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A memorial event was held for Werner Klemperer in New York City
at the Broadhurst Theatre shortly after he died (December 6, 2000). A Playbill
was distributed along with a six page collection of remembrances entitled
"Klempy Remembered" from those who knew Werner.
I met Werner Klemperer in 1949 at the Actors Exchange, a telephone
answering Service for Actors. These were the days before answering machines
existed and the Actors Exchange (a tiny office over a deli on Broadway and
47th Street) provided a safe haven for actors to congregate, commiserate and
check on their messages.
I was sitting in the corner of the room crying and smoking a cigarette. In
those days all actors cried and smoked cigarettes. "What's the matter?",
said a warm and slightly accented voice (which to my Long Island ears sounded
very exotic). I said. "I'm just so depressed. I hardly ever get sent
on auditions, and when I do get one I screw it up. I'm emotionally dry. I
can't open up.
Werner smiled and said, "you're young you have a lifetime to fill up
the well, so give yourself a break."
The years went by, the "well" filled up and my husband Jerry Stiller
and I got to know, respect and love Werner and Kim. Werner was a man of passionate
convictions and great humor.
In the recent past we were honored by the Players Club and expected to speak
informally to the assembled group .After we hemmed and hawed. Werner leaped
to our rescue by asking us questions that sent us into comedic rifts. Funny
stuff pilled ant and probably more information than anyone cared to Ii ear
about Stiller and Mera.
Our friend Werner Klemperer was more than a dedicated artist. He was a damn
good straight man. We miss him.
- Anne Mera
Werner was a friend of mine. We laughed and teased each other over many things.
As I reflected over the time we spent together. I was overwhelmed by my sense
of loss. No anecdote lessens that sense of loss. Werner, I miss you.
- George Dzunedza
It was late summer several years ago. The phone rang about noon. It was Werner,
terse, hushed, like a spy delivering secret information. After a few telephonic
pleasantries…
W : Have you seen the exhibit at the Hollywood Bowl Museum?
L : I didn't even know there was a Hollywood Bowl Mu…
W: Well, it's a fabulous exhibit! Reinhardt's "Midsummer Night's Dream".
All the great German artists who fled that son of bitch Hitler. It's only
for another week, you can't miss it.
L : Well, I'll certainly try to get there.
W: What are you doing today?
L: Well I was working on a …
W: I'll meet you there. About 2:30?
L: Well…I suppose I could be there about…
W: Good, I'll meet you at the Museum entrance at 2:30. You can park right
there.
I dutifully arrived, parked my car and made my way through quite a large
crowd, to the entrance of the exhibit. There was Werner smiling, hugely, standing,
beneath, a colossal photograph of himself!
- Laurence Guillard
I would like to join in saluting a great and multi-talented gentleman. I feel
shock at his loss and miss him. We're all less interesting and eager and human
without him.
- Lee Grant
In an Equity meeting a few years ago, I got to see the "sensitive"
side of Werner.
There was an appeal being made by a small company, which had been around
for a few years. As usual, the Councillors asked questions regarding the facts
of the necessity of the appeal (i.e. financial status, ticket prices, number
of Equity contracts, etc.) Werner then asked how long they had been cultivating
this company; it was apparently as emotional question for the person making
the appeal, who answered, "Twenty-five years." Werner then replied,
"In other words, its your baby - isn't it?" The person nodded, accompanied
by a stream of tears. The room got quiet for a couple of minutes, it was then
that I realized how sensitive Werner really was.
I feel fortunate to have known him and to have seen that side of him.
- Melly Carrubba
Werner did it all: Theatre, films, television, opera, narrator with virtually
every major symphony. As an Officer and Councilllor of Actors' Equity, his
service to his colleagues spanned more than a quarter of a century, and continued
until the moment that he left us.
Whatever Werner did, he did it with full commitment, and he did it well.
But for all of his considerable acheviement - and there were many - his best,
most jouyous and satisfying role was as the man in Kim's life. He gave us
the privilege of knowing her, and that, in itself, is a rare and cherished
gift.
