It was a casual Friday lunch with a friend from my news days when the conversation drifted to the recent passing of David Crosby. “He was the voice of a generation,” she remarked, reflecting on a generation now largely enjoying retirement.
While my own musical history doesn’t stretch back to the era of Billie Holiday‘s jazz innovations or the swing craze of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, I understood their significance. However, in today’s bustling newsrooms, the death of someone of Crosby’s stature might elicit more “Who?” than “Oh, wow.” Obituaries, often hastily assembled from Wikipedia, sometimes lack depth. One wonders, in this age of AI, will human news writers soon be obsolete, replaced by the efficiency of ChatGPT?
Amidst this reflection, I recounted a story to my friend about the time I witnessed David Crosby approaching the distinguished actor John Forsythe in a restaurant. She found the anecdote particularly amusing, especially the unexpected twist at the end. It’s a story worth sharing.
Having spent most of my life in Los Angeles, celebrity sightings, outside of industry events, have been surprisingly rare. Once, attempting to impress visiting family from the Bay Area, I chose the famed Ivy in Beverly Hills for lunch, hoping for a glimpse of a movie star. Indeed, Keanu Reeves appeared! “Who?” my sister-in-law responded, unimpressed. A definite #fail in my celebrity spotting attempt.
However, a truly memorable celebrity encounter occurred in 1999, not in Hollywood, but 100 miles north. It was a random evening that brought together three entertainment icons in one place.
My husband and I were visiting family in Los Olivos, nestled in Santa Barbara wine country, the region popularized by the movie “Sideways.” We decided on a date night at Grappolo, a delightful Italian restaurant in Santa Ynez.
As dusk settled, the restaurant’s ambiance was warm and intimate. Seated at a corner table with a panoramic view, we soon saw David Crosby and his wife, Jan Dance, enter and take a table nearby. Knowing they resided locally, it was still a noteworthy sighting for us, though we maintained a discreet distance.
My husband, a devoted fan of CSN (+/-Y), was visibly excited. We played it cool, avoiding direct eye contact.
Shortly after, the unmistakable John Forsythe walked in. At 80 years young, the actor, famed for his roles in “Dynasty” and “Charlie’s Angels,” exuded timeless elegance in a double-breasted navy blazer. As a dedicated viewer of “Dynasty” during the 1980s—ABC’s primetime soap opera rival to CBS’s “Dallas”—seeing Blake Carrington in person was a genuine thrill.
Forsythe was accompanied by a man who seemed to be a local fixture, greeting patrons like an “honorary mayor of Santa Ynez.” He exchanged greetings with David Crosby as they settled into a booth adjacent to ours.
Suddenly, Crosby rose from his seat and approached the veteran actor. My husband, mid-sentence, was hushed as I focused intently on the unfolding interaction. (#LindsayWagner-like focus).
Crosby appeared slightly hesitant, almost starstruck, in Forsythe’s presence. Forsythe, for his part, seemed unaware of who Crosby was. “David is a musician,” Forsythe’s companion explained. Forsythe responded politely, “Oh, how nice.”
Crosby then mentioned that his father, Floyd Crosby, had been a cinematographer in Hollywood, even winning an Oscar in 1931 for “Tabu.” He wondered if their paths had ever crossed.
Forsythe paused briefly. “No, I don’t recall him,” he stated with a smile, but Crosby’s demeanor visibly deflated. After exchanging pleasantries, Crosby returned to his table, appearing somewhat disappointed.
It was a reminder that even stars are fans, and that moments of awkwardness and unrecognized admiration are universal. In a town as intimate as Santa Ynez, it was surprising that these two luminaries had never officially met.
My husband, eager to know what had transpired, was kept in suspense. “Details in the parking lot,” I mouthed, keen to savor the moment.
We enjoyed our dinner and made our exit.
And here’s the punchline to this Hollywood-adjacent story.
As we stepped into the parking lot, I began recounting the Crosby-Forsythe encounter, marveling at seeing two famous figures in one evening! But my words trailed off.
Standing there was Jeff Bridges.
The Dude himself.
Mic drop.
The iconic Jeff Bridges in his role as “The Dude” from “The Big Lebowski,” a movie produced by PolyGram.
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
So, that’s my most memorable Hollywood story, and ironically, it unfolded outside of Hollywood.
On a side note, curious about AI’s grasp on current events, I asked ChatGPT “Who was David Crosby?” to test my theory about the evolving role of news writers. Rest easy, journalists, your jobs are safe for now. The Bot believes Crosby is still alive! Clearly, some software updates are needed.
A thoughtful portrait of David Crosby, the legendary musician, reflecting on his impactful career.
