VERN LANEGRASSE

August 22, 1924-January 19, 2011

Vern Lanegrasse "The Hollywood Chef"

The first time I met Vern he was my boss. He was manager of Guest Relations for NBC-TV and I had been hired as a lowly page under his supervision. I quickly discovered his bark was more ferocious than his bite. He would chastise the pages often and there were plenty of reasons as we would cut-up constantly. After all, most of us were college students and/or actors so the chance to “perform” for an audience waiting to be admitted to one of the network’s live shows was an opportunity we couldn’t resist.

Another page on staff at that time was Neill Foster, who previously worked at Bank of America. Later, he was invited to live with Vern and his close friend Walter Wood, a high school teacher, in their Hollywood home. Always a supporter of young talent, Vern would often organize a group to go see an undiscovered singer or comic performing at a local club.

After I left NBC, I remained in Los Angeles to pursue acting. Having been through the grind himself, Vern offered me advice and guidance in career choices. He never steered me wrong and, for a time, acted as my manager. Later on, when I moved to New York, I would still call on his assistance because of his eastern connections in the business. Every time I returned to LA, a visit to “Uncle Vern’s” was a must as he would cook a sumptuous meal which was shared with Walter, Neill and perhaps other ex-pages or friends.

Vern loved to entertain, whether it was for six or 60, so it was a natural move for him to transition from a singing career in classical music, having won the national competition on radio’s Major Bowes Amateur Hour at age 13, to becoming a chef. Born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, he came by cooking naturally as his great-grandfather, from the Alsace Lorraine area of France, opened the first French bakery in the Mississippi Delta region north of New Orleans. Both his French grandfather and his Cajun father continued the bakery and his mother, the former Pearl Breland from Mississippi, was an award-winning cook.

After 10-years with NBC, Vern decided to combine his two loves, cooking and show business, and embarked upon his most successful career of all. For the past 40 years he has been known as “The Hollywood Chef.” He had his own national radio talk show, “Cooking with the Hollywood Chef” for over three years, then a TV show with the same name which aired for two years. Additionally he appeared on many other shows, including a two year stint on AM-LA, plus he was a columnist, lecturer, teacher, spokesperson, cooking contest and wine judge, all on an international scale.

While I was editor of Drama-Logue, he wrote a weekly column about restaurants in LA suitable for an actor’s budget. He continued a similar column for LA Stage magazine. His by-line also appeared regularly in the LA Herald Examiner, Weekly Valley Vantage, The Arbor and Club, Sports and Society Magazine. Often I would go to dinner with Vern, Walter and Neill, then they would join me for a theatre outing.

Vern had been in failing health for over a year and when he passed away in January at age 86, he was preceded by Walter on Aug. 1, 2010 and survived by Neill who remains in the home they shared for over 50 years. Neill and I dined recently at one of Vern’s favorite restaurants, Musso & Frank, on Hollywood Blvd. We raised a toast to a wonderful friend who was also a perceptive mentor and a damned good cook.