In the 1958 film The Six Faces Of Ed, the sequel to the 1957 classic The Three Faces Of Eve, newcomer Dean James starred as Ed White, Ed Black, Ed Green, Ed Grey, Ed Chartreuse and Ed Sullivan, all contained in one poor devil of a man afflicted with multiple personalities.
Dean James prepared for the role(s) in his usual way: he showed up for work every day with a hangover. He felt this was the best way to achieve a high level of intensity and vulnerability in his acting. Plus, he really enjoyed drinking.
"Keep 'em coming!" he would yell at his bartenders. "I'm drinking for six!"
Born Mel Fishbein Jr. in Nutley, New Jersey, he changed his name to Dean James in honor of his idol, the late James Dean. While he admitted that James Dean was a better actor, he was proud to point out that he was a better driver.
The Six Faces Of Ed was so bad that it would have gone straight to video, but there was no video at the time, so it went straight to Polaroids.
Following the film's failure, Dean James changed his name back to Mel Fishbein Jr. in honor of his father. In return, he hoped his father would give him a job as a pin setter at Fishbein Lanes, the family-owned bowling alley. Instead, the elder Fishbein gave his son the pony he had once casually asked for as a child. The younger Mel flew into a rage, and the publicity from the ensuing bloodbath prompted studio executives to re-release The Six Faces Of Ed. Ironically, the film went on to be a minor hit.
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