Review: How I Slept My Way to the Middle by Kevin Pollak

Kevin Pollak’s name might not be of the household variety but trust me, you know his work.  He’s a legend in stand-up comedy who does the best impressions (according to his fellow comics) of Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson and others.  He’s also a familiar face in dozens of movies like A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects and Casino.  

Pollak’s autobiography is full of anecdotes from working with Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Rip Torn (lunatic!) and many other big-name stars. It’s an insider’s look at what happens on a movie set and in the trailers and hotel rooms of the stars on location.  It’s hilarious and more than a little catty.  Pollak also explains how he took a few very risky chances on career moves and despite going against everyone’s advice, they paid off.

Pollak is adept at explaining how his career took off.  Far from being jaded by hanging around so many stars, Pollak is, this many years later, still like a newbie in the sense that he hasn’t lost his sense of wonder about being accepted in Hollywood.  While he’s very funny and likable you also get the impression that he knows how to hold a well-earned grudge.  For the past few years he has hosted an Internet-only show called The Chat Show, just because he thought it would be fun, and he’s delighted to find himself a pioneer in this growing realm of entertainment.

I loved this book! The only thing wrong with it is that I wanted it to go on and on. Maybe there will be a sequel.