Ask American Profile 12/30/2007

Q I know that Willie Nelson’s sister has always played piano in his band. Has she ever made any music of her own?
—Will Trabue, Tulare, Calif.

Bobbi Nelson, 76, sister to the singing and songwriting superstar, left a job demonstrating Hammond organs to play piano with her “baby” brother, who’s now 74. That was 35 years ago, and she’s been at Willie’s musical side ever since. She branched out recently to record her solo debut, Audiobiography, a collection of piano versions of classic tunes including “Crazy,” “Stardust” and “Down Yonder,” and two new songs from Willie, who joins her vocally. “The only way for me to tell the story of my life,” she says, “would be through music.”

Q I would like to know where the stars of The Rat Patrol are today.
—Linda Staats, La Porte, Ind.

The only member of the cast currently active in American television is Hans Gudegast, who played sympathetic German Capt. Hauptmann Dietrich on the 1960s TV series. The German-born actor, now 66, changed his name in the early ’70s to Eric Braeden and has starred as Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless since 1980. Gary Raymond, 72, (Sgt. Jack Moffitt) lives in England and works in theater there. The last TV credit for Justin Tarr, 67, (Pvt. Tully Pettigrew) was a guest spot on Midnight Caller in 1990. And Christopher George, who played Sgt. Sam Troy, died at age 52 of a heart attack in 1983.

Q Can you tell me a little about Christopher Meloni from Law and Order: SVU?
—Becky Stanfield, Rolla, Mo.

Born in Washington, D.C., the half-Italian, half-French-Canadian actor worked as a bartender and personal trainer before getting his show-biz break. Prior to the hit NBC-TV series SVU, on which he plays police Detective Elliot Stabler, he was best known for the HBO drama Oz and his role as Julia Roberts’ boyfriend in the movie Runaway Bride. “Stabler and I are alike,” says Meloni, 35, who lives in New York City with his wife and their two children. “We’re focused on our job and couldn’t see doing anything else with our lives.”

Q What happened to Elizabeth Perkins? I saw her in Big and thought she was good.
—Pat James, Cary, Ill.

Big marked Elizabeth Perkins’ breakout performance in 1988. She followed that with movie roles in Avalon, The Flintstones, 28 Days and, most recently, Must Love Dogs, which she does. But these days, Perkins, 47, stays busy playing an uptight PTA mother on the Showtime series Weeds, for which she received two Emmy nominations. She is married to cinematographer Julio Macat and has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Q Did Christopher Reeve ever star in a remake of the movie The Great Escape? I saw the previews, and I think he portrayed a German officer.
—Sherman Benson, Kenyon, Minn.

You’re partly correct. Reeve starred as American-born British Maj. John Dodge in The Great Escape II: The Untold Story. The 1988 TV movie added a follow-up storyline to the original theatrical film of 1963, which recounted an escape by Allied soldiers from a German POW camp during World War II.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article