Paul Mantee: Robinson Crusoe in Malibu

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Paul Mantee

I don’t usually drink Dewar’s Scotch on the rocks with a twist of lemon. Or splurge on the most expensive fish dish on the menu. But last week I did. The reason was a tribute to the passing of one of Malibu’s greatest treasures — talented actor, writer, always-there-for-you-pal, Malibu Times colleague and longtime neighbor— Paul Mantee. He was a hard livin’, rough and tumble guy with a heart of gold. 

I met Paul about 20 years ago when I moved here from London without a friend in sight. We bumped into each other at the legendary old local haunt Guido’s and, without any other motive, he welcomed me into his community and gave me the great honor of joining his family. 

Born Paul Marianetti in San Francisco, he took great pride in his Italian and California heritage. Year after year, you could find this macho man slaving over a hot stove and cooking up a Thanksgiving storm for my adopted Malibu “familia” and me. 

His always stylish, longtime and loving wife Suzy usually took on the role of sous chef and gracious hostess. 

Unlike so many flaky friends, Paul was a guy you could always count on. Every Friday night, a group of us would take over the bar at Guido’s for our version of the famed “Algonquin Club” in New York. Depending on the night, we ranged in numbers from four all the way to 40 with lines out the door! 

It was a varied group, righties, lefties, writers, doctors, dentists, artists, environmentalists and a lot of entertainment folks. One year on my birthday he and Suzy had specially made hats for everyone with their names on it on the side and reading “The Club” on the front. 

Over antipasti, freshly made rosemary bread and a special olive oil dipping sauce called “voodoo,” our conversations varied from local issues, to international politics and of course, arts and entertainment. Over time, I got to know that Paul was a well-know character actor on shows like “Cagney & Lacey.” What I didn’t know was that he was a hero for his starring role in the 1964 Technicolor cult classic “Robinson Crusoe on Mars.” 

In passing with a small group at Guido’s one night he mentioned that he was going to be honored at the legendary Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. He said it as casually as if he were mentioning the lady at the other table had dropped her napkin. “WE MUST GO!” I whined. Paul, in his very best Robert De Niro voice, said, “Nahhh, no one wants to see an old guy like me get an award.” 

But I was relentless and got the whole crew from Malibu to caravan to his favorite old school Hollywood restaurant (The Musso and Frank Grill), which was a delightful trip down memory lane. Before we even got to our tables, a bunch of kids yes, KIDS, were gathering around saying things like “OMG that’s Paul Mantee! Robinson Crusoe is here!” They heaped on praise and asked for autographs, before everyone tucked into their shrimp cocktail and Porterhouse Specials. 

After a big dinner celebration, we all made our way across the street to the Egyptian Theater. The place was packed with people of all ages, especially members of that highly desirable young demo group who probably weren’t even born when “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” was released in theaters. 

We watched a young, robust Paul Mantee tackling life on Mars with a monkey as his only companion. The screening ended with a standing ovation followed by an enthusiastic question and answer session with Paul at center stage. In the end, he was thrilled. 

Paul was also a brilliant writer and contributor to The Malibu Times. My colleague Jennifer Kantor loved his work so much that she kept every column in a special folder. 

Paul and Suzy really welcomed me to Malibu at a time when I really needed a friend. Guido’s is gone but the spirit of the club and Paul will live on at Vassil Pertchinkov’s new restaurant V’s on PCH. “What else can you say,” Pertchinkov mused. “He had a great life, a great wife and was a great man.” And for me, a great friend.