Olympia Dukakis Selected Credits
CAREER OVERVIEW
Stage debut—Outward Bound, Mrs. Cleveden-Brooks, Rangeley, ME, 1956.
New York debut—The Breaking Wall, Madelena, St. Mark’s Playhouse, 1960.
Broadway debut—Abraham Cochrane, Anne Dowling, Belasco Theatre, 1964.
PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
1960, The New Tenant, Royal Playhouse, NYC
1961, The Opening of a Window, Theatre Marquee, NYC
1961, Othello, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1962, A Man’s a Man, Widow Leocadia Begbick, Masque Theatre, NYC
1962, Night of the Iguana, Maxine, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1962, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Mary Tyrone, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ
1963, Crimes and Crimes, Henriette, Cricket Theatre, NYC
1964, Abraham Cochrane, Belasco Theatre, NYC
1964, Electra, New York Shakespeare Festival, NYC
1964, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Charles Playhouse, Boston
1965, The Rose Tattoo, Serafina, Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo, NY
1967, The Balcony, Madame Irma, Charles Playhouse, Boston
1967, Hamlet, Gertrude, Charles Playhouse, Boston
1967, Mother Courage and Her Children, Mother Courage, Charles Street Playhouse, Boston
1967, Father Uxbridge Wants to Marry, all the women, American Place Theatre, NYC
1968, The Memorandum, Public Theater, NYC
1968, Iphigenia at Aulis, Clytemnestra, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1968, The Seagull, Arkadina, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1968, Camino Real, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1969, The Cherry Orchard, Madame Ranevskaya, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1969, Peer Gynt, Troll Princess, Anitra, Delacorte Theatre, NYC
1970, Three Sisters, Olga, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1972, Once in a Lifetime, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1973, Baba Goya, Goya, American Place Theatre, NYC
1973, Nourish the Beast, Cherry Lane Theatre, NYC
1973, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Shen Te, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1974, Who’s Who in Hell, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC
1976, The Rose Tattoo, Serafina, Whole Theatre
1978, Curse of the Starving Class, Ella, Public Theater, NYC
1981, The Cherry Orchard, Madame Ranevskaya, Whole Theatre
1982, Enemies, Actress, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1982, Snow Orchid, Filumena, Circle Repertory Company, NYC
1984, Blithe Spirit, Madame Arcati, Whole Theatre
1985, Ghosts, Mrs. Alving, Whole Theatre
1985, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Soot Hudlocke, Public Theater, NYC
1986, Social Security, Sophie Greengrass, Barrymore Theatre, NYC
1986, The Seagull, Arkadina, Whole Theatre
1993, The Rose Tattoo, Serafina, Whole Theatre
1995 and 1997, Hecuba, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
1996, The Hope Zone, the Countess, Circle Repertory Company
1996, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Flora Goforth, Williamstown Theatre Festival
1996, The Singer’s Boy, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
1998, Lear and Her Daughters, Lear, Shakespeare & Co., Lenox, Mass.
1999, Rose, Rose, Royal National Theatre, London (world premiere)
2000, Rose, Rose, Lyceum Theatre, NYC
2001, Credible Witness, Petra, Royal Court Theatre, London
2002, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Nana, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
2003, Rose, Rose, in concert version at venues throughout the United States
PRINCIPAL STAGE DIRECTING
Tally’s Folly, Whole Theatre
U.S.A., Whole Theatre
Orpheus Descending, Whole Theatre
The House of Bernarda Alba, Whole Theatre
Arms and the Man, Whole Theatre
Uncle Vanya, Whole Theatre
Six Characters in Search of an Author, Williamstown Theatre Festival
A Touch of the Poet, Williamstown Theatre Festival
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Delaware Summer Festival
Kennedy’s Children, Commonwealth Stages
The Seagull, Arizona Theatre Company
Do Not Disturb, TheatreFest at Montclair State University
Drop Dead, Charlotte Repertory
Last Lists of My Mad Mother, Luna Stage
MAJOR TOURS
1960, with the Phoenix Theatre Company, tristate area, Time of the Cuckoo, A View from the Bridge
PRINCIPAL FILM WORK
Film Debut
1963, Twice a Man
Principal Film Appearances
1964, Lilith
1969, John and Mary
1971, Made for Each Other
1974, The Rehearsal
1979, Rich Kids
1979, The Wanderers
1980, The Idolmaker
1985, Flanagan
1988, Moonstruck
1988, Working Girl
1989, Dad
1989, Look Who’s Talking
1989, Steel Magnolias
1990, Look Who’s Talking Too
1991, Over the Hill
1993, The Cemetery Club
1993, Look Who’s Talking Now
1994, I Love Trouble
1995, Jeffrey
1995, Mr. Holland’s Opus
1995, Mighty Aphrodite 1995, Jerusalem
1997, Picture Perfect
1997, Mafia!
