In 1977, Robertson was notified by the IRS he hadn't filed on $10,000 paid to him by Columbia Pictures. The actor had no idea what they were talking about, and learned David Begelman, the studio head, wrote a check to Robertson, then forged his name. It was learned he eventually had done this with other people to the tune of $65,000. Robertson was the only one who took action, and Begelman was sentenced to community service and a $5,000 fine. He would eventually lose him job, but take over MGM.
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| Cliff Robertson |
Robertson, who had been warned not to make this public, didn't work in Hollywood for four years. Throughout all this, the friends who had told him, "Cliff, if you ever need anything, call me," refused to take his calls. When he was finally hired again, he was never again a leading man. Whenever he was in a film, the billing would be "and Cliff Robertson" or "with Cliff Robertson." The thing is, everyone would say they knew he had been right, but-- and never finished their sentence.
MGM didn't fare well under Begelman, who eventually went bankrupt. His contract wasn't renewed, and he committed suicide in his hotel room.
Actor/writer Chris Lemmon is Robertson's stepson, and he wrote of what a fine man he was. He said that Robertson was always there for him, and he remembered that more than the man's acting ability. Robertson's stand was a perfect example of what an outstanding man he was.
He knew the consequences he was facing when he made his stand, yet he made it. Yet to this day, he's remembered not only for being a fine actor, but for someone who was wronged by Hollywood. On the other hand, Begelman has gone down in history as a thief and blackmailer (That's another story.).
Things might have been harder for him for doing things honestly, but I think I would have rather been Cliff Robertson than the 'successful' David Begelman any day of the week. At least Robertson could look himself in the mirror with pride, and gave us an example to follow.
We need to remember that example every day, and follow the Robertsons of the world, not the Begelmans. It's harder to follow the first, but the end consequences of the latter aren't worth it.
Mizpah
