{"id":42113,"date":"2020-10-12T21:05:43","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T21:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=42113"},"modified":"2020-10-15T20:33:07","modified_gmt":"2020-10-15T20:33:07","slug":"a-gamble-worth-taking-california-split-writer-joseph-walsh-pens-new-memoir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/a-gamble-worth-taking-california-split-writer-joseph-walsh-pens-new-memoir\/","title":{"rendered":"A Gamble Worth Taking: \u2018California Split\u2019 Writer Joseph Walsh Pens New Memoir"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you know Joseph Walsh<\/strong>? You should.<\/p>\n

Walsh wrote, co-produced, and appeared in what many consider one of the greatest gambling movies ever made, 1974\u2019s California Split<\/i><\/strong> directed by Robert Altman<\/strong>. In a ranking of the best movies about gambling compiled earlier this year<\/a> by New York<\/i> <\/strong>magazine\u2019s Vulture<\/strong><\/em> website, Split<\/i> earned the top spot ahead of other favorites like The Hustler<\/i><\/strong>, Rounders<\/i><\/strong>, and the recent Uncut Gems<\/i><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Walsh\u2019s career in movies and television stretches all of the way back to the late 1940s when he was a child actor appearing in films alongside Danny Kaye<\/strong> and Kirk Douglas<\/strong>. Over the years since, he\u2019s acted and\/or interacted with a virtual who\u2019s who of Hollywood.<\/p>\n

As a dedicated gambler and sports bettor, Walsh also knows more than a little about the highs and lows of point spreads and parlays. Wondering about who to bet from next Sunday\u2019s NFL<\/strong> slate? You could do a lot worse than to check with Joey.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t know Walsh, I have some good news. At age 83, he\u2019s penned a fantastic memoir, Who Says It\u2019s Over<\/i><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The book is a legitimate page-turner, packed with entertaining and edifying stories about his acting, his gambling, and other life adventures. It\u2019s not only laugh-out-loud funny but full of insight about life\u2019s many risks and rewards too.<\/p>\n

I had the chance to talk with Walsh about both his new book and the continued appeal of California Split<\/i>. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for our conversation about the film.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, read on for an introduction to Walsh\u2019s new memoir, starting with the author\u2019s explanation for how he came to write it.<\/p>\n

From Billy the Kid to Billy the clerk to Joey the memoirist<\/span><\/h2>\n

More than four decades after California Split<\/em> was made, Walsh remains in touch with both of its leads, Elliott Gould<\/strong> and George Segal<\/strong>. In fact, Gould is a lifelong friend with whom Walsh still talks several times a week.<\/p>\n

However, it was Segal, as Walsh explains, who helped push him down the path toward writing Who Says It\u2019s Over<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\u201cWho Says It\u2019s Over\u201d by Joseph Walsh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back in the 1960s, Walsh had earned a role in a western in which Segal also appeared, Invitation to a Gunfighter<\/em><\/strong> starring Yul Brynner<\/strong>. During the making of the film, the pair never interacted, as they hadn\u2019t any scenes together.<\/p>\n

For Walsh, his memory of the film primarily centers around a humorous, self-deprecating anecdote regarding his initial misunderstanding of his part.<\/p>\n

Thinking he\u2019d been hired to play a major role as Billy the Kid<\/strong>, in fact, Walsh\u2019s part was much smaller. After building himself up with excited anticipation, Walsh was devastated to learn he was in fact playing Billy the clerk<\/i><\/strong>, a bit role with only two lines.<\/p>\n

Once they got to know each other later, Walsh shared that story with Segal, who in turn, retold it many times to others over the years. Recently Segal reminded Walsh how far the story had traveled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve gotten so much mileage out of it,\u201d Segal told Walsh. \u201cYou should write it down. It\u2019s hysterical.\u201d<\/p>\n

With some skepticism, Walsh did write it down, not knowing if anyone besides Segal would ever read it. Upon receipt Segal pushed him further, urging him to build upon references to other life episodes hinted at in the original tale.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s how three or four pages became 32 pages,\u201d explains Walsh. \u201cAnd I must say\u2026 beautifully written pages,\u201d he adds with a laugh.<\/p>\n

It was too long for a New Yorker<\/i><\/strong> piece, despite editor David Remnick<\/strong>\u2018s admiration for it. But time passed, others provided further encouragement, and the writing continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife has always felt\u2026 you know, that there\u2019s a movie in it,\u201d explains Walsh. In the book\u2019s introduction, he provides a thumbnail sketch of such a film\u2019s plot, delivered in the form of a pitch:<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York street kid becomes reluctant child star\u2026 interacts with famous people\u2026 faces career slide\u2026 turns into gambling guru\u2026 attracts the Hollywood wagering elite\u2026 faces death\u2026 writes classic movie\u2026 and for extras, experiences reincarnation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After more than a year of writing<\/strong> in earnest, the potential movie had become an actual memoir. Perhaps one day the memoir might itself be reincarnated as a movie. Whether that happens or not, Walsh will be content, given his other, most important reason for writing Who Says It\u2019s Over<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest motivation for writing it was my kids,\u201d he says. \u201cI said to myself, \u2018Joey, what do you have to lose? You can leave your whole story for your four kids.’\u201d Thinking back to his own parents and how he\u2019d missed the chance to learn their stories in a similar way, that was all the incentive he needed.<\/p>\n

Recognizing a gamble worth taking, Walsh was all in.<\/p>\n

Famous child actor, inveterate gambler, Hollywood home game player<\/span><\/h2>\n

That sketch above provides an idea of the book\u2019s general outline. In the book, Walsh carries us from scene to scene in a quick-moving series of short chapters, many of which highlight a particular, notable life event.<\/p>\n

The first act is marked by stickball games, aspirations to be a boxer, and Walsh almost accidentally becoming the most famous child actor in New York City<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Young adulthood then finds Walsh turning to gambling, sports betting in particular. That\u2019s when his friendship with Gould first formed, highlighted early on by Walsh going an incredible 14-0-1 on his football picks betting he and Gould\u2019s money. (More on that story in our discussion of\u00a0California Split<\/em>.) While Walsh\u2019s new sports betting career occasionally brings him good fortune, at other times it puts him at serious risk, both financially and even physically.<\/p>\n

Then comes the move to Hollywood<\/strong>, also happening somewhat by chance, followed by additional adventures in gambling, acting, and other contexts.<\/p>\n

Walsh\u2019s IMDB page<\/a> is long and varied. It only represents a fraction of his credits as he appeared on over 300 television shows as well as in dozens of films where he mostly played supporting roles.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in his book, A-listers constantly pop up as Walsh\u2019s supporting cast, including:<\/p>\n