Ask American Profile

Rita Coolidge, Larry the Cable Guy, Harrison Ford, Ron Glass

Did Rita Coolidge get married recently, and to whom?
—Janne R., Virginia

Grammy-winning singer Rita Coolidge, 60, got married last year to Tatsuya Suda, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Irvine, whom she met on an airplane about three years ago. Coincidentally, that’s also how she met her first husband, singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson, with whom she has a 31-year-old daughter. Best known for her hits All Time High, (Your Love Is Lifting Me) Higher and Higher and Fever, the Nashville, Tenn., native has a new jazz album called And So Is Love. "I’ve loved jazz all my life. Peggy Lee was my greatest influence," says Coolidge, who lives in Fallbrook, Calif. (pop. 29,100). In November she’ll perform in the show Billie and Me, about Billie Holiday, in cities such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. "To me, this seemed like a natural course." She’s ecstatic with the direction her life is taking. "I feel like a little kid—new record, new husband, new granddaughter. Isn’t it fabulous?"

I would like some background on Larry the Cable Guy.
—Kathy L., Indiana

Larry the Cable Guy (whose real name is Dan Whitney) was born in Pawnee, Neb. (pop. 1,033), and raised in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he worked as a hotel bellhop. Larry later launched his stand-up career on a dare at a local comedy club and soon earned spots on a Tampa Bay, Fla., radio show. But his break came when fellow comedian Jeff Foxworthy discovered his talents and asked him to join the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, which has since been released as a movie and CD. Its sequel, the Blue Comedy Tour Rides Again, was released last year, as was a sketch comedy television series on the WB Network titled Blue Collar TV. He’s released two comedy CDs and a live DVD and has written a book that debuts this fall. His voice will be heard in the upcoming Disney/Pixar film Cars. Larry, 42, is engaged to be married and does not have children.

I was wondering how Harrison Ford got that scar on his chin.
—Nancy W., Ohio

Chicago-born Harrison Ford got his notable scar in a car accident more than 35 years ago. Ironically, he was putting on his seat belt while driving and lost control of his car, crashing into a telephone pole. An emergency room resident stitched him up. That isn’t the only accident the action star has weathered. During a Gunsmoke episode in the early 1970s, Ford fell on his gun and knocked out his four front teeth. He’s broken his nose several times, yet the imperfections didn’t stop him from becoming People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1998. The 63-year-old actor, who dates actress Calista Flockhart, still is considered sexy leading-man material and is the midst of making his fourth Indiana Jones film, due out next year.

Whatever happened to actor Ron Glass of Barney Miller fame?
—Elizabeth O., Massachusetts

Ron Glass, who was raised in Evansville, Ind., has remained very busy since he played police Detective Ron Harris on the TV series Barney Miller, which aired from 1975 until 1982. He’s had guest roles on TV series such as Friends, All in the Family and Amen. Glass portrays Shepherd Book in the movie Serenity, which is based on the science fiction series Firefly and due out in September. Glass also can be heard as the voice of Randy Carmichael in the TV show Rugrats. When he thinks back to Barney Miller days, he says not one specific incident comes to mind, but "the happiness I feel when I recall the creative process by which Harris evolved from a generic black guy into a full-fledged, full flushed-out characterization that we created together," says Glass, 60, who has never been married—"although I’ve come close." You can write him c/o Mitchell K. Stubbs and Associates, 8675 West Washington Blvd., Suite 203, Culver City, CA 90232, Attention: Sean.

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