Hats Off To Dave

This piece is written in honor of a true Forry fan and friend: David J. Marchant.

I first encountered Dave during the lead-up to the 2008 edition of Comic Con, which Forry was due to attend in San  Diego. At that point I’d been living with him for only a few weeks and barely had time to settle into my new home, the Acker-mini-mansion. I did not have a car and couldn’t even drive. Neither could Dolly, Forry’s caretaker who’d also be along for the trip. Joe Moe had left LA early to prepare his Red Velvet exhibit at the Con but made arrangements for a man named Dave Marchant, who to that point I’d never met, to drive Forry, Dolly and myself down to the event.

When the long-anticipated morning finally arrived, Dolly and I faced the arduous task of preparing Forry for his long car ride. It was a very delicate, deliberate process to move him anywhere. All of our bags were packed and ready to go as we sat quietly in the living room catching the first rays of dawn. Forry took any opportunity he could to sleep. Finally I heard a car pull into the driveway; this was, of course, our ride.

When Dave stepped into the house I saw immediately how much of a true Forry fan he was by the black Famous Monsters  t-shirt he liked to sport. After the usual introductions, the three of us proceeded to help Forry into a wheelchair and then into the van Dave had rented for the occasion. It was roomy and comfortable, more suited to the task of transporting four people, their luggage and a wheelchair than an ordinary car would’ve been.

Forry asked to have his seat reclined back so he could sleep through the hours-long voyage. I was impressed with the strength and tenacity of this old gentleman, damning whatever physical ailments he might’ve had to live his life the way he wanted. As usual when taking his naps, a small cloth cover was placed over his face.

Dave proceeded to tell us of his years as a actor in films such as Dick Tracy, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Hook. As it happens, that latter film was also one of the first filmmaking experiences of my superpal Tim Sullivan. Dave was actually hand-selected by Steven Spielberg for his role as one of Hook’s pirates. He’d likewise written a book called Monsterrific Jokes Puns and Riddles, for which Forry supplied the introduction.

So it went until we finally arrived in San Diego and our lavish hotel which overlooked the Pacific Ocean.

In the coming months I’d have many more opportunities to observe how devoted Dave was to Forry’s well-being. Whenever FJA had to visit a doctor or attend a special event, it would usually be Dave who’d drive all the way from Alhambra to take him.  Dave, Dolly and myself became, after a time, a well-oiled machine. We tried our very best to ease the burden on Forry whenever he had to travel outside the house…which wasn’t always an easy task considering what a Herculean effort it was just to get him from one room to the next.

When Forry had his gala tribute at the Egyptian Theater in March, 2008, Dave brought along a cake with a photo image of Forry iced on it.  This was heartily enjoyed at the Pig and Whistle, the nearby restaurant to which many of the VIPs in the audience adjourned after the main show.

So if you ever catch sight of this marvelous gentleman at a convention, give him a hearty word of thanks for all the good he did our Uncle Forry!