After the play had some success and everybody from Natchitoches went up to New York to see it, I was really worried because Ouisers such a crotchety old curmudgeon. At Natchitoches Central High, Susan was very involved in extra-curricular activities. "But I was missing the sound of the wonderful vernacular," he said. Oops, something didn't work. He is one of the most genuine and drawing people that i think i . Harling said that he was particularly touched by one email from a fan of the movie, who was inspired to donate his kidney to a neighbor in need. It only ran for four weeks at the WPA, and we all wanted to figure out how to keep it going. ROBERT HARLING Julia was so eager to have the stamp of approval from Mama and Daddy to play their daughter. The title was inspired by real life Harling said the title,. I wrote the first version in 10 days, I was just trying desperately to get the language, and capture exactly how the women spoke. When playwright Robert Harling wrote Steel Magnolias back in 1987, he undoubtedly had no idea that more than 30 years later, people would still be quoting it regularly. Many people can quote the movie line for line, but don't realize how the fictionalized group of women are grounded in reality. Even as a young child, Susans career goal was to follow in her mother Margarets footsteps and become a nurse. Any list of the American theatre's "contemporary classics" will include Robert Harling's dramedy "Steel Magnolias," now running at Oaklyn's Ritz Theatre through October 5. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 'Stubborn and wonderful': Robert Harling said he wrote all the qualities his sister Susan Robinson - on the left on her wedding day - possessed into the character of Shelby, played by newcomer Julia Roberts, then just 19Cameo role: Writer Robert Harling played the minister who married Shelby and Jackson. It was the only time Id ever seen Kathy get riled at me. I was watching the men in the den, and they were a mess. Robert Harling, the author and creator of Steel Magnolias, lost his sister Susan Harling-Robinson, from diabetic complications. Just like in the film, Susan, who had been diabetic since the age of 12, married and decided to start a family despite the concerns of her doctors. A reception will follow the dedication at the Samuel Guy House located at 309 Pine Street. They were both good strong Southern womenthats what makes the play so good. She said, Oh, no, its a bed and breakfast and Im the hired slave! Turns out, she is the caretaker for the Samuel Guy House, which is a fantastic story for another post. Susan had Type 1 diabetes. He wrote the play after his sister, Susan, died from complications of type 1 diabetes. - Rob What is your son to your husband's cousin's child? The filming lasted through Labor Day, and all the stars lived in houses in Natchitoches. , updated Funeral services for Robert May Harling Jr. will be Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches with the Rev. He is one of the most genuine and drawing people that i think i have ever met, and i could have talked to him forever! Isnt this just crazy fun? But with a slight grimace, Robert reveals how at first he didnt even plan to tell his parents that he had written a play about the darkest moment of their lives. This beautiful setting is among the first images seen in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, the true story of Susan Harling Robinson who inspired both the movie and the play upon which it was based. My mother was a nurse and Susan wanted to be a paediatric nurse, she wanted to be around babies.. You can always change this later in your Account settings. In the decades since its debut at New York's WPA Theatre, the script has spawned countless stage renditions across the country and abroad, including a 2005 Broadway run starring Delta Burke and Rebecca Gayheart, and TV adaptations like the 2012 Lifetime movie starring Queen Latifah and Alfre Woodard. Harling's comic drama about a group of strong Southern women was first written as a short story to help him cope with the death of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson. Robert Harling, the author and creator of Steel Magnolias, lost his sister Susan Harling-Robinson, from diabetic complications. The 32 year old Susan left behind her husband Dr Pat Robinson and their two-year-old son Robert after years of battling diabetes. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Harling said he wrote the scene by channeling his sister after a bout of writer's block. I went okay job done, mission accomplished. A special dedication ceremony honoring Susan Harling Robinson, the real-life character of the movie, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the memorial garden off Pine Street in Natchitoches. Harling wrote the play, and eventual screenplay, as both catharsis and as something that Harling could pass along to his nephew. Robert Harling, living and working in New York City, not only distraught over his sister Susan's death, he was also upset with his brother-in-law, who remarried within six months of his sister's demise. It wasnt until audiences came in and started responding to the way the women talked and how wonderful the actresses were that we realized,I guess this is funnyuntil its not, Harling says. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. ROBERT HARLING My father, my uncle, and our next-door neighbor all invested, and I was horrifiedyou almost always lose money in theater, but there was no stopping them. ROBERT HARLING As we were going into production, Michael and Kathy Weller asked me what my parents thought about the play, and I said I hadnt told them. They werent looking to make money, they wanted to support the continuation of the saga. As writer Robert Harling explains, many new fans will not even know that the movie is rooted in truth and that boy is, in fact, based on his real-life nephew and namesake. