And now here was Susan having to turn back to her and say, Mama, you need to help me now. When she needed a kidney, we were all tested to see if we were matches, but my mom basically said the buck stops here, and thats how it was. They werent leaning against the counter anymore; the dish towel that was slung over a shoulder was all of a sudden being folded and hung up on the rack. But Harling said one of the film's stars, MacLaine, helped him realize that no one's really gone. And I realised, okay, this kid was two when his mom died, he doesnt remember her, but he does know that it took the biggest star in the world to play her. It wasnt until audiences came in and started responding to the way the women talked and how wonderful the actresses were that we realized,I guess this is funnyuntil its not, Harling says. It can take you to an uncompromisingly dark place sometimes. Susan H. Robinson. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of Steel Magnolias, a play Robert Harling wrote just months after his sister, Susan, died of complications from diabetes. The rich history of this town is filled with amazing women noted for their strength, courage, and purpose. ROBERT HARLING My father, my uncle, and our next-door neighbor all invested, and I was horrifiedyou almost always lose money in theater, but there was no stopping them. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Hes about to marry again I think Susan is just hoping this one works!, Stories about Susan come out organically, Robert says, adding: I think Robert talks to my dad about Susan more than me because everybody thinks Ill go write it down! Very interestingthanks for sharing!!! Im leaving. Thank God it didnt stick. I asked her if that was a private home. It chronicles the lives of Susan Harling, her mother Margaret Harling and the community of witty, strong and loving women that supported them through good times and bad. They had to start bringing in all these people and all this equipment to this little tiny place. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Laura Robinson (8696788)? It was originally going to be a shortstory, Harling said when he began putting his sister's story down in writing, it began as a short story. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. After I left for Tech, I never lived back on the Red River again! Isnt this just crazy fun? I took the opportunity to share my story with her about having known Susan many years ago, and she told me about a memorial park in her honor. She directed the Youth Choir. Why dont you let loose? Dolly very serenely smiled and said, When I was young and had nothing, I wanted to be rich and famous, and now I am. "I said, 'What would Susan do?' They were saying things like, You know this would be a lot better if she had just put a little white pepper in it. And I thought, This is very interesting. . Were there to help. We were in previews, and the actress who played Ouiser, Mary Fogarty, God bless her, came to me and said, I need to say something. Its original incarnation was a play that had a successful off-Broadway run. [Roberts grew up in Smyrna, Georgia.] Robert Harling reveals: 'Susan died in the fall of 1985. Now comes the true metaphor behind Steel Magnolia.What does it mean? Speaking of the characters, the play features an all-female cast in comparison to the film, which is not all-female. About six thousand pounds, apparently, A lollygagging road trip off the main drag of Floridas overseas highway. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. ', It was beyond a dream that Steel Magnolias would be turned into a Hollywood movie. The rest of us were always complaining. Because what is art other than taking the pieces around you and re-forming them into some vision that satisfies you and enriches others? Just after my dinner with Herbert, Olympia Dukakis won the Oscar for, Next, Herbert said, I really like Daryl Hannah for I thought he was going to the Shelby place, but before he got there, he said Annelle. .Nothing to stop her: Susan Harling Robinson was so determined to be a majorette, despite her diabetes diagnosis aged 12 - that she made her mother sew pockets into her uniform for candy. ", The reason why everyone at school thought he was cool: His mom was played by Julia Roberts. I put money into it and Connie Shulman [the actress who played Annelle] did, and Bobbys family did too. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Robert Harling, the author and creator of Steel Magnolias, lost his sister Susan Harling-Robinson, from diabetic complications. The last time I talked to Susan was on her birthday, October 7 [1985]. The 32 year old Susan left behind her husband Dr Pat Robinson and their two-year-old son Robert after years of battling diabetes. