What do you think?
Rate this book
Life Sentence: A true story about love, lunacy and fame
After a long, and deeply philosophical, conversation with Robert LaSardo, I eagerly awaited this book that you are about to read. I was not disappointed. Left deep in thought, I sat in a long contemplative silence. While I always enjoyed Mr. LaSardo as an actor, I discovered I like him even better as who he is, behind the face he shows the public. Often, if you are in the public eye, you develop a persona (ego) and become someone that society, fans and publicists want you to be. You can sometimes lose aspects of yourself. The truly courageous ones overcome this through strength of character and merge the two halves of themselves to be whole. In the end, people will either love you for who you are, imperfections and all, or they will pull back, fading away because you spoiled the ’image’ they had of you. It is sad that the creative person loses a part of themselves so that they can be known and make a good living. Yet, it is the love of art, writing and acting - the real, inner person we are is what made us do it in the first place - that can often become extinguished by the machine of ratings, demands of talent agents, advisers or by the shine of fame and glamour. Throughout his career, Robert LaSardo has found his niche in Hollywood, playing the devious criminal. Often evil personified in his roles, he has played the villain we love, on the award-winning series Nip/Tuck and on both Crime Scene Investigation and Miami. We also see his more recent performances in Ghost Whisperer and his own independent film Never Down, he continues to win the hearts of his audience. A crowning achievement was when film legend Clint Eastwood picked Robert to be in a few scenes with him in his final film along with Bradley Cooper in the movie The Mule. In Life a true story about love, lunacy and fame, you will encounter the man behind the villain he plays, and come to understand the depth of his heart, his will and desire to accomplish despite the hardships that will make you cry. This book will make you feel the triumph of his success, as you are drawn into his life. ~ From the introduction.
- GenresBiography
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 27, 2019
First of all, thank you to the author for his service. I first saw Mr. LaSardo in an episode of NYPD Blue from the first season. I was blown away by his appearance and his acting. I always knew there was something remarkable "behind the mask" and the author provided me with a glimpse of what is behind the facade. Having worked as an attorney in dependency law in Los Angeles, I know too well the effects on children of mentally ill parents and my heart goes out to Mr. LaSardo and can only imagine how traumatic his experience was and the scars that were left way into adulthood. Many kudos to him for surviving and living, what I would consider, a very worthwhile and successful life knowing far too well that many "survivors" really don't make it. What I also took away from this book was the author's ability to give the reader a look inside the workings of Hollywood and it isn't pretty. Yeah, there are a few who make it really big but, for most, it is a constant battle with those who hold the power and connections. I had mixed emotions about Mr. LaSardo parting letter to his agent and I hope he has found the peace in his life he was looking for. He is an incredibly gifted actor AND writer and I was thrilled to see him recently in "The Mule" which gives me hope that he has not retired/disconnected from the acting world completely.
December 30, 2020
Solid, deep, an inside look into the man
I met Robert 35 years ago, it was during a tour in the navy that we both were stationed on the same ship. Our friendship began on a duty night in San Diego when a buddy and myself decided to go over and introduce ourselves to him, as you know Robert is a man that stands out and is far different from the average person in the crowd in just about every imaginable way, which is something he and I both have in common. When I found his book on Amazon I ordered it and devoured it cover to cover in less than 2 days. It's worth the money and time to sit down with the master story weaver Robert Lasardo and have him share part of his life with you.
I met Robert 35 years ago, it was during a tour in the navy that we both were stationed on the same ship. Our friendship began on a duty night in San Diego when a buddy and myself decided to go over and introduce ourselves to him, as you know Robert is a man that stands out and is far different from the average person in the crowd in just about every imaginable way, which is something he and I both have in common. When I found his book on Amazon I ordered it and devoured it cover to cover in less than 2 days. It's worth the money and time to sit down with the master story weaver Robert Lasardo and have him share part of his life with you.
May 29, 2018
Interesting look into a troubled soul
I’ve always enjoyed the author’s acting and truly help jobs keep coming. It’s troubling to know the life led between gigs is so unsettled. I suspect this is not the last we will see or hear from him!
I’ve always enjoyed the author’s acting and truly help jobs keep coming. It’s troubling to know the life led between gigs is so unsettled. I suspect this is not the last we will see or hear from him!
