John Lithgow on Lea, I love her, I miss her!

Remember John Lithgow, the Hollywood actor who starred with Lea Salonga in the 1995 TV movie Redwood Curtain for Hallmark’s Hall of Fame?

Lithgow and Lea Salonga star as father and daughter in Redwood Curtain.

Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre met Lithgow during the recent New York junket for The Crown, a British royal drama with Lithgow heading the cast.

“He’s so warm and gracious and very down-to-earth,” reported Edmund (whose story about The Crown is coming out on Saturday, Nov. 5). “No star complex at all, no airs.”

When Edmund mentioned Lea’s name, Lithgow’s face lit up as he broke into a wide grin, saying, “Of course, I remember her. I love her. I was her adoptive father in Redwood Curtain. I love her and I miss her! I haven’t seen her in ages. She’s a sweet, talented girl and I enjoyed working with her.”

Redwood Curtain revolves around concert pianist Gerri Riordan (Lea), a Vietnamese/Amerasian who was fathered by an American GI. Adopted by Laird (Lithgow) and Julia (Catherine Hicks), Gerri becomes increasingly curious about who her father was and decides to track him down after Laird dies. To learn more about her past, she visits Laird’s sister, Geneva (Debra Monk), who lives in California’s Redwood Forest. There she spies Vietnam War veteran Lyman Fellers (Jeff Daniels) and becomes convinced he is her father.

Both Lithgow and Lea, along with the entire cast, won critical praises for their performances in the TV movie based on the Broadway play of the same title.

“Mr. Lithgow and Ms. Salonga deliver exquisite performances, separately and in tandem,” wrote John J. O’Connor of The New York Times at that time.

“If you have the opportunity to tell Lea, please let her know that I love her and I miss her,” Lithgow repeated to Edmund. “I hope we can see each other again and maybe work again together someday.”

The Crown is set to premiere on Netflix today (Nov. 4). The $100-million 10-part drama series will focus on the ascendance to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II, with Lithgow playing Sir Winston Churchill, the iconic British prime minister named the Greatest Briton of all time.

Well-known known for his TV roles as Dick Solomon in 3rd Rock from the Sun and as Arthur Mitchell in Dexter, Lithgow has received numerous acting recognitions including two Tony Awards, five Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actor Guild Awards. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Phl Asian country with most number of Miss Int’l titles

With seven wins, Venezuela tops the Miss International Honor Roll. Kylie Verzosa’s victory as the 2016 title-holder, the Philippines now places No. 2. If Venezuela, knock on wood, fails to win next year and Philippines does, the two countries will be at par with each other.

Overall, the Philippines is the third country in global pageants with 13 titleholders: Three Misses Universe, a Miss World, six Misses International and three Misses Earth. Venezuela has 22 winners and USA has 14 winners, ranking first and second, respectively.

Here’s a recap on the achievements of Filipinas in the Miss International Pageant. (Note: Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. [BPCI] started sending delegates to the pageant only in 1968.)

• Miss International: Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verzosa (2016).

• Runners-up (Three): Evelyn Camus (1971), second; 1972 Yogi Dominguez (1972) second; and 1973 Marilen Ojeda (1973), fourth.

• Semi-finalists (22): 1960 Edith Vital; 1963 Monina Medinilla Yllana; 1968 Nini Ramos; 1969 Binky Montinola; 1975 Jaye Murphy; 1976 Dolly Ascalon; 1980 Dianne Jeanne Chiong; 1981 Peachy Sacasas; 1986 Alice Dixson; 1991 Patti Betita; 1994 Alma Concepcion; 1995 Gladys Dueñas; 1996 Yedda Marie Mendoza; 1997 Susan Jane Ritter; 1998 Colette Centeno; 2004 Maan Bayot; 2008 Patricia Fernandez; 2009 Melody Gersbach; 2010 Krista Kleiner; 2011 Diane Necio; 2012 Nicole Schmitz; and 2015 Janicel Lubina. 

• Miss Photogenic: 1962 Cynthia Ugalde, fourth runner-up.

• Best National Costume (Three): 1972 Yogi Dominguez; 1976 Dolly Ascalon; and 1979 Melanie Marquez.

• Miss Friendship (Two): 1989 Lia Andanar; and 1994 Alma Concepcion. 

• Miss Talent: 2010 Krista Kleiner .

• Miss Expressive: 2010 Krista Eileen Kleiner. 

• Miss Internet: 2011 Diane Necio.

• Best Dresser: 2015 Janicel Lubina. 

— Compiled by Celso de Guzman Caparas

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