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Sharp As A Tack One Minute

thumbtacks-1[Blind Gossip] This famous actor has done it all in his long career. In the future, though, you will probably be seeing less of him.

Why? He is experiencing the beginning signs of dementia.

He is sharp as a tack one minute and then a little later he might get confused about what is going on. It gets worse if he is tired. No one in the family wants to make any sort of a public announcement. He loves to work, and they are worried that if people knew he would never get another job offer. For now, they are just encouraging him to slow down and only take on small jobs that don’t overtax him.

Similar: Disease Of The Week

Actor:

[Optional] Should he keep working?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Conchord says

    It’s not Clint Eastwood, because he’s still directing and he’s always been the lead when acting.

    I don’t think it’s Robert Redford, because he’s never been one for small roles either. Actually he has said that he will focus on directing now too.

    I will guess Ian McKellen. Apparently he drew on his own experiences with aging in that recent Mr. Holmes movie. The colored tacks might be a clue that it’s a gay man (rainbow)?

  2. northofyou says

    Nicholson hasn’t been in a movie in six years. I don’t know if these means he quit acting, or if he is having a problem that keep him from working.

  3. AlsoNamedBort says

    First time poster, and sad to be right but it’s Christopher Lloyd.

    In addition to the Taxi and Back to the Future clues, the tacks are a reference to the board game and movie Clue.

    The purple one is missing and Lloyd played Proffessor Plum in the amazing film.

  4. MrsBreeder says

    I second Michael J Fox…Parkinson’s can have Dementia (lewy body) though I don’t know if it would rear its head this far into the disease. Or Michael Douglas.

    I don’t want it to be ANYONE. I’ve gone through this with two grandparents now. I hope his family loves on him and does their best to respect his wishes and keep him happy. (And! Don’t “correct” and fight with him. It only makes things worse.)

    Alzheimer’s and Dementia are so terrifying.

    • jennycee says

      There are two kinds of Parkinson’s dementia. Lewy Bodies Dementia (LB-D) occurs at or around the same time as the motor symptoms of Parkinsons. Parkinson’s dementia (PD-D) can develop anytime after the first year – research has shown that 70% of people with Parkinson’s will develop this form of dementia and the life expectancy of someone once they develop PD-D is 6 years. (My family has the LRRK2 gene and we see dementia as a sign the end is coming).

  6. 20kim17 says

    Long shot here but the “one minute” make me think of gone in 60 seconds……so Nicholas cage is my guess.

    He’s had an extremely long career doing so many different characters. He had steady work his entire career for the most part

  8. NoOne says

    Michael J. Fox. “future” as in Back to the Future, “overtax” as in taxes which Alex P. Keaton was fond of talking about; “family” as in Family Ties. And MJF has really “done it all” career wise.

  9. Dana5570 says

    I’m going with Michael J. Fox. Won’t be seeing him in the “future.” This makes me sad 🙁
    I hope he works as long as his body and mind let him.

  11. MacTalk says

    William Shatner

    Clues point to it being a Canadian actor and the tacks are arranged in the shape of a star for “Star Trek”.

    • blueberrymuffin says

      This guess makes sense to me. Nice catch on “tack” as in horses. “In the future” and five tacks (as in “its five year mission…” from the opening words of Star Trek episodes) could also be clues.

  15. mattaharpy says

    Total guesses both without foundation but based only on what could be clues – Dennis Quaid (“seeing less of him” made me think of his movie Inner Space) or Nicholas Cage (“Sharp as a tack one minute” made me think “… gone the next” which made me think of his movie Gone in 60 Seconds). These are ridiculous stretches I know, and not meant to be funny in any way, this is a cruel disease and my heart goes out him and all around him.

  16. denisenauman says

    Michael J Fox? Bless his heart…he’s one of the good ones out there, and has shown such courage.

  19. beautysleep says

    Samuel L. Jackson.

    Tough call on keeping working. Dementia is tough on those around sufferers and can make a professional environment tough. However, keeping the mind working and occupied seems to have helped my step mother, especially while she is mostly functional otherwise.

    Difficult times.

  21. katheryn says

    Donald Sutherland

    Hint being: Similar: Disease of the week- Avril Lavigne -who is Canadian- Donald Sutherland is Canadian.
    Not convinced of this answer. I think the 5 different coloured tacks mean something: rainbow colors-gay actor maybe or played a gay character.

  28. spookie says

    Robert De Niro?
    (loves to work….. he seems to happily take on any role as long as he can do what he loves)

  29. Amityvillain says

    Actor: I’m going with Woody Allen, for wishful thinking. After much checking, it seems most of the older actors who have done it all have already slowed down a bit (I’m beginning to wonder why, now). The only ones who are more active are Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen, Robert DeNiro and maybe Redford.