2000, Better Living
2003, The Intended
2003, The Event
2003, Charlie’s War
PRINCIPAL TELEVISION CREDITS
Television Debut
CBS Workshop, CBS
Television Appearances
Series
1961, Dr. Kildare
1962, The Nurses
1983–84, Search for Tomorrow
1994, Touched by an Angel
2002, The Simpsons (guest voice)
2002, Frasier (guest voice)
Variety
The Ed Sullivan Show (two appearances in the early sixties)
TV Movies
1974, Nicky’s World
1975, The Seagull
1982, King of America
1982, The Neighborhood
1991, Fire in the Dark
1991, Lucky Day
1991, The Last Act Is a Solo
1993, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City
1993, Sinatra (miniseries)
1994, A Century of Women
1995, Young at Heart
1997, A Match Made in Heaven
1998 , Scattering Dad
1998, A Life for a Life: The Stefan Kiscko Story (U.K.)
1998, Pentagon Wars
1998, Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City
1999, Joan of Arc
2000, Armistead Maupin’s Further Tales of the City
2001, Strange Relations
2001, Last of the Blond Bombshells (U.K.)
2001, And Never Let Her Go
2001, Ladies and the Champ
2002, Guilty Hearts
2003, Jesus, Mary and Joey
2003, Mafia Doctor
2003, Babycakes
RELATED CAREER
Founding Member of the Following Theaters
Whole Theatre Company
Actors Company
Charles Playhouse
Buzzards Bay Summer Theatre
Edgartown Summer Theatre
Master Teacher
NYU
Visiting Acting Teacher
Yale University, Boston University, Brooklyn College, Florida State University, Syracuse University, Brandeis University, Stella Adler Studio, Michael Howard Studio, Sarah Lawrence, Florida State University
Regional and Summer Theaters
Whole Theatre
Williamstown Theatre Festival
American Conservatory Theater
Trinity Repertory Theatre
Arizona Theatre Company
Great Lakes Theatre Company
Pacific Repertory Theatre
Circle Repertory Company
Second City Company
Commonwealth Stage
Olney Summer Theatre
Delaware Summer Festival
Rangeley Maine Summer Theatre
Saranac Lake Summer Theatre
Radio
BBC London, Hecuba, translated and adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker and Credible Witness, by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Writings
Adaptor, The House of Bernarda Alba, Edith Stein, Trojan Women
AWARDS
Academy Award, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Moonstruck
New York Film Critics Award, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Moonstruck
Los Angeles Film Critics Award, Best Supporting Actress, Moonstruck
Golden Globe Award, Best Supporting Actress, Moonstruck
National Board of Review Award, Best Supporting Actress, Moonstruck
American Comedy Award, Funniest Supporting Female Performer, Moonstruck
BAFTA Film Award, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Moonstruck
Cable Ace Award, Best Actress, The Last Act Is a Solo
OBIE Award, The Marriage of Bette and Boo
OBIE Award, A Man’s a Man
Emmy nomination, Joan of Arc
BAFTA TV Award, Best Actress, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City
Emmy nomination, Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City
Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City
Golden Satellite Award nomination, Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City
Golden Globe Award nomination, Sinatra
Emmy nomination, Sinatra
Emmy nomination, Lucky Day
BAFTA nomination, Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City
Jefferson Award, Chicago, A View from the Bridge
Walt Whitman Creative Arts Award, New Jersey
New England Fencing Champion
Honorary Degrees
Boston University
Bloomfield College, New Jersey
FAVORITE ROLES
Rose, Rose
Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, Anna Madrigal
Mother Courage and Her Children, Mother Courage
The Cherry Orchard, Madame Ranevskaya
Long Day’s Journey into Night, Mary Tyrone
The Rose Tattoo, Serafina
For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Nana
Hecuba, Hecuba
The Good Woman of Setzuan, Shen Te
Acknowledgments
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I’ve read in the past have always amazed me with what seemed like an excessive indebtedness. Now I understand. My deepest gratitude for the support, tenacity, and generosity of Liza Dawson, literary agent; Marjorie Braman, editor; Emily Heckman, Bonnie Low-Kramen, Kelly Bare, and Roberta Israeloff; and for their early support and generous comments, Ellen Burstyn, Cher, Phil Donahue, Richard Dreyfuss, Michael Dukakis, Brenda Fricker, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Hunt, Norman Jewison, Diane Ladd, Frank Langella, Armistead Maupin, Austin Pendleton, Julia Roberts, Martin Sherman, and Gloria Steinem. Thanks also to the following people at HarperCollins: Cindy Achar, Roni Axelrod, Elliott Beard, Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich, and John Jusino.
