Sandra de Bruin is an
established actress who has appeared in more than 100 television series (ER, Barnaby
Jones, The Rockford Files, Three’s Company, The Tonight Show with Johnny
Carson, to name but a few), TV films (Law and Order, Return to
Earth) and feature films (The Andromeda Strain, Gray Lady Down).
She has done numerous commercials, worked in voice-over and looping, danced at
the Los Angeles Music Center and is the creator of the bestselling Actor's
Audition Log. Sandra will periodically be sharing her stories of
working with Hollywood legends, which will appear in a forthcoming memoir about
her on-and off-screen adventures.
BY SANDRA DE BRUIN WITH DEAN BRIERLY
How does one describe a bright,
charming, handsome, witty con-man? (The onscreen variety, of course.) Well, if
he’s all of that and more—then he’s James Garner.
Every
Sunday night I would call my father in New York. This ritual began in the 1970s
and continued until he passed away in the late 1980s. I would regale him with
the follies and foibles of my week in Tinseltown, and he would patiently listen,
occasionally interjecting an upbeat comment. At the end of our conversations he
would invariably say something like, “Sweetheart, think about being a stage
actress. Come back to New York.â€
I would answer, “I’ll
think about it, Dad, but not until I’ve worked just once with James Garner.
Remember when we used to watch Maverick together? You’d say,
‘Now, there’s a man I’d like to meet.’ Well, I’m gonna meet him for you.â€
In
1974 it happened. I auditioned for and landed a nice role on the very first
episode of The Rockford Files. I played a prim hostess at an upscale
country club who succumbs to Jim’s charm as he tries to gain entrance to a private
outdoor patio. It was a fun scene in which Jim works his charismatic magic to con
me into showing him to a table. I was to become increasingly enamored as he
charms me, casually removing my sweater to a reveal a tight red dress, then
slipping off my glasses, and then letting my hair come tumbling down. Finally,
I would seductively say, “Come this way, Mr. Rockford. There’s one empty table
available.â€
Come
the day of the shoot at the Bel-Air Country Club I was anxiously pacing outside
going over my lines, trying to tie them together with the physical actions
required, when a familiar voice behind me said, “Would you like to run lines
with me?†Yeah, you got it. It was James Garner himself.
“Oh,
I’d love that. Thank you!†I replied. “I’m a little nervous and trying to get
the timing with the business right. Oh, I’m Sandy de Bruin, and I’m playing the
hostess.â€
“Okay,
then, Sandy de Bruin, let’s go to work.â€
Which
we proceeded to do for the next few minutes, until the makeup man called me
over to get freshened up prior to shooting the scene. Occupying the makeup chair
was an attractive blonde woman underneath a big straw hat. She was obviously one
of the extras who would be seated on the patio. But she didn’t move when the
makeup man politely asked her to please get out of his chair so he could touch
me up. “Why? Who’s she?†she asked,
still seated. I glanced up and saw that Jim was taking in her high and mighty
attitude.
“She’s
the actress in the next scene with Mr. Garner, that’s who she is,†the makeup
man responded with an edge in his voice. At that, she arrogantly stood up, slinked
over to where Jim was standing and tried to flirt with him. He gave her a blank
look, muttered something or other, then turned and walked away.
Moments
later the scene was set—Jim and I were on our markers and the extras were all
seated on the patio. Just as were about to rehearse, Jim motioned the director over.
In a quiet but firm voice he said, “See that blonde extra seated on the patio
with the big straw hat? Lose her!â€
The
director called to the Assistant Director in charge of extras, and moments
later the blonde was gone, but not before exchanging a few angry words with the
AD. All I remember hearing was “Just sign out. You’ll be paid for the day.â€
I
had never witnessed this kind of power, and was quite taken back. But Jim, the
total professional, just calmly turned to me and said, “Let’s do it.†We did,
and the take came off without a hitch. Unfortunately, when the episode aired
the hair-tumbling-down part was cut. But the scene was impressive enough to be
used in previews and PR blurbs for The
Rockford Files.
When
filming was over I said my adios and thanks to everyone on the set, drove home
and immediately called my father. This time he didn’t end our talk with the
usual, “Come home, sweetheart.†He knew I was hooked—and thriving—in Hollywood.
After
a year or so I was again cast in The
Rockford Files, this time playing a nurse at the Malibu hospital where
Rockford was taken whenever he needed medical help. My first scene was simply
assisting the doctor in removing buckshot from Rockford’s butt. Jim hated the
scene and was in no mood for any mishaps, so the set was tense from the start.
It definitely wasn’t timely for me to reintroduce myself. However, we got
through it okay.
The
next scene had me running through the hospital entrance, then skidding to a
halt and screaming, “It’s Rockford, and he’s been shot!†(Films and television
shows are rarely shot in sequence, so while this scene took place prior to the
buckshot scene, it was actually shot afterward.)
There
was no rehearsal, as it was a fairly simple shot. I ran through the entrance
and yelled my line in my inimitable fashion. Then I heard the dreaded words:
“Cut! You missed the marker, Sandy. Let’s do it again.†Jim, seated in his
chair watching the action, loudly muttered, “Jesus Christ, she can’t even hit
the marker.â€
Looking
down in vain for a marker, I instantly responded, “Sorry, I’ll get it right
next time.â€
Suddenly,
an angry voice rang down from the rafters: “There is no marker!â€
Dead
silence.
Apparently,
this crew member had had enough of Jim’s attitude for the day. Within minutes a
marker was set down on the floor, and I nailed the scene in one take. When
lunch was called I retreated to my trailer, hoping to avoid further encounter. A
few minutes later there was a knock on my door. I hesitantly opened it.
Standing below me was Jim. He studied me for a moment before asking, “Why
didn’t you say there was no marker?â€
I
paused, then hesitantly replied, “They’re your crew. I’m only here for the
day.â€
He knew what I meant, but didn’t respond directly. He just said, “Get
some lunch. We’ve got good caterers,†and walked away.