Nothing but Complaints for Sharon Gless

Multiple-Emmy-and-Golden-Globe winner Sharon Gless has distinguished herself as one of the most acclaimed and recognized actresses working today. 

In December, she released her colorful memoir, Apparently There Were Complaints, which contains laugh-out-loud and juicy stories full of fun, drama, and fiery rebellion. Gless not only dives into her remarkable Hollywood career and encounters with some of the industry’s biggest names, but she also gives readers an inside look at her personal life, which included family troubles, alcoholism, and a fear of romantic commitment. 

A fifth-generation Californian, Gless knew that she wanted to be an actress at a young age. She rose to prominence via her portrayal of New York police detective Christine Cagney in the popular 1980s TV series Cagney & Lacey and has gone on to appear in several other hit shows like Burn Notice and The Trials of Rosie O’Neill. To the LGBTQ community, she will always be known for her role of Debbie Novotny, a devoted mother to a gay son and confidant to his gay friends, in Showtime’s groundbreaking drama Queer as Folk. 

Gless took some time to chat and reminisce with OFM. 

Congrats on the release of your memoir! This project came about after you met with a CBS executive?

Exactly! I never wanted to write a book, but here we are. I was called in to a meeting by CBS for what I thought was a conversation to offer me a new series, but I walked out with a book deal. I said, “I’ve never written before. I’m not sure if I’m a writer.” She said, “Maybe not, but you are a storyteller.” Much to my surprise, I ended up with a call from Simon & Schuster the next day. This has been a seven-year journey, so I hope people enjoy it. 

Apparently There Were Complaints covers your childhood and five decades of working as an actress in Hollywood, but you also touch on some heavy topics like your parents’ divorce and struggles with alcoholism. Did you find revisiting those tough memories challenging and painful or therapeutic and freeing? Possibly both? 

It’s interesting you should ask that because my initial response would be no. Because that was a long time ago; why would it be painful? However, I was touched, and there are parts that did make me sad. Like, the pain that the divorce caused and the experience of a 14-year-old girl going through it. I was thrown back into that as I wrote it, and that was a surprise to me.

Also, when I did the audio recording and read the book out loud, I got choked up at times talking about things I never thought would affect me. I had to stop. A good friend of mine was directing me, and I said, “Let’s redo that.” She said “No, that’s gold! Don’t try and hide it.” So, the recording is sometimes a little rawer than my actual writing.

You also talk about how you knew you wanted to be an actress at a young age. What appealed you to the industry?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and I was one of those kids who was totally besotted by television when it came out. We had a sleeping porch in our house, and I use to go out there at night and watch the klieg lights go across the L.A. skies. In those days, they had real premieres with real stars attending these events. Also, my grandfather was a very big entertainment lawyer during the golden days of Hollywood, and I used to hear stories from him. He always advised me to stay out of the film industry, but I couldn’t help but love it.

Finally, I saw a little boy in my class start in a movie. I was like, if he can do it, I can do it! I didn’t know how I wanted to be a part of it, and I didn’t even know it was possible until I saw my little school chum. Billy Chapin was his name, and he starred in a movie called The Kid from Left Field. If Billy can do it, I can do it. I held onto that dream for many years. I eventually forgot that dream and began working behind the camera.

I was a production assistant for many years at different studios in Hollywood and advertising agencies, but even as a secretary, I was involved with showbiz. One of my jobs was to read with actresses who were trying out for some of our films, and I thought, gee, I’m as good as she was. When I made out her paycheck, I was like, wait a minute [laughs]. It wasn’t until I was 26 years old that I finally committed to what I wanted to do, and I went after it.

Is there a particular story in the book that is your favorite?

I don’t know if I have a favorite story because there are so many, but I think the most fascinating part of my life was when I became a young contract player for Universal Studios. They don’t have them anymore, and I am the last contract player in the history of Hollywood. In my last chapter, I talk about walking through Universal Studios late one night by myself and the power I felt. I had very little experience, but I knew there were people behind me who believed in me. It was like a dream. 

What is something you learned about yourself throughout the writing process?

I learned a discipline that I didn’t believe I had. Again, it didn’t come easily because seven years is a long time to stick to a project, and Simon & Schuster was generous enough to stick with me. I don’t know if I will write another book, I may be a one-off, but there are boxes and boxes of my life that may never be printed. I was forced to look at how interesting my life has been and how fortunate I am. When you read it, sometimes you’ll think that was painful, but we all go through stuff to become the adult we are. Now that it’s finished, I feel gratitude.

You have worked on several hit shows like Cagney & Lacey and Burn Notice, but the LGBTQ community will forever know you for playing Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk. In what ways did that specific role impact your life?

Queer as Folk taught me so much. I thought I knew everything, but it turns out I didn’t know anything. There was so much pain I had not been exposed to that the gay community was enduring. Those were lessons to me, and I still have young men come up and ask me for a hug. I remember this one young man who burst out crying, and he couldn’t stop. I held him and thought, the damage that has been done to this boy. It was such a moment for me, and I held onto him until he couldn’t cry anymore. I am so grateful to have had this kind of impact.

There had never been a gay show on television, and certainly not a drama. Queer as Folk was way before The L Word and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. We were the first to do it, and it changed my life. I said in my book, “I am always there for you,” and I mean it with all my heart. I sometimes still get awards, unnecessarily, from the gay community for the impact that the show had. 

You played the mother and ally so many gay people wish they had.

Debbie was that, but I hate to make her saint because that was not my intention. The president of Showtime at the time, Jerry Offsay, said to me, ‘I like the idea of you doing this Sharon. I think it will bring a little class to the project.’ I said, ‘Jerry, class is not what I had in mind when it came to Debbie Novotny [laughs].’ I loved her for her spirit, her mouth, and her courage. She was very loving, and I used my mother’s heart to play that.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Queer as Folk reboot?

I wish they used the original cast because I thought there were so many more stories to tell and the energy was so fabulous, but I think it’s wonderful that it’s being done. It’s a different time now. We had to educate a lot more with our show than what’s required now. I wish them great success, and I hope that it changes the world again.     

Is there something about Queer as Folk many people might not know?

Did you know that the show was written primarily for the male gay community? That was the target audience, but we gained this other audience. A female audience started to show up because these boys are so gorgeous, and the sex scenes were quite graphic. So, the women started showing up, and then their boyfriends would show up with them because they thought they were going to get lucky! We had a triple audience that we hadn’t expected.

What do you think Debbie would be up to these days?

She is a pistol, so I think she will be around for a long, long time. I don’t know if she will still be at the diner, but I believe she will still be in Pittsburg and very active in the LGBTQ community. Educating, changing lives, and spreading love.

Connect and stay up-to-date with Gless by following her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her official website. Apparently There Were Complaints is now available at all book retailers.

Photos by Alexei Hay