Washoe County Library System

It's easy to be yourself when who and what you are is in vogue. But growing up Black and gay in America has never been easy. Before Billy Porter was slaying red carpets, winning an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy, and before he was an acclaimed recording artist, actor, playwright, director, and all-around legend, Porter was a young boy in Pittsburgh who was seen as different, who didnt fit in. At five years old, Porter was sent to therapy to 'fix' his...

Proudly embracing his dark and dirty side, the star of both Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos opens up about some of his personal experiences with life and death, his career and his reputation for sick humor.

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure: as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.

Poitier

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The actress, activist, and once infamous Playboy Playmate reclaims the narrative of her life in a memoir that defies expectation in both content and approach, blending searing prose with snippets of original poetry. "The iconic Anderson uses a mixture of poetry and prose to present an impressionistic view of a fascinating life."-BOOKLIST, *starred* In this honest, layered and unforgettable book that alternates between storytelling and her own poetry,...

In this luminous memoir, Rita Moreno shares her remarkable journey from impoverished Puerto Rican girl to Hollywood legend--and one of the few performers, and the only Hispanic, to win an Oscar, Grammy, Tony and two Emmys.

A biography of the African-American singer and actor who was an advocate of racial equality.

The "Mega Diva" star of Black-ish traces her personal journey from poverty to fame, sharing provocative insights into her battles with undiagnosed mental illness and sex addiction while citing the support of loving friends and the philosophies about self-acceptance that enabled her successes.

"A biography chronicling the life of Ira Aldridge, an African American actor who is considered to be one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the nineteenth century. Includes afterword and author's sources"--Provided by publisher.

In December 2016, the world was shaken by the sudden deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds, occurring less than 24 hours apart. Debbie's only remaining child, Todd Fisher, somehow retained his grace and composure under the glare of the media spotlight as he struggled with his own overwhelming grief. In My girls, Todd shares his heart and his memories of Debbie and Carrie with deeply personal stories from his earliest years to those...

For the first time, the full, fascinating, and inspirational true story of Danny Trejo's journey from crime, prison, addiction, and loss to unexpected fame as Hollywood's favorite bad guy with a heart of gold.