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“Hey, MaryAnne, your buddy’s on tv here…”

My buddy.

I have several buddies, but the particular context of “buddy” in this case are those actors whom I adore absolute.  Those who I go out of my way to watch something they’re in, buy a DVD, view a video on YouTube, or collect photographs of.

It’s a small group. These guys are the All Time Favorites. One such member of this elite group is Robert Culp.

Back on March 24th, I lost one of my buddies.

No, I never knew the man personally. Never had the opportunity to meet him. Would have liked to, but figure I would’ve acted something like Culp in the GAH episode “The Price is Right” when Bill meets the famous football quarterback that was friends with Ralph in highschool.

Yeah…

Truth be told, I would’ve been happy to just sit and listen to him talk. I could’ve listened for hours.

I was shocked by the news of his sudden passing. A mere moment in time…and he was gone.

What he leaves behind, however, is a body of work that I’ve only just started to make dent in, in terms of viewing. From Trackdown to I Spy to Greatest American Hero, to feature films and television guest spots. It was only two short years ago that Robert Culp became the latest addition to my group of Buddies. I’ve blogged about him occasionally here and over in my LJ. I’ve fangirled over him and have been truly inspired by him.

Given this bias, I’ve been annoyed at the seemingly paltry acknowledgement of this man’s contributions to film and television by the print media. TV Guide managed to spare a mere paragraph on his passing. I missed if Peoplemagazine bothered to spill any ink on it, they certainly didn’t do a special issue (like they did for Farrah Fawcett). Granted, I haven’t been able to actively hunt for anything, only a quick look-see at the checkout aisle of the grocery store, but I think it’s safe to say that very little was printed beyond an obit. (The tabloid Globeand it’s bogus “shocking secret” that Culp “hid” from fans doesn’t count).

Online, however, it’s been a different story. Several fine articles and blogs have been written, tributes made and accolades expressed. There’s little more I can add to these fine expressions. Frankly, for calling myself a writer, words fail me at a time like this. In the two years since “discovering” Robert Culp, I have come to greatly admire and respect him for his dedication to his craft and the quality of his work (even when the quality of what he had to work with wasn’t so good). He has been a great inspiration with my own writing and creative pursuits.

Perhaps that, more than any glossy special issue of People, is the better acknowledgement. Instead of seeking the tributes paid by others, I will pay tribute my own way. I will continue to yammer on about him, post screen caps from various episodes and films and carry on as I have been.

More than that, though, I will continue to be inspired by Culp’s work and I will continue to “feed the muse.”

Because he was and always will be one of the buddies.