Chad's Farewell Video

Chad Allen Lazzari...

Post by Kerry At Apla.

Chad Allen: Marathon Man

Chad Allen has been breaking hearts and barriers since he debuted on the TV series Our House [Actually Chad's first national TV role was on St. Elsewhere] as a teen and later as young adult on Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. Long before it was in vogue to do so, he came out publicly and has been a vocal advocate for gay and human rights, and particularly for people living with HIV. This fall, Allen takes this advocacy to the next level, when he will participate in the 2014 Sydney Marathon, raising over $10,000 for AIDS Project Los Angeles helping to save the lives of men and women living with HIV.

How did you get involved with AIDS Project Los Angeles?

Allen with his dog Foxie Brown

I have been involved with AIDS Project Los Angeles as an actor/fundraiser for over 20 years participating in countless events here in LA. But after riding in six AIDS/life-cycles (545 mile bike rides from San Fran to LA to raise money for the LA Gay and Lesbian Centers HIV/AIDS services), I was looking for a new challenge and service opportunity that wouldn't take me away during finals.

I had done my first triathlon and T2 (Team to end AIDS) was doing their first triathlon to benefit APLA. I signed up, trained and that got me into running for the first time in my life... I actually had a spinal disk rupture during tri-training and had surgery before that first tri, and I wasn't able to race. To be honest I didn't know if i'd ever run or bike again. Committing to the idea of raising money for APLA and running the Disney half marathon in winter 2013 gave me a goal to get through the endless recovery and physical therapy. I ran that race for APLA, and it was amazing. For my 40th birthday I wanted to find an awesome challenge to raise some real money with. When the Sydney marathon came up, since I've always wanted to go to Australia and I've never run a marathon before. I knew I was in.

Tell me about the members of your team, how did you guys get together?

The team is a very small group of high fundraisers, all of whom -- I believe -- have run marathons before. I am actually the only first timer. Eeeek. They're a fantastic and supportive group of about 10, mixed gender, age, sexuality and skill levels specifically brought together for their passion and ability to raise good amounts for the cause.

How long is the marathon?

26.2 miles. Olympic marathon distance and the course we are running is the same as the Sydney games a few years back. They say its extraordinarily beautiful!

Have you been to Australia before?

Nope. It's a dream of mine since I was a kid. Everyone who knows me and knows Australia says I'll want to stay. I've heard that my whole life. I can't wait!

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R. I. P. Helen Thomas

Back in 2002 I visited the White House Press Room with my actor friend Chad Allen at the invitation of his fan Donna Barnhill. We actually got to tour the West Wing too. However, while visiting the Press Room I did sit in Helen Thomas's Chair. The photo to the right is me at the podium where the Press Secretary or sometimes the President speaks.  More photos from my visit.

Helen Thomas, who doggedly pursued accountability from 10 U.S. presidents as United Press International White House correspondent, died Saturday. She was 92.

President Obama said in a written statement that Thomas "never failed to keep presidents – myself included – on their toes."

"What made Helen the 'Dean of the White House Press Corps' was not just the length of her tenure, but her fierce belief that our democracy works best when we ask tough questions and hold our leaders to account," said Obama, the last president in a string dating back to the 1960s to field questions from Thomas.

Thomas was known to legions of Washington reporters simply as "Helen." She was the doyenne -- and, unofficially, the dean -- of the White House press corps since the Kennedy administration, but never succumbed to the allure of power, prestige and glitz surrounding the capital.

"There is something about the White House that seems to encourage secrecy," Thomas once said. "Our role is really to try to make presidents accountable. The media, is the only institution in our society that has the privilege of questioning a president on a regular basis and making him accountable."

Politico said word of Thomas' death was spread in an email from the Gridiron Club, a venerable association for Washington journalists.

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My actor friend Chad Lazzari in Santa Monica College Library during shooting

"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and "My Two Dads" alum Chad Allen Lazzari was studying for a final when he and other students at Santa Monica College in western Los Angeles heard gunshots on Friday, June 7.

Several people were injured when an unidentified gunman fired shots in the area around noon, spurring police to rush to the scene and put the school on lockdown. The shooter was detained and has not been identified. Lazzari, a 39-year-old actor and psychology student, told OTRC.com's parent company, KABC Television that he was in the library at the time of the shooting.

"I was studying for my biology final and as I looked out the window, I could see kids looking backwards and running," he said. "So I knew something was going on. I got up and started heading towards the front of the library and that's when we heard a long 'bang' that sounded like a shotgun or a small bomb and then a few repetitive gunshots after that."

"Kids were panicking"

Lazzari said he did not see injured people or the shooter. He also said he assisted fellow students.

"I headed back towards the rear exits and helped funnel people out as best as possible and stay calm," he added. "And I was just on campus right now and as I came out, helped what seemed like a SWAT team figure out how to get to the other side of the field, the football field."

