Smile… And That Will Mean I’m There.

Posted on August 14, 2007

This morning I got a telephone call from my good friend Scott. It was before 10AM so I knew that the news on the other end probably wasn’t good because like myself, Scott, isn’t a morning person. I was right. Our good friend, Joe York, had passed away in his sleep last night in his home in Brooklyn, NY. Joe had been diagnosed with liver cancer earlier this year and had a late start to the battle as it was very progressed when it was first discovered. Joe was a much loved member of the Austin theatre community who had starred in countless roles in every possible production you could think of.

I don’t know the exact day I met Joe. I was rehearsing for my role as Eddie in Rocky Horror Show at Zach Scott last year when he flew in from NY to reprise his infamous Dr. Frankenfurter role. I was a bit scared of him at first. I thought he might be “too good” to talk to. I have had some bad experiences with some of other out of town lead actors I had met up until that point, but Joe dissipated my fears quickly and I was fortunate enough to share a dressing with him and because of our makeup, we both usually arrived earlier than most of the other guys in the show, leaving us about an hour each night to really get to know one another. It was during those chats before curtain that I really got to know someone altogether different than anyone else I had ever met in my life and most importantly, someone who wasn’t afraid or ashamed to share their pain and mistakes with me in an effort to steer me clear before making similar ones. Joe taught me so much in such a short amount of time.

Recently, I made a photo collage of some of his moments from Rocky. My friend Alex helped put it all together and I shipped it off. When they received it the next day I got a call from Graham and Joe thanking me for it. It was heartwarming to know that my love was being received so far away like that and when I spoke to Joe that morning, as he was about to hang up, he said one last thing…

“Remember that I am always with you.”

I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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