A former newspaper journalist and magazine writer, Ron Base has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, Maclean’s, and TV Guide. For several years he wrote about movies for Canada’s Toronto Star, the country’s largest circulation newspaper.
He is also the author of a book about the history of movie stardom published in the U.S., Britain, and Canada called If The Other Guy Isn’t Jack Nicholson, I’ve Got The Part.
Ron Base’s theatrically released features include First Degree (1995), a thriller, starring Rob Lowe and Leslie Hope; The Last Sign (2005), a supernatural thriller starring Andie MacDowell and Tim Roth; White Light (1990), a thriller starring Martin Kove.
He is constantly reminded that he was one of the writers of Heavenly Bodies (1984), a workout movie with music that is much more famous than it should be.
He has also worked on film projects with film-making legends John Boorman and Roland Joffé.
Magic Man, a novel, was published by St. Martin’s Press of New York in August, 2006. The Strange, published by West-End Books of Toronto appeared in 2009.
In 2010, West-End Books introduced The Sanibel Sunset Detective, the first in a series of mystery novels set on Florida’s Sanibel Island, featuring private detective Tree Callister.
Base was born and raised and educated in Canada. He currently resides outside Toronto with his wife, Kathy, and spends as much time as he can on Sanibel Island.
Hi Ron;
Was thinking about Dave Haslam, googled him and got your blog. Guess that’s it, then. I was introduced to David by Jane de Munnik when I was living in Toronto. He’d just brought out the first the edition of Marquee. I spent the next few years, on and off, helping him get the mag to the press. Your description of him is superb and if he is sharing a drink with Marty, it’ll be something alcoholic and sweet. One thing I’d like to add: David was also an incredibly generous man, and at times a very sensitive one. They broke the mold.
Nigel Foster
Hi, Nigel… Wonderful to hear from you, even under these sad circumstances…No question, when David had it, he shared it– which may partially explain how he ended up with not much of anythng. You may not remember, but I met you in London with David years ago when we were there for the London Book Fair. Hope you’re well–enjoyed what I read of your blog. I’ll check out more!
hi nigel
i enjoyed the blog about my cousin, david haslam. i live in vancouver so it is hard for me to keep in touch with any relative but i loved david and my memories are more of our childhood and me sending him emails so your kindness is very much appreciated in this the final time of his life, only our memories remain now and they are good ones. thank you again pam snodgrass
Thanks for your lovely words, Pam. Your cousin certainly made life interesting when he was around and left behind a lot of memories.
Hello Ron,
You don’t know me, yet It saddens me to just hear of Brian’s passing.
He visited our Island of Newfoundland a few years back. The lecture
presented at the College of the North Atlantic in Stepehenville is one
I will not soon forget.
A small table greeted us at the entrance of the humble theater. Brian
was sitting behind it, signing copies of his book “The War on Women”.
Kind and unassuming, he patiently welcomed those wanting to see him.
During the lecture, statistics flowed from his heart and experience. Very
new to the Domestic Violence advocacy group, I left determined to read
through the book I had purchased.
Tore through it in a few nights. It’s impact is still felt. Not a book I wanted
to read twice, but now the need to do so is strong. Perhaps to be infused
again with the fire to continue the fight for those unheard. The travesties
that they face every moment of their existence, and the deafening silence
of their suffering.
Brian signed the book. in it he stated “This is not a pleasant story, but
it needed telling.” Tragically it still does.
On March 26th 2012, just two days ago a Man walked into a medical
clinic in De Grau (small town on the Port Aux Port Peninsula). Shooting
his estranged wife with a rifle (mother of two young adults). She died instantly
He then turned the gun on himself and later was pronounced dead
at the Sir Thomas Roddrick hospital in Stephenville.
I was on my way to get ready to do an interview with some journalist students
at CNA at the L.S. Eddy building. The Bay St. George Coalition to End Violence
meets there regularly throughout the year. I had to pull over for two ambulances
racing towards Stephenville. Felt something was odd because of their speed
and the fact that there was two in transport together. Little did I know the tragic
events that took place in just a few short hours before.
