My late illustrious friend, Paul Goldenberg was a magnetic enigma to many. Unfortunately his obituary was written poorly, full of unforgivable errors by his friend who knew him for forty years. So I embarked on the long journey to write a firsthand biography about Paul. I toiled over a few pages, recalling our endless dialogues and that tight bond I had with my most charismatic friend of 28 years.
I felt obliged to tell his life story that he had been reluctant to share with his other close friends. For days I was talking with pals about him and mentioned in his biography that his first and only roommate when they both were struggling young actors sharing love for the theater, was Mike Nichols. Both had fled Nazi occupation: Paul Goldenberg from Paris and Mike Nichols from Berlin.
Sadly, Mike Nichols, who sharpened his craft starting with comedy and later became the legendary theater and movie director, died on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. Just slightly over a month after his roommate, Paul departed on October 9, 2014. Terrible losses! I will get back to it in details when I return writing about the story of my friend’s fascinating life.
I just learned that another beloved comic we lost recently, Robin Williams, was a college roommate at Julliard with a tragic “Superman” Christopher Reeve. Let’s believe they will all reunite in Heaven!
I felt an urgency to postpone the important project of writing Paul Goldenberg’s biography and step into the role defender of a legendary comedian, writer, musician, producer and creator of “The Bill Cosby Show,” later changed to “Bill Cosby Show,” then newly formed in 1997 “Cosby,” — a perpetual cultural promoter, Dr. Cosby!
Recently a large number of shady women accused him of drugging and raping them when they were young. A herd of hyenas smelled blood and grouped together to collect easy money from a famous figure. Is this world gone mad all of a sudden, labeling an honorable man as a serial rapist? Why are they coming out now after 20, 30, 40 even 50 years after the supposed attacks? Did they wait until he got wealthier so now they can suck on his bank account?
There are plenty of female predators who know when and how to strike their prey.
Dr. Bill Cosby, a world-class gentleman, has been attacked mercifully by the media who framed him for raping helpless young ladies decades ago. My call is to tell my own experience to stop defamation of a respectful figure and clear his image once and for all.
That’s my duty to repay him for his genuine, generous reception after his sitcom, “The Cosby Show” where I was a guest at the dinner table in 1997.
Americans are notorious at creating iconic figures then throw them under the bus, just like they did with the wretched Michael Jackson. They ruined his reputation accusing him for molesting young boys! Michael never had a decent childhood, growing up with an abusive father. I'm sure his friendship with boys was innocent. Macaulay Culkin, another outcast young star, turned into a recluse, testified that Jackson never touched him inappropriately!
Greedy parents of the kids can instigate stories to capitalize and make easy millions! The media basically stoned Michael Jackson to death! He became paranoid and depressed; getting addicted to the sleep devices in his struggle to get rest. His suffering and public humiliation broke him down. But, still he managed to raise three beautiful children, guarded them from the vicious media and showered them with his love, and they loved him back unconditionally! After his untimely, horrific death his fans posthumously regained their love for him!
There had been a storm of fallen stars; we all remember the public meltdown of Britney Spears who bizarrely shaved her locks, while apparently heavily intoxicated. Lindsay Lohan and Winona Ryder, two other bright starlets, caught red-handed stealing clothes. And what about the phenomenal performers, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber’s sudden meltdown? Now media have turned them into the punching bags after their brilliant young careers nosedived, marred with endless scandals, and they are becoming the tabloids’ poster children.
Getting back to Dr. Bill Cosby, in 1997 a friend of mine who is co-writer and collaborator in many books and movie projects with Bill Cosby and also with Dick Wolf, invited me to watch the live TV show “Cosby.” Charles Kipps is an award- winning writer credited for “Little Bill”, “Fat Albert” and “Low and Order” movie episode such as “Exiled,” in which I had a tiny appearance. If you catch this movie made in 1998, you won’t miss a bright blue blouse on an unnerved blond girl, me, at a bowling alley failing to strike any of the bowling pins.
Dr. Bill Cosby greeted me with wide smile and warm welcoming handshake! I shall remind you, this was just months after, his beloved son, Ennis Cosby, was killed sadistically on January 1997 by an emigrant from Ukraine, only because Ennis was black! In the major papers they called him Russian, but it is a fact, as shown in the link below, that Mikhail Markhasev, the racist murderer, was born in Ukraine!
