Chapter 1: A Fond Memory of Oscar Goldman

Richard Anderson, the talented actor who portrayed OSI director Oscar Goldman in both "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman," would have celebrated his 94th birthday last week. He passed away on August 31, 2017, leaving behind a legacy that resonated deeply with fans.

As a child, I was captivated by "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman." Oscar Goldman became a significant figure to me, as he played a pivotal role in saving the lives of Steve Austin (Lee Majors) and Jaime Summers (Lindsay Wagner), persuading them to join forces for the greater good.

In 2013, just four years before his passing, I had the incredible fortune of befriending Richard Anderson. This intersection of fantasy and reality was surreal for me.

My love for "The Six Million Dollar Man" fueled my imagination, inspiring me to pursue writing. Like the anonymous writers behind those thrilling stories, I yearned to create my own narratives. My first short story combined the crew of the Starship Enterprise with the Six Million Dollar Man, embarking on a time-traveling adventure to save humanity from the Planet of the Apes.

Oscar Goldman was the cornerstone of that tale.

Life progressed, and my interests broadened. I chuckled upon seeing Richard in "Forbidden Planet" for the first time—perhaps not the reaction he anticipated—but it brought back fond memories.

Years later, I encountered him at Comic Con International in San Diego. He was signing autographs a few tables away from where I was promoting my fantasy novel series, "The Chronicles of Ara." We struck up a conversation, and to my delight, we connected instantly.

To my astonishment, he invited me to lunch.

OSCAR GOLDMAN INVITED ME TO LUNCH!

Two weeks later, I found myself having lunch with "The Boss" at The Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills. I was anxious about being late due to traffic on Sunset Boulevard but called him, and he remained unfazed.

When I arrived, his demeanor was as warm as I had hoped. I attempted to steer clear of discussing the bionic shows, thinking he must hear about them constantly, but the conversation naturally drifted, and my inner fan emerged once again.

Our lunch was fantastic—he spoke softly, almost in a whisper, requiring my full attention. Richard was a treasure trove of Hollywood history, having been married to Katharine Thalberg, daughter of the famed mogul Irving Thalberg.

He also proposed that I invest in a remake of "Curse of the Faceless Man," which he wanted to produce. He brought a DVD of the original film, insisting I watch it. We enjoyed dessert, and he introduced me to notable figures such as Stan Lee’s late wife and Jane Fonda.

At one point, he asked me to follow him to the basement, where he showed me his antique Bentley, permanently parked there. Though I was already immersed in the industry, I felt like a child in a candy store.

After some time, I departed with a promise to watch "Curse of the Faceless Man."

Weeks later, Richard requested his DVD back. Unfortunately, I was unavailable, so I asked my wife to return it. She happily obliged and returned home after a lengthy visit—along with a bag filled with exquisite chocolates. I still tease her about that encounter. She found him to be incredibly kind.

That was Richard. I wish we had known him longer. Although we stayed in touch, we lost contact a few months before his decline; I learned from a mutual friend that he was in poor health.

Meeting childhood idols can often lead to disappointment, but my experience with Richard was far from that. While I had interacted with several public figures throughout my career as a writer, Richard stood out.

I was a fanboy once again in his presence.

If he were here today, I would say to him: “Mr. Anderson, you truly were 'The Boss.' Thank you for the cherished memories, for your inspiring performances, and for your kindness towards my wife and me. You certainly had the finest chocolates in town…”

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