"It got pretty scary," he said. "As soon as people realized there was gunshots and it was real, there was immediately like, a lot of panic. One of the doors wouldn't open, so a lot of kids were panicking against a locked door and funneled around to the other side. Just kept saying, 'Everybody stay calm, we're OK,' head to the exit."

The actor is best known for his role as Matthew Cooper on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," which featured main star Jane Seymour and aired between 1993 and 1998. He also played Zach Nichols on the sitcom "My Two Dads" between 1989 and 1990. In recent years, he has appeared on episodes of shows such as "Dexter" and "CSI: Miami."

Lazzari told OTRC.com via phone, after the shooting, that he began studying psychology at Santa Monica College two years ago. He plans to attend UCLA in the fall and continue studying for his bachelor's degree. He said his biology final was his last test and was supposed to take place on Friday. Santa Monica College's Facebook page states that all finals scheduled that day have been canceled.

"All my stuff is still in the library," Lazzari told OTRC.com.

Towelling off with the Birthday Boy!

Two of the Sweetest Guys on the Planet

My online friends, Gary and Larry Lane, will be returning to Tennessee this coming week to screen their film Hollywood to Dollywood at a pair of events. I want to wish them the best of luck and that the trip is very successful. Although I've never met the twins in person they have always been total sweethearts to me online. I hope to meet them at some point in the future.

(Amazon.com review but I share all the opinions) "Hollywood to Dollywood" documents the struggle that two identical gay twin brothers have in trying to get a movie script (that they have written) into the hands of their idol Dolly Parton. After sending the script to Dolly's management in Nashville where it was returned as unsolicited material, Gary and Larry Lane, two beautiful looking and intelligent guys, decide the only way to get the script into Dolly's hands is by meeting her at Dollywood, Dolly's theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at its 25th Anniversary opening. Knowing Dolly always makes appearances at the park's season opening the Lane brothers are hoping they will somehow get to meet Dolly and hand her the script.

The film starts in Los Angeles, where Gary and Larry live, and they decide to rent an RV promptly named by them as Jolene, in reference to Dolly's #1 song from 1974, and decide to travel cross country to Tennessee. On their way there with Mike Bowen (Gary's boyfriend who does the driving) the twins encounter various people who also idolize Dolly and recount their feelings toward her.

"Hollywood to Dollywood" also addresses the issue of homosexuality, people's prejudices toward our sexual orientation (yes I am gay too) and the problem the twin's mother has in dealing with having two gay sons.

The movie shows actual scenes of the terrible flood in downtown Nashville which occurred in 2010, the damage to one of Dolly's then businesses "Trinkets and Treasures" and their eventual arrival in Pigeon Forge. I will not say if Gary and Larry meet Dolly, but the ending is not to be missed.

Gary and Larry supported the financing of the documentary from their own pockets (they were winners on a network reality series called "Wipeout") and the film has won dozens of "Best Documentary" awards.

The film is simply beautifully produced, has a ton of cameos with people like Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black (screenplay writer of "Milk"), Chad Allen, Beth Grant (who starred with Dolly in the 1999 TV film "Blue Valley Songbird") and funny Leslie Jordan who recounts the time as a teenager he went to see Dolly in 1970 when RCA recorded her "A Real Live Dolly" album at her high school. When one of the twins (I can't tell them apart) actually gives Leslie a copy of the rare CD recording of "A Real Live Dolly" you can see the love Leslie has for the one and only Dolly Parton.

Dolly had a hand in the film herself as she allowed Gary and Larry to use 16 of her original songs to be used in the soundtrack at no cost. Her classics like "Coat of Many Colors", "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" only add essence to what is already a remarkable film. 10% of what the movie makes goes to Dolly's Imagination Library Program.

There are several bonuses such as 90 minutes of features never before seen including what the boys have been up to since the film's release, their appearances on the "Marie Osmond" and the "Jeff Probst" talk shows, an interview with director John Lavin, a Question and Answer session with Chad Allen and Gary and Larry at the New York City Film Festival and so much more.

I adore "Hollywood to Dollywood" as not only does it show the love that Dolly's fan base have of their idol as well as her love for them, but it's underlying theme of the acceptance of anyone, no matter what your sexuality, is really what love is all about.

"The Hollywood Reporter" says the film is a "Casually road trip doc about aspiring screenwriters desperate to meet their showbiz idol".

I am proud of you Gary and Larry, what you have done for gay rights, your respect and recognition for the greatest entertainer that has ever lived and for being proud of who you are!

Much love to you both!

Here's some photos from the guy's modeling days and their extreme game show appearances:

Happy Birthday Chad Allen!

Wow hard to believe you're #( years old Bud! Love you more every day! Thanks for lots of wonderful years of your amazing talent and your wonderful friendship!

Wanna give Chad a special gift?
How about one that helps people living with HIV/AIDS??

PLEASE support him in racing the 2013 Malibu Triathlon!!

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