The Guttenberg Bible: A Memoir

The star of Police Academy, Diner, and Three Men and a Baby chronicles his first ten years in Hollywood in this “winner” of a memoir (Library Journal).

“Forget being an actor. You don’t have the look, you don’t have the talent, and your name is ridiculous. You are the last guy I would ever pick to be a movie star.”

This was the first piece of advice Steve Guttenberg ever received from an agent. Like many other times in his life, he didn’t listen.

In this honest, charming memoir, Guttenberg tells the unique story of his first decade in Hollywood, as he went from being a complete unknown to starring in some of the most successful blockbusters of all time. He spent his early days sneaking onto the Paramount lot and meeting more actors and casting agents than most aspiring actors ever would. Even before the hit Police Academy—which his manager said would be a flop—he had already worked with such luminaries as Lord Laurence Olivier, Richard Widmark, and Gregory Peck. Later he shared the screen with actors such as Mickey Rourke and Sharon Stone long before they became household names.

Guttenberg has lived through the addictive pull of show business and worldwide celebrity (you’re no one until you have a stalker, he learns). With a clear-eyed appreciation for the one-of-a-kind experiences that the celebrity lifestyle has to offer, he knew that his family would keep him grounded throughout it all. And his self-awareness and sense of humor about the ups and downs of fame make The Guttenberg Bible one of the most candid Hollywood stories to date.

“It’s impossible to stop reading.” —Publishers Weekly

“[Guttenberg] looks back on his first 10 years in Hollywood as a time of magical dreams and sobering realities. . . . Aspiring actors will surely gain keen insight into the challenges that may await them (if they’re lucky), while movie fans will be pleasantly assured that their faith in the dream factory’s ability to inspire is still warranted. An insider’s charming look at what it’s really like to be a Hollywood star.” —Kirkus Reviews

© 2024 Thomas Dunne Books (Ebook): 9781250011527

Release date

Ebook: 26 March 2024