    If he wants to work, as long as he can get the job done and the producers/directors are happy with the product, then why not? Perhaps listen to the family and take on smaller jobs.

  30. janebee says

    Clinton Eastwood? The tacks are arranged in shape of a sheriff badge’s star, so westerns being a clue? However I don’t get the impression that he’s dependent on other people for job offers, so maybe not… Should they keep working? Sure, for as long as they can if it’s not negatively impacting everyone else on the film.

  36. CyndiTx123 says

    Warren Beaty ? Michael Douglas ? Sad to hear this whoever it is.

    keep doing small jobs that are not too taxing…. make sure he is on pills to prevent more dementia…

    • Katmandu says

      There are NO pills ‘to prevent more dementia’. Despite that stupid useless advertising, Namenda and Aricept MAY slow dementia down – a little- for a short time, but it’s relentless. The med doesn’t work on everyone. The side effects can be too onerous. So in conclusion: There ARE no pills ‘to prevent more dementia’.

  39. Kingofboggle says

    Second guess is Michael Douglas. Maybe his recent revelations about Val Kilmer were him just babbling senile.

  48. meeferradnezz says

    Charlie Sheen? Or Michael Douglas?
    I assume he’s older and maybe a past drug user.
    If he can still remember lines and the roles aren’t physically draining he should keep working. It may help with his focus and attention. Dementia is a very sad way to end up, I hope whoever it is has a good support system of family and friends to stand by him and help him.

  51. 1Bellebottomblues says

    I hope its not Michael J Fox….seems like he’s already been struggling with Parkinsons for awhile now.
    And yes, I think he should continue to work as long as he wants to.

    He shouldnt be ostrasized because of a disease, especially since dementia’s progress can be erratic and not easy to predict.

  56. MilkShakeShark says

    Actor: I want to say Christopher Lloyd due to the clue/phrase “in the future”.

    I love his work and he really has done it all, I say he retire and spend his time with his family and at his home, as his illustrious career will attest to the proof that he’s earned it, and that he doesn’t need to keep up with the Joneses, etc at this point anymore.

  66. trivialpursuits says

    Cristopher Lloyd? clues being “in the future” = Back to the Future and “taxing” = Taxi
    His IMDb page is full of lots of projects and he’s in his 70’s

    • trivialpursuits says

      I say yes long as it’s not detrimental to his health. If he enjoys working and isn’t a liability to his projects he should absolutely continue to do what he loves while he still can!

    • scootypuffjr says

      That was my first thought. The “future” clue made me think of either Christopher, or possibly Michael J. Fox. Sad if true, I’ve always been a huge fan of his!

    • bertwheeler says

      Good detective work, re: the clues. I initially thought Harrison Ford because the tacks were in a star shape, but Lloyd makes more sense.

  70. CAGirl2014 says

    Actor: Al Pacino. He’s seemed ‘off’ in interviews for the past year or so. It would break my heart if its true. He’s a terrific actor.

    [Optional] Should he keep working? No. Because then it just becomes sad the more apparent the dementia becomes.

  76. amagod121 says

    Is this Al Pacino? As I recall, he was having a tough time of it with a play he was in. Or else Jack Nicholson?

    Sure, he should keep on working as long as he can compensate for his cloudy moments and as long as working doesn’t stress him too much.

  87. nomasf says

    Jack Nicolson is possible. I’ve heard a few things in the last year. He’s not been seen as much in public.

  88. cheezhead says

    Robert Redford he said he was going to retire soon. He’s 80 now. I hope it’s not him. Honestly, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy

    • Crisesaverted says

      I doubt this is DeNiro. I think the rants you’ve seen are just part of his awful personality. He’s in a group of businessmen and investors to develop part of an island, and the project isn’t popular. So he’s still out wheeling and dealing and making any lame movie he can to get some more money.

      Jack Nicholson stopped showing up at big events like the Oscars. And I haven’t seen him interviewed in a long time. The last pap photos I saw of him, he was lying on a sidewalk under a tree.

    • wfreshie says

      the only pictures I have seen of jack is at the basketball games (los angeles lakers) with his son

  91. ConfusedHarpy says

    Robert deNiro? Yes, I’d keep working until the symptoms are obviously affecting his work.

    • PriveNom says

      For some reason I’m doubting Clint b’c Clint makes roles he doesn’t take offered roles. He hasn’t worried about being offered a job since 1964. And since Malpaso Productions, his studio, he makes & produces, directs films.