Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

PARKER: Actor Pantoliano fights mental illness stigma

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 14, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

Text size  
Pantoliano started a Web site - nokidding metoo.org - to de- stigmatize depression and mental illness.

Pantoliano started a Web site - nokidding metoo.org - to de- stigmatize depression and mental illness.

More News Columns & Blogs

More stories »

"I want my dessert!" actor Joe Pantoliano, also known as Joey Pants, bellows from the private room inside The Palm Tuesday. "That's another good thing about being crazy," he said, "you can be politically direct."

The outburst wasn't unlike his portrayal of Ralph Cifaretto, the creepiest character in The Sopranos, the HBO series where Ralphie lasted for two seasons before mob boss Tony Soprano whacked him.

"Talk about mental illness," Pantoliano said about the character. "He was battered as a child, sexually abused, and his mother was a drug addict. All he wanted was for Tony to love him."

Mental illness, and Pantoliano's realization that he suffers from depression, was the reason for his Denver visit. The actor held a screening of the Indie movie Canvas during a reception with first lady Jeannie Ritter at the Governor's Mansion on Tuesday night.

In the film, Pantoliano plays a husband dealing with his wife's (played by Marcia Gay Harden) mental illness. It was during the filming of that movie that Joey Pants came to grips with his own issues.

"I was on a continued path of my own denial," he said. "There was an empty hole in my chest that had no bottom. No matter how much booze or abuse I put in there, it didn't fix it."

A psychiatrist recommended by his regular physician diagnosed the actor with clinical depression, which is now controlled through medication. In an effort to "destigmatize" mental illness, Pantoliano started an organization: nokiddingmetoo.org.

ARCHER OUSTED: Beatles fans are crushed after programming changes at 99.5 The Mountain (KQMT) resulted in the ouster of morning show host Archer on Tuesday. One of the world's foremost Beatles experts, he also hosted a three-hour Breakfast With the Beatles show every Sunday filled with rarities and exclusive interviews. That program is gone, and Archer's archives have been scrubbed from The Mountain's Web site. Fans are trying to sway the station with an online petition. You can sign it at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/BringBackArcher/.

While The Mountain program director Beau Raines declined to comment on the reason for Archer's departure, he said, "I love the guy. He's a great guy, and he contributed a lot to the building of The Mountain."

GARNER ON THE MEND: Denver's drama king Bob Garner has been on the DL since he had a sinus operation two weeks ago that revealed a staph infection. "So I have been on double penicillin, which depletes all my energy, but I seem to be getting better," the namesake of Garner Galleria theater said in an e-mail. Buck up, Bobby. We need you back.

IN MEMORIAM: The memorial service for Westword co-founder Sandy Widener, civic leader John Parr and 19-year-old Chase Parr - all killed in a car crash in Wyoming just before Christmas - will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 29, at the Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex. Doors will open at noon, reception following the service. The only survivor is East High School senior Katy Parr who continues recuperating with relatives in Boise, Idaho.

EAVESDROPPING on a woman talking about her friend's depression: "A friend of mine went to the doctor and said she wanted Paxil. The doctor said it would be easier for me to rent a crop duster and dust all of Denver with Paxil rather than rewriting all these prescriptions every month."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

Comments

  • February 14, 2008

    10:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kathyM writes:

    Parker, today's column first delighted me, then disgusted me. I can't believe you first praised an actor for bringing attention to the reality of mental illness--then in the SAME column you reported that idiotic quote supposedly from a doctor. So much for helping eliminate the stigma.

  • February 14, 2008

    2:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mike writes:

    eavesdropping on two girls in an elementary school hallway. "Hey Emily, do you ever read that Penny Parker column in the Rocky"?.... "Ya Think!!, I'm in 5th grade, I don't have time to read that garbage"

  • February 14, 2008

    5:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mark Brown writes:

    Lighten up -- it's a joke.