Party Line: Michael Douglas charms crowd at Cancer Center Luncheon

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Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas (left) was the special guest at the 10th annual Cancer Center Luncheon. With him are Paula Jacobson, president of the Methodist Healthcare Foundation, and Dr. Kurt Tauer, The West Clinic chief of staff.

Michael Douglas took a break from the silver screen to charm fans Friday at The Peabody. The star of movies, including "Basic Instinct," "Fatal Attraction" and "Wall Street," for which he won his Best Actor Oscar in 1987, was the special guest at the 10th annual Cancer Center Luncheon. The event was presented by Methodist Healthcare Foundation and The West Clinic.

Guests stood in line to have their photos taken with Michael, a cancer survivor, at a special VIP reception prior to the luncheon.

"I've been in love with him all my life," said Didi Montgomery. "He's so sexy."

Michael chatted with guests, including Dr. Sandeer Samant, head of neck surgery at University of Tennessee Medical Group. One of Michael's doctors, Dr. Jatin Shah from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute, is a mutual friend.

During the luncheon Michael was interviewed on stage by Joe Birch from WMC-TV Channel 5. The relaxed and classy actor told the audience how impressed he was by the "spirit" and "friendliness" of Memphians. It was his first trip to Memphis, but, he said, "I'm telling you, it's not my last."

He said Elvis is his son's idol, so he definitely is bringing him and the family, including his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, back to Memphis. "She's shooting a movie," he said. "Somebody's gotta work."

Michael said his next project is to play Liberace in a movie. "Stretch your range," he said, explaining the role. Director Steven Soderbergh asked him to play the late pianist. "My co-star and my 'lover' is Matt Damon."

Michael, a tongue cancer survivor, said, "I feel very good." Having cancer gave him "a deeper sense of family and friends" and a "whole other appreciation of my fans in another way."

He said his dad, Kirk Douglas, will be 95 in December and is "sharp as a tack." Kirk survived a helicopter crash and a stroke, wears a pacemaker and, when he was 88, had double knee replacement surgery. "He's a lovely man."

Michael, who recently was awarded the Kirk Douglas Excellence in Film Award, said he reminded his dad the award had been given to six other people before he got it. "Nepotism isn't running too far."

Celebrating Sondheim

"Isn't it warm? Isn't it cozy? Side by side," wrote Stephen Sondheim for his musical, "Company." Those words summed up the opening night performance/gala of "A Sondheim Celebration" Friday at Theatre Memphis."

Guests gathered in the lobby for hors d'oeuvres and drinks prior to the performance of musical numbers from Sondheim musicals. Among the guests were Michael and Shirley Lupfer, who were among the sponsors of the musical. The Lupfers met Sondheim at the opening of his play "Bounce" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

"I said to Stephen Sondheim: 'I am pleased to meet you and want you to know that I use lyrics to some of your songs in my class; the lyrics to songs like 'Marry Me a Little,' 'Every Day a Little Death,' 'Sorry Grateful' because they talk about ambivalence in relationships,'" Shirley said.

"With that Stephen Sondheim took my arm, leaned over and said, 'My dear, what do you teach?' With a large emphasis on the 'do.'

"I explained to him that I taught a course in adult psychology -- adult development -- and that we spend a long time talking about relationships and the ambivalence that always exists in intimate relationships.

"And I think that satisfied him."

Moore addresses Facing History dinner

Wes Moore, author of The New York Times best-seller "The Other Wes Moore," was the special guest and keynote speaker at the Facing History and Ourselves 15th annual Benefit Dinner Thursday at The Peabody.

Wes, a youth advocate, Army veteran and businessman, discussed his book, which details the lives of two men with the same name: One is a decorated combat veteran and a Rhodes scholar and the other is serving a life sentence in prison for felony murder.

Prior to his speech, Wes chatted with Idella Bass from Douglass High School and Spencer Lee from White Station High School. Idella and Spencer spoke before dinner.

Richard and Rose Flenorl and Andie and Michael Uiberall were benefit co-chairmen. Rachel Shankman is senior director of the Facing History and Ourselves Memphis office.

-- Michael Donahue: (901) 529-2797; donahue@commercialappeal.com

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