Does anyone know how tall he was?
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scottieles — 14 years ago(April 11, 2011 05:55 PM)
I worked with Ed Flanders on St. Elsewhere during the eighties. I am 5'3" and I looked eye to eye with him when I had small heels on. So I would guess he was 5'5". He was quite short. He was a gentleman and a complete professional. He always knew his lines and since he was so good it never never seemed like he was acting. I can't believe he committed suicide. He was quiet and reserved on the set so you really couldn't know what his demons were. What a waste.
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SPLeo — 13 years ago(August 07, 2012 12:14 PM)
I am so glad to read that Mr Flanders was as professional off-screen as he seemed on-screen.
There is one moment in St Elsewhere that always fills me up (and I am a 54-year-old male). It's the very last scene in Episode 44, the Season Two finale, when Luther (Eric Laneuville) meets Dr Westphall in the lobby of a near-deserted St Eligius and asks if it's true that the hospital is to be closed.
Dr Westphall says it was a close-run thing, but the hospital is probably good for another year at least. Luther smiles and says: "Goodnight, Dr Westphall" with such a touching and sincere timbre to his voice.
Dr Westphall manages a tired smile and turns and walks off into the distance, weary and shoulders hunched. The music rises and the camera cranes up, finishing with the usual freeze frame.
I hadn't expected it, but it me hard, probably because it seemed to mirror the distress and weariness that Ed Flanders suffered in real life. It's the most evocative and moving conclusion to any drama episode I can recall in the last 30 years. There is not a false or misjudged note in it, and it gets me every time. -
scottieles — 13 years ago(August 07, 2012 05:59 PM)
Thank you for the post. I am so surprised to see a response to a message from so long ago. Thank you for sharing the wonderful insight on your feelings about Ed. Yes, he was a wonderful actor and human being. He had demons and handled them for as long as he could. I loved working with him and admired his incredible talent. I wish I had known his depth of his despair but he was such a professional he never shared his personal life on the set. I am sure he would have been so gratified to know he had that kind of impact on you.