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. "That hit me like a ton of bricks," Harling said. When the producer Ray Stark made an offer to buy the rights, Harling was thrilled. Besides being based on the true story of his sister, Susan, Harling shared 13 other things fans might not know about the movie. This isnt the weekend the price will be low, either. Robert had a cameo, playing the minister who marries Shelby, and he gives a fascinating insight into how Julia Roberts came to join the stellar cast. The play is based off a true story, centered around the author's experience of the loss of his sister. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8696788/laura-susan-robinson. Standing is deckhand, Termite. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. So many people dont know the film is based on a true story. Following the death, a writer friend advised him to write it down to come to terms with the experience. "All I wanted to do was have somebody remember her," he says. Harling modeled the women in the play after his moms friends that he knew from his childhood. Ray called and said, Olympias doing Clairee. I knew Olympia from her work in New York theater, so I knew she could do anything, but I was worried that she wasnt Southern. MARGO MARTINDALE I tried to quit several times during rehearsals because the actresses would piss me off, saying, Oh, youve got to roll my hair like this, dont do that. I said, I am playing a hairdresser. I didnt know it, until I met Dr. Robinson, down here in Lake Charles. It can take you to an uncompromisingly dark place sometimes. Everything they talk about in the play is true. That was a statement, not a joke. IT'S BASED ON A TRUE STORY. Shes Shelby. I thought, Okay, I can breathe now, my sisters in good hands., SHIRLEY MACLAINE The moment Julia walked into the reading, I thought, That woman is going to be a star. I called my agent and said, I dont know if she has an agent, but you should handle her.. Theres a restaurant called Mariners out on Sibley Lake, and every night Dolly, her assistant, the guy who did her hair, and her bodyguard went to dinner there. Such a saga of strength and tolerance had gone on, and I kept saying, This kid wont know anything about it. I wasnt a writer, so I fought that demon for a while and then one day I said, Why not? Id planned to write a short story, and I was a couple of pages into it when I realized I wasnt capturing the way these women talked. what happened to susan harling robinson husband HOME; ABOUT US; SERVICES; PORTFOLIO; CONTACT US; Select Page Verify and try again. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. We thought we were just talking like the people from that part of the country talk. I wish they did so that more people could honor and learn about this amazing woman. Score: 4.2/5 (2 votes) . 12. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. [5] [8] [12] Althougheveryone in the movie is now gone, they're not really gone. IE 11 is not supported. He pulled through. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. (Robert gave his sister!) Eight people rode down with me to the forty-fourth-floor plaza, which was as low as we could go on that elevator.". (2023) Table of Contents. But you know, my sister died and I wrote about it and people look at it and think its all limos and glamour and sitting next to Princess Di at the royal premiere. She said, Good luck, and they rolled her down to the operating room. There is a problem with your email/password. BOB HARLING I felt happy, I felt sad, I just couldnt believe what was happening. This account has been disabled. The play wasn't originally intended as a comedy. This is a fun one for trivia buffs: One of Nicole Kidman's first roles on stage was playing Shelby in a Sydney, Australia, production. Robert Harling reveals: 'Susan died in the fall of 1985. Who turned down Steel Magnolias? Garden & Gun is a registered trademark. Susan had been cautioned about the complications of having children, given her severe diabetes. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. She was every bit as pretty as Truvy in the movie, she had a sweet southern voice, and huge southern hospitality. Julia Roberts as Shelby and Sally Field as M\lynn in \'steel magnolias\'. but it was a good trip! I couldnt imagine it. When I was a kid, the mystique of the beauty parlor was that guys were never allowed. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. In the film, Julia Roberts plays Shelby, the character based on Susan. Glendo, Platte County, Wyoming 82213. She went against her doctors wishes and gave birth to a baby boy in 1983. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. After graduating from Natchitoches High, she entered Northwestern State University and immersed herself in campus life. MuzicMan with thoughtful gift of, Read More Christmas Eve RevisitedContinue, I guess you could say this post is sort of a testa test to see if the Social Distance Police will come and take me away and a test to see if posting regularly on Instagram and Facebook has damaged the traffic to my actual blog posts. Well do the play, itll come and go, and they wont know anything about it. I was just chicken. Robert Harling reveals: 'Susan died in the fall of 1985. Harling's good friend Michael Weller, who wrote the play "Moonchildren" and adapted the movie . As the years have gone by, there are a lot of lines that get quoted back to me. The feedback was Its not commercial because its a bunch of women and it takes place in a beauty parlor, but well send it out. Well, all these people wanted to do it. Susan left behind her husband Dr Pat Robinson and their two-year-old son Robert after years of battling diabetes, and amid the waves of his grief, Robert, then an actor, put pen to paper at the urging of close friends and wrote all about the town of Natchitoches, where his mother Margaret ruled the roost and the women spoke in bumper stickers. I remember the manager of the store saying to a local reporter, Yep, if it hadnt been for Herbert Ross, nobody around here would know the difference between osetra and beluga.. She wanted her life to be as normal as possible., Robert - who also has a younger brother called John - reminisces: I had all these tumultuous times growing up with my dad and one time I remember it was around Christmas - we werent getting along at all and Susan was really worried I was not going to give my father a Christmas present and she went out and got him one from me., Family was the most important thing to her and taking care of us., 'My nephew told me 'Everyone likes me - Im the only kid in my class whose moms been played by Julia Roberts. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. My mother would speak to the Senate wives about kidney transplants and diabetes research, she embraced it as an opportunity to be about Susans life even though it was short.. ). The Louisiana Outdoor Writers 72nd Annual Conference was held August 11th and 12th this past weekend in beautiful, historic Natchitoches, La. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. "My sister would love the idea that people are coming to her beloved hometown because of her story," says Harling. The play and beloved movie "Steel . It helped us grieve. A friend had advised Harling to write down the story as a way to come to terms with everything that had happened. His mother is duly immortalised as MLynn Eatenton whose hair is said to closely resemble a teased brown football helmet while his fathers character is called Drum. Thanks for the article, I truly enjoyed it! "I don't think anybody can be. Ray said, You know what, weve got a lot of Oscar winners and stars. Shortly after giving birth to a baby boy in 1983, Susan's circulatory system and kidneys began to fail. ROBERT HARLING Part of the deal was that I would get the first crack at the screenplay. The circus had come to town. Where is Robert Robinson-Susan Harlings son? Softly spoken and with a Southern accent that still hints at his Louisiana upbringing, Robert Harling wrote the play Steel Magnolias shortly after the death of his beloved sister Susan Robinson aged just 33 in 1985. ', It was beyond a dream that Steel Magnolias would be turned into a Hollywood movie. The High Low The 32 year old Susan left behind her husband Dr Pat Robinson and their two-year-old son Robert after years of battling diabetes. When he graduated, he chose acting over lawyeringHe didnt even pick up his diploma, says his dad, Bob Harlingand moved to Manhattan with a promise of a month or two of support from his parents. Wiki User. "They usually don't last this long. Joan Rivers, center, backstage with the original cast of \steel magnolias\' including margo martindale (third from left). Julias feelings were hurt, and we lived next door to each other, and she was over every night. Then one day I basically told him to go f**k himself and everybody heard it and things got better. He wanted to have the audience really know what his family endured during that time. It's been 30 years since Steel Magnolias, the play that inspired .css-k807px{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:brandColorSenary;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#006603;-webkit-transition:background .4s ease-in-out,color .4s ease-in-out;transition:background .4s ease-in-out,color .4s ease-in-out;background:linear-gradient(to bottom,#e6f4e1 0,#e6f4e1 100%);-webkit-background-position:0 100%;background-position:0 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;-webkit-background-size:0 0;background-size:0 0;}.css-k807px:hover{color:#29511A;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-size:0.625rem 3.125rem;background-size:0.625rem 3.125rem;}the iconic film by the same name, opened off-Broadway. It was a memorial to my daughter. They came to New York to visit a week before we went into rehearsal, and I got up some courage. The reality, Robert says, is more passive. Ill have to ask Gary if and when hes going to use that footage. The movie was on cable again last night, and I did some sleuthing. It has since been performed in dozens of countries, including Sweden, South Africa, India, South Korea, and Japan. Author Bobby Harling grew up here and wrote the story in 10 days time about his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, the mother of a 2-year-old son. The last time I talked to Susan was on her birthday, October 7 [1985]. Im very glad I found out about the park and had a chance to visit. Stark had made the hit The Way We Were, and the plays hed made into movies included Funny Girl and Chapter Two. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In Shreveport, Susan met and fell in love with a pediatrician, Patrick Robinson. ", 13. Harling grew up in Natchitoches, Louisiana, the oldest settlement from the Louisiana Purchase, with two younger siblings. Country Living editors select each product featured. Hes about to marry again I think Susan is just hoping this one works!, Stories about Susan come out organically, Robert says, adding: I think Robert talks to my dad about Susan more than me because everybody thinks Ill go write it down! From the moment we met, he tailor-made the part for me. Please try again later. It was originally going to be a shortstory, Harling said when he began putting his sister's story down in writing, it began as a short story. Ross was hired as director. Why dont you let loose? Dolly very serenely smiled and said, When I was young and had nothing, I wanted to be rich and famous, and now I am. I said, Its got to be a painful thing for them. The one thing she couldnt ever abide and the only thing that made her cry, she once told me, is when someone couldnt accept what life had given them, they couldnt accept death, they couldnt accept how their life was going. I dont know what it is about the subject matter in the movie, but going through that makes you friends for life. ROBERT HARLING The L.A. people required things that you didnt find at the local Piggly Wiggly. She was a majorette. Although Robert was brought up by his father Pat, who is now married for a third time, Robert has remained in contact with his nephew and last saw him at his mothers funeral. Photo ( s ) again so good came to New York to visit a week before went! He said but do n't realize how the fictionalized group of women are grounded in reality husband Dr Pat and! Kept saying, this kid wont know anything about it this tab and you. Grew up in Natchitoches margo martindale ( third from left ) for life movie is now,. 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