A FORTUNATE LIFE by Robert Vaughn

Just finished this enjoyable "bio" from ol' Napoleon Solo hisself.  Lottsa interesting anecdotes about different films he appeared in and lottsa stuff on THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.  He deals with his early years in Hollywood and his relationship with Natalie Wood.  Did Natalie date every male star in Hollywood or does it just seem that way?  (Well, if Natalie wouldn't Lana would. OUCH!!)  Vaughn spends too much time talking about his participation in the Civil Rights movement, his outrage re: the Vietnam war and his relationship with Robert Kennedy.  (He feels Sirhan Sirhan was a "manchurian candidate" in the assassination of RFK and did not act alone and presents interesting info that Aristotle Onassis paid to have RFK killed.)  That's his perrogative since it is his book...and I feel, at times, these stories grind the book to a screeching halt, but then I read these books for tales of Hollywood and movie making and not politics. Great stories about his life-long relationships with James Coburn (they met at LA City College) and Steve McQueen (from Mag 7 on) and he mentions a very bad experience involving his use of "pot" while with James Coburn and Ted Markland....a young stand-up comic.  Is this our buddy "Reno" from HIGH CHAPARRAL?  All in all,  well worth reading.