Book Review
Title: Starring Brian Linehan
Author: George Anthony (Foreword by: Joan Rivers)
Publisher: McLelland & Stewart
Released: September 25^th 2007
Pages: 325
ISBN-10: 0771007574
ISBN-13: 978-0771007576
$34.95 

5 Stars

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey (Toronto - Canada Correspondent)

One of the best aspects of working in the industry of media is remembering the likes of Brian Linehan. Canada's definitive interviewer of famous actors, Linehan didn't just set the standard, or raise the bar, he made it difficult for anyone else to comparatively come close to that quality and standard. Brian Linehan was possibly the only interviewer that celebrities revered and went out of their way to be interviewed by. It was an experience, a Linehan trademarked experience, to be interviewed by Linehan, or to watch Linehan (as many of us did) gently enchant his interviewees into telling their life stories while keeping the integrity of the interview always at its highest level. Linehan was never interested in the private lives of those he interviewed, but he was committed to capturing on film the essence and passion the performer possessed.

Cooing over a professional like Linehan is enjoyable in itself, but it does render to a purpose; close friend to Linehan, and behind-the-scenes heavyweight George Anthony has wrote a moving and compelling biography titled Starring Brian Linehan. In the three decades Anthony knew Linehan, they built a valued friendship which would give a revealing look into the life of a man that spent his whole career asking others those questions. In part tribute, part biography, and part epilogue, Anthony shows how Linehan had a wonderful group of supportive friends, a hard upbringing, an unmatched professionalism, a skill and depth of character that was highly enviable, a life of success encapsulated in one heartbreak after another, a misunderstood arrogance and an untimely death. Every person in the world should be so lucky to have someone express the sum of their parts postscript, so earnestly, and with such kindness.  

Brian Linehan grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and was quickly observed as the black sheep of a family focused on hard labour, gruff sensibilities, close-mindedness, and with a key focus on sports activity; Brian was a reader. Brian was also a film watcher and a dreamer. At the first opportunity, Brian went to Toronto to etch out a name for himself, which he seemed to do quickly with his care and understanding towards celebrities. One path led to another and Linehan found City Lights, a dilapidated set and unglossed finish of a Toronto based TV interview show. Linehan had intelligence and savvy, which he used to his greatest advantage in procuring interviews with some of the biggest names of the day. From Donald Sutherland, to Barbara Streisand, Michael Douglas, Peter O' Toole, John Travolta, and an endless list of other celebrities, were eventually eager to have Linehan ask them those questions about the details of their performances or the quiet moments in their lives where they discovered themselves.

As Linehan's star was rising, he also held a delicate balance of a gay man in a committed relationship to Zane, his life partner. Although Zane and Linehan seemed to have the perfect relationship, Zane was a difficult person, and both men struggled for many years to keep their relationship low-key and out of the eye of scrutiny. Within their circle, Linehan had created endearing and long-lasting friendships with the likes of Joan Rivers, Bea Arthur, and ballerina Karen Kain. Yet, when Linehan's life crumbled around him, it did so in a tidal wave way. Tensions between City Lights owner Moses Znaimer and Linehan reached its limits and the former took the latter off-air. Essentially jobless, Linehan never had quite the same opportunities or niche after City Lights. Then he was diagnosed with Cancer, and as it was Zane's responsibility to take care of the situation he coped with the situation by instead committing suicide. Linehan was left behind to deal with a terminal illness on his own. Along the way Linehan's friends became the rock he was looking for and dedicated themselves to him, until the end of his days.

Even though Linehan's life was full of tragedy, and sadness, he was the most amazingly resilient and passionate man towards the arts. He was distinguished, as ever a man was, and left an impression on a previously not-thought-to-be art form. In my eyes, as many, he was a legend and has left an indelible legacy in the realm of media. I am grateful that such a wonderful communicator as George Anthony has told Brian Linehan's story.