- Jane Powell & Dick Moore
Many years ago, shortly after I had met Werner at a Council meeting for the
first time, I recall leaving a committee meeting when I heard a voice call
out, in a dulcet and slightly accented tone, "Kenny darling...".
At first, I thought it was someone else that was being addressed. Very few
people outside my immediate family call me "Kenny". And, regrettably,
perhaps even fewer people call me "darling". But I turned around
and saw that it was Werner and that he was indeed calling out to me. I could
see by the mischievous twinkle in his eye that he knew that he had caught
me off guard and made me blush...and he loved it. Frankly, so did I. It made
me feel a part of the Equity family and I know, in his affectionate way, that
that was his intent. From that moment on, I was always "Kenny Darling"
to Werner and he couldn't have been more dear to me. I will miss him.
- Ken Greenwood
I loved Mr. Werner Klemperer. He was a big gentleman. I knew him very long
- I worked thirty-five years coatcheck at Sardi's restaurant. He was so kind
to us. They all called me "use-light", but Mr. Klemperer sais "oo-say-lee-tay"
- the right way!
- Eugenia Uselyte
This is not simply an expression of soorow at the death of an important figure
in the arts and an important officer of Equity. We in Boston particularly
recall Werner's kind assistance to us in picketing non-union shows playing
at imporetant venues and his presense at the annual members meeting when a
dues increase was being proposed. Werner never backed away from a controverst,
and he always spoke for the "no-name" rank-and-file Actor. Bravo. Equity should
seriously consider naming an award for him, or at least a room in the building.
- James Bodge
When the American Express print ad with Kim came out, I cut it out and taped
it to the door of my office. Werner asked why I had it there and I told him
it was so I could "oogle" his wife the way he "oogled" all the women at Equity.
He laughed very hard, and I think called me an expletive. Then he said he
loved it and would have to go call Kim and tell her.
- Dede Moyse
Much of the time I spent with Werner involed the offices of Actors' Equity
Association where I serverd on the staff for more than 26 years. Werner was
a faithful, devoted member of Council and the Committees on which he served.
He would, whenever on the premises, seat himself cvomfortably in my office,
ask what was happening and then proceed to tell ME what was going on - within
the staff, within the Council, within the Committees. He knew more about what
was going on in my office than I did and I was there every day. I never did
learn his sources but he was always in possession of the most up to date information.
A few years ago, I told Werner during one of these office conversations that
I wanted to take my son Patrick to dinner at the Russian Tea Room to celebrate
his birthday. "I will make a reservation for you", he declared. And, because
he did, Patrick and I were treated like royalty. We could almost hear the
trumpet fanfare as we were escorted to our table - the best in the house -
the red banquette in the center of the room. The serveoice was exquisite,
the evening unforgettable because of Werner and his eagerness to lend a hand,
to do a favor. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Patrick and I happily reminisced
about that everning.
Dining with Werner and his beautiful Kim anywhere - be it Sardi's, The Ginger
Man or Fiorello's was a delicious experience in every way. As members of Werner's
party, my husband Donald and I had the best of attention, service, graciousness
bestowed upon us along with the gentle but strenuous discussions beweteen
Werner and Kim who disagreed on just enough to makle it always interesting.
Werner was and ideal houseguest. When he and Kim joined Donald and me for
a weekend at our house on the Island, they arrived with a bottle of Aquavit.
Werner asked, "Where is our room?" and even before the weekend provisions
were unpacked had settled himself in the living room before the television
set (tuned to politics or football), wearing his shorts, slippers and bathrobe.
Werner's ability to make himself immediately comfortable was every host and
hostess' dream.
These are loving and treasured memories. I miss you, but feel blessed to
have known you, to have been your colleague, friend and confidant. Mr. K.
- Judith Anderson
Werner Klempere was a celebration. He so enjoyed his life, and the life around
him. He was my friend for thirty years. He was stylish and sophisticated.
And when it suited him--or the moment--he could be, and was, raw. But just
to say he was stylish is insufficient. For he was of many styles.
- Donald Grody
