Mighty Aphro-DADDY

Upon moving to Palm Springs, I was told, and read, that celebrities would abound because it’s “the second Hollywood,” and I’ve also read (and have been told) that the golden age of “the second Hollywood” is gone, and celebrities no longer live in or visit the area.

Yesterday, Paul Sorvino came into the coffee house.

So now I don’t know what to think.  I’m told (and read somewhere) that Barbara Sinatra, Frank’s widow, still lives in the area but is she really any kind of celebrity other than being the wife of “Ol’ Blue Eyes”?  She might have come in at one time or another, but I’ve only seen her in a short video that included Frank which was shot about 10 years ago, so I wouldn’t have recognized her.  That’s okay, most of the crew didn’t recognize Paul either.

He was with some men who were about his age, and there they were, just sitting there at one of the outdoor patio tables, drinking coffee and waving their arms about as they animatedly talked about God only knows what when I came back from lunch.  I’d been the guy at the register taking orders up until I clocked out and went to El Pollo Loco because I’m getting really sick of the little breakfast sandwiches that we serve, even though I get a discount on them.  It was time for a burrito, some chicken and a quesadilla, so off I went and when I came back..

Paul Sorvino had come into the coffee house.

Jessica had taken his order, but she didn’t know who he was.  “Hey,” said I, after having returned from El Pollo Loco, “that’s Paul Sorvino sitting out there with those three other guys.”  “Who’s Paul Sorvino?” asked Jessica, and as I pointed him out I explained that he’s an actor who’s been around for many years and has done tons of movies.  “What movies?” asked Jessica.  I hemmed and hawed, realizing that I couldn’t name a single film that Paul Sorvino has been in, so I blurted out, “Oh my GOD, he’s Mira Sorvino’s dad.. PLEASE tell me you know who she is?  She was in Mighty Aphrodite!”

Nope.

Jessica looked a little put off, like I’d just accused her of being a mongoloid, so I quickly assured her that most people don’t know who he is because he’s just an obscure character actor, the kind that people never know the name of but usually recognize, except he hasn’t done anything in years so it’s understandable that she wouldn’t know him because he looks so much older now, what with all that gray hair and stuff.

She seemed to feel better about that and I was really glad he was sitting outside, out of earshot.

Just then, Julie came in from having been out on her own lunch and since Julie is about my age, which is old enough to know who Paul Sorvino is, I stopped her before she got behind the counter.  As I pointed toward the window I said, “Jules, do you see who’s here?  The guy in the black shirt out there with those three other guys..”

She squinted (she’s old like me) and said, “Oh my god, it’s Paul Sorvino!”

Thank YOU, Julie.

As I resumed my duties behind the register, I secretly hoped that Paul Sorvino would come in and order a refill, partly because I wanted to meet him and mention what a babe his daughter is (like he doesn’t know THAT) and partly because I wanted to share my Paul Sorvino anecdote with him.  Hey, who better?

During my glory days in the actual Hollywood which is about a hundred or so miles northwest of here, I worked on a bunch of flim and tv things as an extra, which is no big deal but kind of fun and makes for cool stories.  Somewhere during all of that I worked on the movie “Seabiscuit” for about two months and sat in the stands a LOT, watching fake horse races.  There was a gentleman in his sixties who was a fellow extra, and he always seemed to end up sitting near me.. he also looked almost exactly like Paul Sorvino.  Well, I thought so at the time anyway, but after seeing the real Paul Sorvino yesterday I can now report that the Paul Sorvino who was an extra on “Seabiscuit” was shorter, and his eyes were set closer together – but man, he still REALLY looked like him.

I’d introduce him to other extras as Paul Sorvino, and when we were standing in line together to get lunch, I’d insist that they give him extra portions because he’s Paul Sorvino.  I’d point him out and explain that Paul Sorvino’s career hasn’t been going so well lately, and it’s a shame that he has to work as a mere extra on a blockbuster film like “Seabiscuit,” but hey.. a guy’s got to eat, right?  A few of the denser extras (and there are more than a few of those on every shoot) bought it, and started spreading the word that Paul Sorvino was an extra on “Seabiscuit.”

Yesterday, I thought (perhaps mistakenly) that the REAL Paul Sorvino would find that story to be uproariously funny, so I stood at the register and kept an eagle eye on him as he talked with his three companions, and I just waited for him to excuse himself long enough to come in for a refill and an anecdote from DAVE.  About 20 minutes went by before he finally stood up, shook hands with them, and then..

..tossed his cup into the trash and strolled away.

Paul Sorvino came into the coffee house yesterday.. he waved his arms around a lot, but he left without a tale.

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Tagged as: El Pollo Loco, Frank Sinatra, Hollywood, Humor, Mira Sorvino, Paul Sorvino