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. He now lives in Austin and is happily engaged to a wonderful woman. And there was an equally amazing director, Pamela Berlin, who totally got it. It was riotously funny and played straight as an arrow. We had Dolly sitting on the couch where I used to nap and drool, saying youll like this song! They were crazy days.. I feel very fortunate to have been able to make this trip to Natchitoches; to experience the Red River, the bluffs, Susans Memorial, and more that I will share with you later. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. immediately prior to the service . You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, USA. But I was mostly feeling good, proud. Ray said, You know what, weve got a lot of Oscar winners and stars. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He wrote the play after his sister, Susan, died from complications of type 1 diabetes. In Shreveport, Susan met and fell in love with a pediatrician, Patrick Robinson. But first a lot of stuff had to happen. I dont know why, except he was basically a choreographer, and choreographers tend to be cruel in the name of art. Susan wanted to take care of everything, she wanted everything to be fine and everyone protected Robert was No 1. I cried for an afternoon, he says, and then I got the list of auditions. He had some success in regional theater and was cast in lots of commercials (his agent told him he had a great food face, meaning he was photogenic even while eating). I wish they did so that more people could honor and learn about this amazing woman. The 32 year old Susan left behind her husband Dr Pat Robinson and their two-year-old son Robert after years of battling diabetes. During the casting, Stark also made the decision that the movie would be filmed on location, an extraordinary move at the time. At the end, I was really torn up, I said mom, its okay we dont have to do this, it doesnt matter, I cant put you through this. Susan Harling-Robinson was the inspiration for the play and movie "Steel Magnolias", written by her brother Robert Harling. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. I couldnt imagine it. The play came out at breakneck speed and had its first production in February 1987. Somebody had told Elizabeth Taylor that MLynn was the perfect role for her, and when word got out that she was coming, they had to shut the street. They werent looking to make money, they wanted to support the continuation of the saga. The Oscar winner was the last to be hired and Robert reveals the role was originally offered to Meg Ryan however, on the day they offered her the part, she won the lead in When Harry Met Sally. Written as a tribute to the strength of his sister, his mother, and the coterie of women who supported them, the work broke records at . Susan treasured the pride of heritage and the beauty one finds in her beloved Natchitoches. But Harling wrote "Steel Magnolias" in only 10 days. What happened to Susan Harling Robinson husband? My mother was a nurse and Susan wanted to be a paediatric nurse, she wanted to be around babies.. Thanks to family willing to step in and take care of things at home for me, I was able to attend both days and participate in the bass fishing trip. "When she walked in, somebody just turned the lights on in the room," he said. ", 7. It sounds like something her granddaddy might have called her as a kid. We have set your language to Many people can quote the movie line for line, but don't realize how the fictionalized group of women are grounded in reality. Harling at first thought his story was a drama, When the play was first in rehearsal, Harling says they thought it was strictly a drama, since they were performing a dark, emotional story. Learn more about managing a memorial . Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Finally, the date was set, and we started shooting at the end of June 1988. It was so powerful to me because here was this incredibly strong womanmy motherwho had really fought Susan when she said she was going to try to have a baby. My dad couldnt talk about anything; none of them knew what to do. How lovely a person she was. You cant inherit that disease and its no contagious. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8696788/laura-susan-robinson. Showing a strength and love equal to Susans determination for a normal life, Susans mother Margaret donated one of her kidneys. It stopped the show. Never. If there is one moment of joy to be gained out of this experience, you cannot deny them that. