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Valerie Harper to challenge Melissa Gilbert for SAG Presidency

Question:

Actually it was a Variety Reporter, mijo. Harper and husband Tony Cacciotti sued Lorimar in 1987 in a contract dispute over "Valerie" and were awarded $1.4 million plus a share of the profits a year later. I hear whispering voices in my head like  "You’ll never work in this town again". Sounds like pay-back time.

ya, never know, but most likely not. The Starmaker

– KellyL AFTRA/Actor/Director Usenet: an Erisitic construct of the Temporary Autonomous Zone (C) I am etristic and a mime disaster in satin plaid booties (C)

Response:

Valerie Harper to challenge Melissa Gilbert for SAG Presidency, Daniels to step down at end of term. From Variety: Posted: Thurs., Jul. 12, 2001, 5:14pm PT SAG prez steps down, gives Harper backing Heston, Dreyfuss also endorse ‘Rhoda’ thesp By DAVE MCNARY Valerie Harper, best known as the star of TV’s "Rhoda," will challenge Melissa Gilbert for the presidency of the Screen Actors Guild, with current prexy William Daniels stepping down and endorsing Harper. "I think Valerie will make a great president because she is a centrist who can pull together all sides of the union — right and left, east and west," Daniels told Daily Variety. "She is a dear friend, and I’m very happy with her decision to run." Harper, who was on Broadway rehearsing for "The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife," stressed she will seek compromise and pragmatic stances. "We need to get off our positions and bury the hatchet," she added. "I’d love for feelings to be soothed and I think that my being a centrist can be a real plus." Speculation had emerged recently that the 74-year-old Daniels, elected two years ago as a novice to union politics, would spurn a second two-year term and support Harper. Other early endorsements for Harper came from former SAG prexy Charlton Heston and board members Tony Roberts, Anne-Marie Johnson and Richard Dreyfuss, who was rumored earlier this year to be mulling a run. Daniels predicted Harper will be able to generate strong support among New York members despite divisions on issues between Gotham and Hollywood. Daniels said he had never planned to seek another term, but held off on making such a declaration until after the SAG/AFTRA film-TV contract negotiations were concluded. He said Harper recently approached him about whether she should run. "I am so pleased to have Valerie step up like this," Daniels added. Although both Harper and Gilbert have similar origins, having broken out on hit TV series during the 1970s, they will present a sharp contrast for the 98,000 SAG members. Harper has emerged as a moderate in the board room, but she is likely to be seen as repping the more confrontational style that Daniels and his allies brought to SAG. Gilbert, who starred in "Little House on the Prairie," announced her candidacy Wednesday and has declared she will operate independently. But she is likely to be perceived as tied to supporters of Richard Masur, who lost to Daniels two years ago in a quest for a third term. Harper led all 74 candidates last fall for the 25 spots as Hollywood reps to SAG’s national board with 7,099 votes; Gilbert was fifth with 6,434. Gilbert was one of the nine signers of a letter that led to the stunning departure last week of SAG’s CEO-designate John Cooke; Harper was one of the nine members of the search committee that selected Cooke. Turbulent term Daniels’ term as the guild’s 22nd president has been turbulent even by SAG standards, beginning with pledges of more aggressive bargaining and leading to a six-month strike last year against advertisers. Despite Daniels’ adherence to a gentlemanly tone and his efforts to push high-profile members to become more involved with SAG, internal and external disputes erupted during his administration, with notable battles over operating rules for Hollywood’s agents and attempts to cut costs within SAG. "I never wanted to get down in the mud of politics," Daniels said. "I just wanted to keep my eye on the contracts and what’s best for the members. We ran on a platform two years ago of putting more money in performers’ pockets, and I think we’ve been pretty successful." In a three-day period last week that appeared emblematic of his tenure, Daniels triumphantly announced a tentative three-year film-TV contract on Tuesday night and then had to craft a measured response to Cooke’s departure on Friday morning. "It’s been quite a two years," he noted. Daniels, who heads the search committee, said finding a replacement for Cooke will be a top priority during the rest of his term. "If John did not feel comfortable about taking the job, it may have been for the best for him to have left at this point," he added. Back to acting Daniels stressed he plans to resume his acting career once he leaves SAG. He is best remembered for his work on "St. Elsewhere," for which he received two Emmys, and for his portrayal of Dustin Hoffman’s father in "The Graduate." "This job is not my career," Daniels added. "I had a successful career before this and I want to get back to it." Harper, 61, won three Emmys for her work on "The Mary Tyler Moore show" as the star’s sidekick and another for its spinoff "Rhoda," along with a Golden Globe. She has appeared in more than a dozen TV movies, as well as multiple feature and Broadway roles, and recently penned an autobiography, "Today I’m a Ma’am: And Other Musings on Life, Beauty and Growing Older." SAG board member Anne-Marie Johnson said she was "delighted" over Harper’s candidacy. "I’m behind her 1,000,000% because she has a strong history of union activism, has worked every contract and is well-respected in the community," Johnson said. "She’s the complete package." Harper debuted at Radio City Music Hall in 1956 as a member of the corps de ballet and on Broadway in the chorus of "Li’l Abner" in 1958. She performed in numerous other musicals and Second City in Toronto before landing the role of Rhoda in 1970. Harper and husband Tony Cacciotti sued Lorimar in 1987 in a contract dispute over "Valerie" and were awarded $1.4 million plus a share of the profits a year later. Duke, Lowe for Gilbert Harper has asked to appear before SAG’s nominating committee, while Gilbert has taken out a petition. Early Gilbert endorsers include former SAG prexy Patty Duke, Bruce Greenwood and Rob Lowe. Other possible candidates for SAG president are longtime activists Angeltompkins and Eugene Boggs, both of whom have taken out petitions. In addition to the SAG presidency, the national posts of recording secretary and treasurer are up for election along with a dozen regionally elected veepee slots and 30 board seats. Nominating committee letters of interest are due by July 25, with interviews set for August; deadline for petitions is Sept. 12, and ballots will be mailed Oct. 12. Results will be announced Nov. 5.

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