At that time most Americans didn’t know about Ukraine existence, not until now when with the help of the Obama Administration, the overthrown former President Yanukovich was forcefully replaced by a Washington vassal, Petro Poroshenko. Today, November 21, 2014 Joe Biden himself landed in Kiev to help shape the new Ukrainian parliament and smuggle military aid. Sorry for straying from the original story, but the fact that Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, recently discharged from the U.S. army for his drug addiction, will be a cabinet chair in the newly formed Ukrainian Government doesn’t sit well with me.
www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94100
Despite the tragedy of his son murder, Bill Cosby treated me like gold, knowing that I was born in Moscow, Russia! I found him highly intellectual! We talked at great length about our love for Alexander Pushkin and Pushkin's African lineage. Dr. Cosby had studied the life of the heroic General Hannibal, Pushkin's great grandfather. Peter the Great adopted the Ethiopian prince, Hannibal, when he was an infant and was sent to Peter as an honorable gift to tighten the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Since Ukraine was mentioned earlier, I may as well vent out that the new Kiev administration had banned Pushkin books at their schools, along with the Russian language. On June 6th when fans all over the world celebrate Pushkin’s birthday, Ukrainians vandalized Pushkin monuments in the Western part of Ukraine. That made my heart weep. Did Dr. Cosby hear about such nonsense?
Something about his intellect reminded me of my own father. I blurted that out. Then the tirade began. Bill’s smile was quickly turned into anguish expression.
“Oh no, not again, no more father talks. I have enough trouble with Autumn Jackson to deal with! How many of them will be claiming I’m their father? Everyone wants to be my child! He sighed. “ You help someone and they will go after you! What’s next June, April, January? That’s the price you pay when you are successful.”
Later Autumn Jackson confessed that she lied and was imprisoned along with her boyfriend.
While Bill Cosby’s name was called on the set, I had a lovely chat with his agent, Mr. Lewis.
“How long have you been an agent, working with Dr. Cosby, Mr. Lewis?” I started.
“Forty years,” he replied almost immediately.
“Forty years together? That’s a long time! You must be a true Age-ent!”
In response he nodded his white head while crying from laughter. Later in years Charles brought it back, saying age-ent Lewis always remembered that anecdote and asked him to send his best regards to me.
After the show was over, the entire cast sat at a long table, delivered from “Peter Lugar where steaks were served.” But I was fasting for Easter, following the discipline of the Russian Orthodox tradition. During the Great Lent I willingly avoid meat and dairy. A generous host, Mr. Cosby called the restaurant requesting to deliver additionally shrimp dishes. Then he retrieved into the kitchen and later surprised me with his mashed potatoes, he cooked just for me! I was humbled and touched. Can you believe, I saved a tiny signature chocolate medallion that goes with "Peter Lugar" as a complimentary after dinner reward. I still have it. He treated his cast members with love and care! I mingled with them after the feast was over.
I recall painfully thin Doug E. Doug, stunning 'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, smiling Phylicia Rashad, late actors Julius Carry, Madeline Kahn and Marian Seldes, charming Darryl M. Bellto, Marc John Jefferies, Frankie Faison to name a few!
At one point Bill Cosby showed me his jazz room. I had no idea he was a musician.
He placed his headset on my ears and a balmy music began to stream. I was in awe! It was skillful, balanced, soulful and overall dreamy. I wanted to hear more of it.
Now this is important part of my testimony, with my hand on the bible. I was twenty minutes alone with Bill Cosby. He was all along a gentleman with a capital G, exhuming high dignity. There were NO flirting, taking advances or implying on the future meetings.
He simply introduced me with his other genre I was not aware of. I leafed through a few Jazz magazines piled up in his acoustic room. He let me keep the one where he was featured on the front cover. Charles noticed my absence, but he didn’t question it, being the best friend with Bill for decades. Charles was also a songwriter before he became a solid writer and author of five books, besides numerous books written with Bill Cosby.
Later Erica Ranee Cosby joined us! I spent an hour talking to her. She confided that since her brother Ennis was murdered, she had turned to the arts to ease the pain. Our dialogue was concentrated on her paintings. At that time I was a member of The National Arts Club and could have helped her to make an exhibition of her paintings. Erica expressed an interest, but added that she was a beginner, perhaps in the future. I regret that we didn’t exchange phone numbers. After seventeen years I still remember her beautiful face! I can only imagine how much damage these indecent allegations towards her father have done, bringing her more pain.
Erica, rest assured, your father is a giant and the last word will be his.
To all gold-diggers out there, stop your ridiculous fabrications and give Dr. Cosby respite! Off you go, wenches!
November 21, 2014