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Were there to help. We were in previews, and the actress who played Ouiser, Mary Fogarty, God bless her, came to me and said, I need to say something. After graduating from Natchitoches High, she entered Northwestern State University and immersed herself in campus life. ", 11. They were looking at both Laura Dern and Winona Ryder when the casting director insisted they saw Julia who was then filming Mystic Pizza. You didnt know what went on in there, and they all came back different somehow. Year should not be greater than current year. To get more in-depth on the story, Susan had been wanting to have children, but doctors told her that she could potentially jeopardize her health as she was dealing with type 1 diabetes. My mom and dad had their own kind of come-to-Jesus moments with all this stuff. I wonder if Robert inherited diabetes? Try again later. We launched at Grand Ecore and fished the Red River and the Clarence Oxbow. Being there was just one of those moments that transcends words. Remember, Ive been down here since 1978, and was in Farmerville for three years after college graduation. But when you put it in a theatrical situation, people respond to the honesty of it. I always thought the women in my community were so witty and clever It was like a witty one-upmanship [between them]. MARGO MARTINDALE But we played it like a drama. He must have been a special man if Susan loved him! The play is based off a true story, centered around the authors experience of the loss of his sister. Wed decided on Meg Ryan, who had just had some success with Top Gun. Ray called and said, Olympias doing Clairee. I knew Olympia from her work in New York theater, so I knew she could do anything, but I was worried that she wasnt Southern. Harling will be attending an upcoming Atlanta production of the play, which will be the first time the write will see the work since he's lost all the women who inspired the play and movie. Andit was a Christmas in August for the film, The Christmas festival scene was shot during the summer, with everyone wearing sweaters, fur and ski parkas in 100-degree heat. She was extremely determined and focused - she wanted what she wanted and what she wanted was a kid. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. based on information from your browser. Once again, thank you for sharing this beautiful town and story with us. Stark not only understood strong women, he also had a long working relationship with Herbert Ross, with whom hed done eight films, including Funny Lady. Susan Harling-Robinson was the inspiration for the play and movie "Steel Magnolias", written by her brother Robert Harling. When I finished the play, I took it to the receptionist at a literary agency, and she gave it to one of the agents. As the years have gone by, there are a lot of lines that get quoted back to me. 9. "When the first preview audience came in, there was all this laughter, and we had no idea," Harling said. And that was it. Harling didnt want to use real names, so he gave the character based on his mother the name of a close friend from Alabama, who was called MLynn. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. It only ran for four weeks at the WPA, and we all wanted to figure out how to keep it going. And lo and behold, every woman in town was saying, He based Ouiser on me., So I put these ten characters in a beauty shop, and it only took me ten days to write it. "It became a play because I wanted to hear the dialogue. Susan had been cautioned about the complications of having children, given her severe diabetes. She just made it very clear that she was the one who was supposed to do this and she did. The play is a comedy-drama about the bond among a group of Southern women in northwest Louisiana . There was Dolly with a waist cincher no more than sixteen inches around and heels about two feet high and a wig that must have weighed twenty-three pounds. . The filming lasted through Labor Day, and all the stars lived in houses in Natchitoches. At the corner of Pine and Cypress streets is a small memorial park dedicated to Susan Harling Robinson, whose name may not mean anything to you, but the film her story inspired almost certainly will. It takes your breath away how quick they are. She in no way resembled the character, he says. "Continue, We hadnt gone far up the bayou, when Roscoe pulled up in front of the small local store and gas pumps asking me if I wanted something to drink. She would be so pleased if those visiting this tranquil spot would take a moment to think of those neighbors, friends, and family who love and support and inspire you. Robert Harling. ", 3. Truvys all about heart, and Dolly Parton has a big heart. Toast to my sister, Susan,'" Harling said. ROBERT HARLING Just after my dinner with Herbert, Olympia Dukakis won the Oscar for Moonstruck. Julia said, Dolly, were dying and you never say a word. and what Susan would do would be outrageous," he said. This browser does not support getting your location. A bit of irony that Susan should be in Shreveport and you just across the river all those years ago. ). Kathy said, You werent there through all of that pain, you didnt watch your child die. Harling modeled the women in the play after his moms friends that he knew from his childhood. Softly spoken and with a Southern accent that still hints at his