Lawrence Tierney, who played Cyrus Redblock, was infamous around Hollywood for having much in common with the tough guys he played in the movies. I had an encounter of my own with him just outside Stage 16 (affectionately known to all who worked there as Planet Hell) while we filmed this episode.
"Hey," he said to me one afternoon between scenes, "do you play football?"
I was 15 at the time, and weighed 95 pounds . . . if I was soaking wet and carrying a ten-pound weight.
"Uh, no," I said.
He leaned into me, menacingly.
"Why the hell not? What are you, some kind of sissy faggot?"
I panicked, certain that he was going to beat the shit out of me because I was more comfortable throwing 3d6 than a pigskin.
"I'm not strong enough to play football!" I said.
"Well, maybe you wouldn't be so weak if you played football!" he growled.
An assistant director arrived just in time to call us to the set and save me from certain death.