"Merrill Wayne-Whittman Plaskow II" - what a moniker! What a character!
If he liked you but was (always temporarily) irritated with you, he called you a "peasant."
He wore an ascot ( outside of MY FAIR LADY, who the hell wore ascots?).
If you ever went to one of his parties, you wouldn't be served soda and pretzels - you got caviar and canapes.
And he was the only one of the "Footlighters," at that time, who had REAL acting talent.
I last saw him around 1970, when he got out of the Army (after high school, he lost 100 pounds so he could ENLIST!!!). He was taking some classes at Temple U., and I tutored him in his mathematics course. (I must have been a great teacher, because he passed!) He ended up with a bachelor's degree in theater arts from Long Island University and then entered a graduate program in acting at Penn State. I don't know if he finished that degree, but he did become a professional actor, with bit parts in movies - e.g. MARATHON MAN (Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier); THE NEXT MAN (Sean Connery) - and appearances in stock. And he finally got to Broadway, playing a featured role in Zero Mostel's last revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
Merrill certainly was an eccentric character, which added a lot to the landscape of Olney High.. People like Merrill add a dimension to lives still being formed at that age..Marching to different beat, as he surely did, help broaden horizons and emphasize that we all don't need to be the same..
Was surprised to learn of his stint in the Army though...
He certainly did his part in adding variety and a different viewpoint...In retrospect, he comes into clearer focus..
Yes, Ascots and Olney High School usually not in the same sentence!
Gary Shulberg
"Merrill Wayne-Whittman Plaskow II" - what a moniker! What a character!
If he liked you but was (always temporarily) irritated with you, he called you a "peasant."
He wore an ascot ( outside of MY FAIR LADY, who the hell wore ascots?).
If you ever went to one of his parties, you wouldn't be served soda and pretzels - you got caviar and canapes.
And he was the only one of the "Footlighters," at that time, who had REAL acting talent.
I last saw him around 1970, when he got out of the Army (after high school, he lost 100 pounds so he could ENLIST!!!). He was taking some classes at Temple U., and I tutored him in his mathematics course. (I must have been a great teacher, because he passed!) He ended up with a bachelor's degree in theater arts from Long Island University and then entered a graduate program in acting at Penn State. I don't know if he finished that degree, but he did become a professional actor, with bit parts in movies - e.g. MARATHON MAN (Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier); THE NEXT MAN (Sean Connery) - and appearances in stock. And he finally got to Broadway, playing a featured role in Zero Mostel's last revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
Joel Lachman
Gary,
Well said!
Merrill certainly was an eccentric character, which added a lot to the landscape of Olney High.. People like Merrill add a dimension to lives still being formed at that age..Marching to different beat, as he surely did, help broaden horizons and emphasize that we all don't need to be the same..
Was surprised to learn of his stint in the Army though...
He certainly did his part in adding variety and a different viewpoint...In retrospect, he comes into clearer focus..
Yes, Ascots and Olney High School usually not in the same sentence!
Joel Lachman
Linda Shanes (Garber)
So what happened to him? When did he pass away? Was he married? Kids? Ido remember him as being eccentric.
Phyllis Silverstein (Pitt)
MERRILL PLASKOW WAS A JOY TO KNOW . HE ALWAYS WAS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND WANTED TO GO TO BROADWAY TO PERFORM.
HOW SAD THAT SUCH A BRIGHT LIGHT WENT OUT.
PHYLLIS SILVERSTEIN MELOFF
Judith Snell (Spadafora)
I am sorry to hear of Merrill's passingHe was a character, and a really sweet guy. I remember him always with a smile. And saying hello to everyone he passed in the hall