Louisiana upbringing, Robert Harling wrote the play Steel Magnolias shortly after the death of his beloved sister Susan Robinson aged just 33 in 1985. We all thought it was a drama, and then the first night it was in front of an audience, we were shocked. I thought, since people come to the salon to tell the truth, theres something about Truvy. Also, What happened to Susan Harling Robinson husband? ", 12. It helped that Natchitoches is gorgeous. We were basically grieving with the world. The scenery was gorgeous, and the company was fantastic! I couldnt imagine it. ROBERT HARLING Joan Rivers came, Lucille Ball came, Cher, Bette Davis, all of the Golden Girls. Im the meanest woman in town and you hurl the biggest insult so far to me, Im going to say something. Id written no line there. She would look through their scrapbooks and dad would cook hamburgers. I took photos for you and will transcribe the bio here so that you can share in knowing the real woman behind the play and movie Steel Magnolias. Try again. ROBERT HARLING Margos hometown is just over the border from Natchitoches, so its kind of the same world. matlab app designer popup message female comedians of the 90s kalena ku delima what happened to angela asher voice. 25 Feb/23. And shes the only one who didnt sweat. ROBERT HARLING Julia was so eager to have the stamp of approval from Mama and Daddy to play their daughter. The magnolia specifically references . This is a fun one for trivia buffs: One of Nicole Kidman's first roles on stage was playing Shelby in a Sydney, Australia, production. Robert Harling, the author and creator of Steel Magnolias, lost his sister Susan Harling-Robinson, from diabetic complications. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. At Natchitoches Central High, Susan was very involved in extra-curricular activities. Steel Magnolias has been his way, he says, of keeping Susan alive for her son, now 31, about to marry for a second time this summer and living in Texas. He was walking through the room and Susan was on the screen and he stopped. Susan helped Harlingwrite the "hit me" scene. Try again later. the warmth and support of that sisterhood remained important to her throughout her life. Oh sure, I had ridden on crew boats when I worked over at the production dock. The title suggests the "female characters are as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel". We were all tested, said Robert, but my mother said the buck stops here, she was going to do it, she had to be there for Susan, thats the way my mother was. You look forward to seeing more of this story another day. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. And its kind of turned out that way, actually. Its autoimmune disease that kills the insulin making parts that help break carbohydrates. My son is a T1 diabetic. She had on that white cashmere sweater with the marabou around the neck, and she was just swinging, cool as a cucumber. There was a problem getting your location. Steel Magnolias is a play that debuted off-Broadway in 1987. . Harling wrote the play, and eventual screenplay, as both catharsis and as something that Harling could pass along to his nephew. The supporting cast features Tom Skerritt, Dylan McDermott, Sam Shepard and Kevin J. O'Connor . Written as a tribute to the strength of his sister, his mother, and the coterie of women who supported them, the work broke records at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Manhattan, where it ran almost three years. Michael is a wonderful playwright [Moonchildren, Spoils of War]. Susan Harling-Robinson was the inspiration for the play and movie "Steel Magnolias", written by her brother Robert Harling . ROBERT HARLING Herbert had this wayhe was from Brooklyn and started out as a chorus boy, but he became this acclaimed director and managed to talk like British gentry. We have to move the dialogue around so we have time to do these things.. In one famous scene, as Sally Field's character, M'Lynn, mourns the death of her daughter, the character of Clairee played by Olympia Dukakis offers another friend of the group for M'Lynn to hit. If you dont tell them, I will.. One thing is for sure, Mrs. Susan Robinson did not go through life without being loved!!!! It only ran for four weeks at the WPA, and we all wanted to figure out how to keep it going. She was every bit as pretty as Truvy in the movie, she had a sweet southern voice, and huge southern hospitality. There will be people now who watch the film now who dont know it was based on a true story, muses Robert: Its really interesting and emotional and a nice journey to go back and revisit - 25 years is a long time. "Susan was my best friend," Harling told TODAY's Erica Hill. Finding that park and just being there was very moving . Please click on the images to see larger version and to read the original captions. 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