I have heard that a women was in the building at the time. She heard the initial
shots and was able to leave the building and find safety. They were both getting
ready to leave for lunch. She happened to be the first to go to the restroom.
She also happened to be our previous nurse practitioner. Last year she even
gave our youngest son a bicycle her daughter no longer had use for. My heart
breaks for her current situation. So over joyed she was not physically hurt, and
at the same time more then aware of the harm the shooter has inflicted in her
core.
Last March Paul Peddle Kid napped a co-worker. He gets a seven year sentence
(less a year for time already served), for his heinous crimes. If his vehicle didn’t
get stuck, who knows what the outcome would have been. She survived even
though he attempted to tie her to a tree being stabbed once in the neck, and
having a gun pointed to her head and the trigger pulled. It was a BB gun, but she
didn’t know that at the time. He told the court “he was going to start a new life
with her”. Justice is seldom served in cases like this.
I did not intend this reply to be so lengthy.
My deepest condolences to those touched by Brian’s life. May we always
be vigilant. Bringing to the surface, the deepest evils. Our women and children
are depending on us.
All the best,
Sincerely Jeff Smith
Thanks for your message, Jeff. We all need to reminded that the things Brian fought so hard to change often still go unchanged. Taking the time to write, reminds all of us that the war Brian fought with such passion has yet to be won…
Love Sanibel and Sunset Detective Series!
Hi Ron,
I was just googling searching for David Haslam and came across your blog.My freindship with david and Lexi goes back to the eighties when I had a horse farm around the corner of david and Lexis farm.David had a horse named Marqyee that Icompeted for him at some local shows.We had many many wonderful times on his farm.I do remember meeting you as well on one of your visits there.If you could please give Lexi my condolences and express my sorrow it would be very appreciated.
Thank you
Gaetan Morin
Hi, Gaetan… Wonderful to hear from you, and of course I remember you from David’s farm days–a vastly entertaining addition to any Saturday night dinner party…It will be a year in October since he is gone, hard to believe…We all hang onto memories, though, the good ones, swirling around the farm, when those days would go on forever…I will let Lexie know you’ve been in touch–she will be thrilled! I’m not certain where you are (out west?) but I hope you’re well–and thanks for being in touch!
Hi Ron,
Thank you for responding so quickly,I am still in the horse business but doing high end sales in San Diego area and along the west coast.In fact I am off to a horse show this morning in San Juan Capistrano.Please let Lexi have my phone # (760) 641-2085.My partner and I live in Van B.C. and San Diego and the door is always open.Thank you once again Ron,I have so many great memories of Mansfield and the Haslam gatherings.
Cheers
Gaetan
Hi Ron, My name is Niema Ash. I’m a Canadian -Montreal/Toronto, but now living in England. You dont know me but I’m sure we know many of the same people – Cedric Smith?, Irving Layton and family? etc. etc. I just finished your article on Marilyn Monroe which I thought was excellent. In that article you mention Diana Dors. I recently wrote a book about Diana Dors, “Connecting Dors” with the collaboration of her son, Jason. In your article you write about Marilyn, “….exuding the sort of bay doll sensuality that was popular in the 50′s and soon imitated by any number of actresses….and, from Britain, Diana Dors.” Just to say that Diana Dors exuded that image way before Marilyn Monroe. When Marilyn first came to England, one of the popular journalists wrote, “How like our Diana she is”. Diana was called “The British Marilyn Monroe” but very much disliked the comparison. Anyway, just thought I’d mention it. If you’d like to know what me and my book are about you can access my website http://www.niemaash.com I hope you do and I hope you email me. I’d really like that.
All good things, Niema
Hi, Niema…Thanks for your informative note…I stand corrected–and fascinated all over again by Diana Dors, who was a source of adolescent lust lo these many years ago…