I just caught up with Robert David Hall - a wonderful veteran TV actor, lovely guy, and of course Dr. Al Robbins on "CSI" - by phone a few minutes ago. He's gonna be in town to present a major award at the U.N. next Tuesday. (More on that in a second.)
And of course, I turned the conversation immediately to Gary Dourdan, Hall's (obviously) troubled colleague who was arrested outside Palm Springs early yesterday in possession of various illegal substances.
In any event, the news: Hall tells me Dourdan was actually on set yesterday (long after his arrest, of course)
"I actually worked with him yesterday, and everybody was moving on. It's real hard to get work done when your're so close to the end of the season [show wraps this week then takes a week off before getting to the ninth season]."
I asked him what the talk of the set re: Dourdan is: "Almost to a person, I'd say ninety-nine percent of the cast and crew are very hopeful that Gary will be OK, and we love him deeply."
So...why's Dourdan leaving (at the end of May, when "CSI" introduces a pair of new-comers)?
"He wants to do other things," says Hall. "That's the speculation...You and I and the majority of other people would say, why would anyone leave a hit show [Hall just signed for three more seasons] but everybody's different. I can't comment on why Gary and CBS are parting company, but I was told he has dreams of [doing other things - maybe movies?] He's a generous, soulful guy. I read the same stuff you do. I just know him as the guy who gave me a big hug yesterday. The cast and crew want the best for Gary."
Ah yes, that award: It's the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award; Hall's presenting it next week to the country of New Zealand, along with a $50,000 grant that'll be used to benefit disabled Kiwis.