My Family and Friends—for Your Honesty and Love, Always in My Heart
Alexandra and Constantine Dukakis, Louis Zorich, Christina Zorich, Peter and Elvy Zorich, granddaughters Isabella and Sofia, Stefan Zorich and Elda Rotor, Apollo, Maggie, and Damon Dukakis, Arthur and Patti Dukakis, Michael and Kitty Dukakis, Strat and Eva Dukakis, Ann Hollis, Claudia and Paul Hollis, Ann and Bill Hollis, Olga and Nick Kolivas, Bill Kanes, Alice Kaknes, Thanis Chakalis and family, Perry Mavrelis, Mildred, Harold, and Kathy Kocourek, Bonnie Low-Kramen, Leslie Ayvazian and Sam Anderson, Tom Brumberger, Roberta Campos, Austin Pendleton, Frank Langella, Madie Gerrish, Rayna Cooney, Rosemary and Al Iversen, Carey Perloff, Martin Sherman, Armistead Maupin, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Nancy Meckler, Joan MacIntosh, Judy Delgado, David Calicchio, Bernie Hiatt.
Mentors and Teachers—for Insisting I Proceed
Peter Kass, Nikos Psacharopoulos, Bill Hanson, Gerry Freedman, Norman Jewison, Steven Whittaker, Gayatri Devi (Ma), Marija Gimbutas, Kitty La Perriere, Isa Bohn, Barbara Walker, Sam Chwat, Omar Shapli, Nora Dunphey.
At the Crossroads
Gene Parseghian, Joe Papp, Mike Nichols, Norman Jewison, Jenny Delaney, Scott Henderson, Angela Carbonetti, Howard Feuer, Gary David Goldberg, Michael Ritchie, Jaan Whitehead, Scott McVay, Gov. Thomas Kean, Sonja and Mike Gilligan, Rose and Pat Pakek of the Jewels of Charity Foundation.
So Many Great Memories
Actors Company: Jane Cronin, Roz Faber, Gloria DePiero, Rigmor Christiansen, Esther Small, Ed Zang, John (Ed) Heffernan, Charlie Auburn, John Cazale, Walter (Speedy) McGinn, Richard Galvin, Nick Smith, Jordan Hott, Michael Murray, Robert Foley.
Whole Theatre: Apollo Dukakis and Maggie Abeckerly, Judy Delgado, Jessica Allen, Remi Barclay Bosseau, Jason Bosseau, Tom Brennan, Lynn
Martin, Bill Martin, Glenna and Stefan Peters, Marge and Gerry Fierst, Judy and Paul Dorphley, Arnold Mittelman, Annie and Ron Abbott, Ernie Schenk, Sigrid Insul, Mary Orme, Cheryl Soper-Christensen, Micki Hobson, Loren Sherman, Jack Chandler, Dan DeRaey, Phil Polito, Harold de Felice, Mike Miller, Andrew Nikel, Jennifer Shaw, Tiffany Hendry.
Whole Theatre Board Members: Connie Sayre, Caroline Schumann, Bernard Berkowitz, Bill Michaelson, Rosemary Iversen, Warren Ross, Jerome Shelby, Barbara Malcolm, Rey Reddington, Corinne and Dan Gaby, Joe Starita, Helen Stein, Ruth Rosenblatt.
Williamstown Theatre Festival: Nikos Psacharopoulos, Bill Hansen, Austin Pendleton, Blythe Danner, Frank Langella, George Morfogen, Tom Brennan, Peter Hunt, Laurie Kennedy, Maria Tucci, James Naughton, Santo LoQuasto, John Conklin, Joyce Ebert, Jean Hackett, Carolyn Coates, James Noble, Bill Swetland, Franklin Keysar, Peggy Peterson, Juliet Flynt.
About the Author
During a career that has spanned more than forty years, OLYMPIA DUKAKIS has worked as an actress, director, producer, teacher, and activist. She received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the New York Film Critics Award, the Los Angeles Film Critics Award, and the Golden Globe Award for her work in the Norman Jewison film Moonstruck. A highly sought-after lecturer on women‘s issues, on living with osteoporosis (her own) and other health issues, Olympia resides in New York City with her husband, actor Louis Zorich. They have three children, Christina, Peter, and Stefan, and two granddaughters, Isabella and Sofia.