Carla and Leigh McCloskey are keeping the art of the salon alive. For 34 years, the couple has hosted regular events at their Malibu home. The first was a discussion on theosophy — the nature of divinity.
Leigh, a classically trained actor, explained, “We’re not theosophists, but we wanted to explore ideas and to inspire conversation that would help us understand the elegance of thinking — a gathering of the curious.”
Over the years, their eclectic, twice-weekly gatherings have expanded to include concerts, film screenings, chanting Tibetan monks and guided meditations.
Carla, a former film and television director, said, “We wanted to provide a venue where creative people could come and share their music, plays, documentaries or ideas. Word has spread and people now ask us if we will show their work. We have about 4,000 people on our mailing list. We don’t advertise and the only people on the list are those who have asked to join it.”
The couple met in 1976 while making a TV show. Leigh was starring in “Executive Suite.” It was Carla’s first assignment after completing director training.
“Here was this gorgeous man, so talented and such a good person,” Carla said. “I’d worked with him on other shows and really liked him.”
“She’s the only woman who ever made my heart beat fast. I didn’t think she’d have anything to do with me,” Leigh said.
When Carla’s fellow crew members heard she was marrying an actor, they thought she was crazy. “But Leigh wasn’t an egocentric, indulgent, demanding actor. He was so easy to be around,” Carla shared.
The couple raised two daughters, Caytlyn and Brighton, and both had successful careers. Leigh, who studied drama at Julliard School, starred in some major TV shows, including “Rich Man, Poor Man” and “Dallas” (as Lucy Ewing’s husband), with guest starring roles in many shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Carla was assistant director on movies like “Point Break,” “Hook” and “Jurassic Park” before switching to television, which is an easier industry if you have young children. She directed episodes of “Gilmore Girls,” as well as other successful shows.
It was Carla who first introduced the idea of job sharing to the Directors Guild of America, enabling her to have more time off. The couple made sure at least one of them was at home with their daughters when they were younger. Their relationship and family was always their priority.
Carla has now retired from the business, but an actor doesn’t ever really quit. “I’m open to offers,” Leigh said.
The McCloskeys’ home is warm and welcoming. “People say there’s so much joy and love in our home,” Carla said. “I feel very proud of that.”
Leigh sees home as living theater.
“We must cultivate environments that invite us to be curious, to really trust our imagination and to cultivate conversation,” he shared. “Cultural renaissance comes from a shared enthusiasm. Let’s gather and inspire each other. That’s what we try to do here.”
Leigh was inspired to start painting after his eldest daughter was born. His reaction to the Sept. 11 attacks was to paint every inch of his library, including the floor, ceiling and books.
“I felt that if we don’t make some sense of our personal stories after 9/11, we’re all going to drown,” Leigh explained. “Painting the room became a continuous entity.”
Art is in Leigh’s blood. His father, Joseph G. McCloskey, was a painter and a founder of the Malibu Art Association. “My parents were both curious people. Dad taught me about art as a way to connect with energy and ideas.”
Carla has written and published her first book, “Grandma Told Me So: Lessons in Life and Love.”
“I was raised by an amazing grandmother who had wisdom that was so helpful to me,” Carla said. “The book has stories from my experiences in Hollywood and my relationship with Leigh. I share what has worked for me and my family.”
Sound therapist and healer Helane Anderson hosts regular workshops at the McCloskey home, using crystal singing bowls, gongs, planetary tuning forks and her voice to release blocked energy and bring the body back into balance.
“Playing at Leigh and Carla’s house, surrounded by Leigh’s visionary artwork, is a very special experience,” Anderson shared. “They are amazing hosts and it’s wonderful to be able share my work in their home.”
For more information, visit Leigh’s website.
