This Is Your Captain Speaking by Gavin MacLeod

Book Summary (from Amazon)

For 16 years, millions of Americans welcomed Gavin MacLeod into their living rooms every Saturday night. This veteran of stage and screen transformed himself from a seasoned character actor into the leading, lovable father-figure of The Love Boat at the height of TV’s boom years.

For more than 30 years, Gavin MacLeod has served as the global ambassador for Princess Cruises. Speaking to thousands of travelers each year, and signing hundreds of autographs at every port, he stands poised to celebrate his amazing journey with a look back at the golden era of American television.

The consummate storyteller, Gavin shares his fondest memories of meeting and working with countless stars, such as Cary Grant, Steve McQueen, Gregory Peck, Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman, Ella Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, Milton Berle, and Fred Astaire.

From his humble theatrical beginnings in upstate New York, to Radio City Music Hall and on to Hollywood, Gavin MacLeod was on the fast track to success. However, a few hard life lessons—like dealing with a divorce—taught Gavin that the key to happiness was only through a deep faith in God, and he feels his work for Christ is more important than any award. Three years later his remarriage proved that a great struggle can culminate in a happy ending.

My Thoughts:

I have to say, I was so excited when I saw this book. I grew up watching Mary Tyler Moore and  The Love Boat, and I was interested to see what the Captain's real life was like. It was interesting learning the background of Gavin MacLeod's life. In spite of some of the rough situations he was in, I was amazed at his strength in finding his way out of them. 

Gavin MacLeod is a well-known actor. I didn't realize he started out on stage. That was quite interesting to learn about.  He was blessed to meet some of the most famous actors and actresses along his journey. There are some great pictures in the book also.

What might be less known, is how he gave his heart to Jesus and moved on from regular television to a platform where he could share this with others. His life in acting has enabled him to use his ability and life to draw people closer to God. Even for those who's focus may be different, he has done a great job of including it in the book without being preachy. 

He seems to be a pretty down to earth person and it was interesting to see how the cast of his 2 most popular shows have stayed connected throughout the years. 

This book is a must read, especially for anyone who watched his shows. It is well written, full of great life stories, and an inside look into the world of acting. 

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book from www.booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.