Marian Hanson, Pamela McKay, Ann Orr and Emiko Kamidoi share memories over breakfast at the Radisson Huntley in Santa Monica. The restaurant is on the top floor and has a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

On March 6th, 2003, Bruce Greenwood made an unannounced appearance at a Gregg Henry music gig, backing Gregg up as singer and friend. Website contributors Pamela McKay and Ann Orr were fortunate enough to be there that night. Pamela has written about the musical side of the evening within the Music Directory (with a link at the bottom of this page.) A more personal fan account appears here along with some words from Ann Orr:

Pam and Ann pose on the red carpet leading up to the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards are held. Ann, Pam, Emiko and Marian pose on the stairs leading up to the main entrance.

On Thursday, March 6th I drove down to Los Angeles from the Bay Area to meet Ann Orr, who's done so much for the BG site and was going to be vacationing from Toronto in the Hollywood area that week. We had a great time - sightseeing all over Hollywood and Santa Monica, going to The Getty Museum, etc., but probably best of all, we actually got a chance to see Bruce.

Through sheer unpredictable good luck, Gregg Henry was performing that very Thursday night at Genghis Cohen, so Ann and I made plans to attend. And our luck was even more remarkable, because Bruce was his back-up singer, along with John Lathan. This was the same trio of performers and the same place where I'd seen them perform on Bruce's 45th birthday about 1½ years before.

Even though I'd written to Gregg that I'd be coming, it turned out the news had never reached Bruce, who'd only arrived from Vancouver the night before. So he wasn't aware of me when he arrived at the restaurant, but we all saw him, of course, and watched as he hobnobbed with the mob of people who'd come to see the gig. He disappeared into the performance room and I was lucky enough to be first in line, so I peeked through the curtain to watch him and Gregg rehearse till they let us in. What a treat - not just to see these two talented men rehearse but to see their bond of friendship, too. When we were finally let into the performance room, I was one of the first people to pass through and Bruce saw me right away. Well, he was completely floored. He walked right over as I was coming down the aisle and said "Pam! You're the last person I expected to see tonight!" And then he gave me a big hug. I told him I was pretty surprized to see him, too, and turned to introduce Ann, telling him that she did pictures for his site. He greeted her warmly and then asked us to join him and Susan in their row, which we did. I was sitting next to the wall with Ann beside me and then Bruce, who talked with us till his wife Susan arrived to sit between him and Ann. The rest of our party - Emiko and Marian (who'd both attended the private screening back in Dec 2000, so already knew Bruce) and Ann's friend Janet were seated in the row behind us. Bruce said hello to each of them, met Janet and shook hands all around (except that Emi asked for a hug and got one). Well, as usual, Bruce just couldn't have been nicer nor more gracious.

Most of what we discussed was music related. Bruce is very excited that Gregg's career is taking off and is especially pleased that "Like the Back of Your Hand" from Gregg's newest CD has also been recorded by Dwight Yoakum, who worked with Bruce on Hollywood Homicide. Dwight had heard them noodling together during filming and asked if he use the song, so Bruce feels like a proud papa, bringing all this about.

It was also great that Ann got to meet Bruce, since she's done so much for the BG site. She later told me she was sorry she didn't gush more, but I told her that was perfect. We weren't there as fans this time - just as people attending Gregg's performance. She did get Bruce and Gregg to sign the CD she'd brought along, but she wasn't able to get any photos, since it really wasn't an appropriate time to do that.

from Ann Orr:

Well, I can hardly believe my luck. I think I had an angel on my shoulder on this trip.

First of all, it was wonderful to meet Pam, who is a really lovely person. We had a great time sight-seeing around Santa Monica and Hollywood. It was great to meet Pam's friends Emi and Marian, too, both of whom have met Bruce in the past. Things couldn't have gone better.

We only realized days before I left Toronto that Gregg Henry would be performing at Genghis Cohen on the day I was arriving. Pam made plans to meet me a day earlier so we could all go and see Gregg. We had no idea that BG would be there.

When we got to the restaurant Pam thought she could see Bruce sitting at a table across the restaurant. After doing so many captures I knew immediately even from a distance it was him. It seemed incredible that I could arrive the same day and see him in person. I was completely overwhelmed. I hadn't slept for a couple of days at this point since I was excited about my trip and this was just too much.

Pam's account (above and in the music directory) is very detailed and that's how everything happened. Bruce gave Pam a big hug and she introduced me. He smiled and shook my hand and said, "Hello, Ann". Then he asked us to join him on his bench. We moved into the bench and Bruce slid in right beside me! I stayed very calm (I'm not sure how) but I just felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. It was completely unbelievable. Pam and Bruce talked with me in-between. Pam mentioned that I had just come from Toronto and he smiled and seemed surprised then said, "You're from Toronto?" All I could do was smile and nod. He mentioned that he had just come from Vancouver the day before and his voice was a little rough (not that I could tell -- he sang beautifully). Then he got up and his wife Susan sat beside me. She was very nice and asked where we were staying and what we were planning to do. I was able to find the words to speak and we had a nice conversation.

Then the show started. It was great. It's a very small space so it's a pretty intimate show and the audience was involved in it. We all had a wonderful time listening to Gregg's clever lyrics and watching everyone on stage. Bruce was stunning especially when he smiled and it was great to see him in action. I especially remember him smiling with his black "movie star" sun glasses on. He was completely dressed in black, black jeans, T-shirt, pointed boots, belt and a leather jacket which I was practically sitting on between Susan and I. He was very muscular with broad shoulders and he was right beside me so I can tell you he is just as handsome as he is in the movies. He was so friendly and down to earth, a really sweet guy.

After the show, he shook our hands again. I asked for his autograph which Pam has posted. I also spoke to Gregg and got his autograph, too. It was truly an unforgettable evening. I think I need someone to pinch me because I still can't believe it.

I had a wonderful time on my trip. I didn't meet any other stars but I did see some others when we toured the Warner Brothers studios.

Bruce's autograph on Gregg's CD; Emiko, Ann, Marian and Pam at the Getty

Gregg Henry at Genghis Cohen

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