August 18, 2014
Of Caricatures, Characters & Character! Robert LaSardo Doesn’t Hold Back Any Punches!
Picture this – a memoir that doesn’t hold back any punches. And, that goes towards both the person reading and the person who penned “Life Sentence: A True Story About Love, Lunacy and Fame”.
Anyone who has ever seen actor Robert LaSardo, either on television or film will never forget him. His look is as distinctive as a ruby in a drifting dune of white sand. Accentuated by the vibrancy of body art which adorns him, this actor’s performances go deeper beyond skin. He gets under your skin and leaves an impression with every character he plays. His persona is enigmatic, for which there is no doubt. When he is before that rolling camera, there is a sense of a mutual tango between lens to actor and outward to the viewer.
In this memoir, Robert LaSardo places his arm around the reader’s shoulder and leads us on a walk through dark alleys of uncontrollable circumstances, to sun-soaked boulevards of adulation and detours onto side-streets of self destruction. Writing in such a conversational style, Robert LaSardo gives the reader a scintillating, yet sobering self assessment of a life of success, excess and recalibration for his sanity towards the future.
This writing quality gives a sense that as you read “Life Sentence”, the reader and Mr. LaSardo are seated across from one another having a drink of mineral water or tea. But, then again, parts of this book might just require one reading it to sip something far more potent to parallel the prose upon the pages.
Courage isn’t spinning the mirror outward, but turning it inward to see yourself. For that, Robert LaSardo has shown he is a man who has an ability to unlock a cage filled with asphyxiating stereotypes and caricatures which others have attempted to dilute him into a being of singular dimension. Chameleons have an uncanny ability of adaptation, which goes the same for artist Robert LaSardo.
Robert LaSardo is a fighter. His ring is the profession which has chosen him. He is an artist.
As you become enthralled in this exploration of the life of Robert LaSardo, there is a sense of pugilistic solace which is captured in his words and conveyed to the reader. Tenacity! Thy name is LaSardo!
Amongst the many biographies out there that are like cotton candy, filled with vapid fluff; Robert LaSardo’s “Life Sentence: A True Story Of Love, Lunacy and Fame” is that rare steak placed before the reader’s eyes and psyche.
Picture this – a memoir that doesn’t hold back any punches. And, that goes towards both the person reading and the person who penned “Life Sentence: A True Story About Love, Lunacy and Fame”.
Anyone who has ever seen actor Robert LaSardo, either on television or film will never forget him. His look is as distinctive as a ruby in a drifting dune of white sand. Accentuated by the vibrancy of body art which adorns him, this actor’s performances go deeper beyond skin. He gets under your skin and leaves an impression with every character he plays. His persona is enigmatic, for which there is no doubt. When he is before that rolling camera, there is a sense of a mutual tango between lens to actor and outward to the viewer.
In this memoir, Robert LaSardo places his arm around the reader’s shoulder and leads us on a walk through dark alleys of uncontrollable circumstances, to sun-soaked boulevards of adulation and detours onto side-streets of self destruction. Writing in such a conversational style, Robert LaSardo gives the reader a scintillating, yet sobering self assessment of a life of success, excess and recalibration for his sanity towards the future.
This writing quality gives a sense that as you read “Life Sentence”, the reader and Mr. LaSardo are seated across from one another having a drink of mineral water or tea. But, then again, parts of this book might just require one reading it to sip something far more potent to parallel the prose upon the pages.
Courage isn’t spinning the mirror outward, but turning it inward to see yourself. For that, Robert LaSardo has shown he is a man who has an ability to unlock a cage filled with asphyxiating stereotypes and caricatures which others have attempted to dilute him into a being of singular dimension. Chameleons have an uncanny ability of adaptation, which goes the same for artist Robert LaSardo.
Robert LaSardo is a fighter. His ring is the profession which has chosen him. He is an artist.
As you become enthralled in this exploration of the life of Robert LaSardo, there is a sense of pugilistic solace which is captured in his words and conveyed to the reader. Tenacity! Thy name is LaSardo!
Amongst the many biographies out there that are like cotton candy, filled with vapid fluff; Robert LaSardo’s “Life Sentence: A True Story Of Love, Lunacy and Fame” is that rare steak placed before the reader’s eyes and psyche.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews