Behavioral Studies

Hugh Hart’s article on John Glover (“Still Learning After All These Years,” Nov. 18) began with Glover screaming at a waiter who brought him the wrong soup, later telling the waiter: “You knew I was kidding, right? I’ve always wanted to say that to a waiter. They do it in movies all the time.”

We’re not told what the waiter did next. It would have been nice to read that the waiter returned with a big bowl of scalding soup and let Glover have it (that’s been done in movies too), either in the face or in the lap, then said, “Just kidding. I’ve always wanted to do that.”

Part of “growing as an actor,” as the article explains that Glover is trying to do, is distinguishing between “reel” behavior and real life, and realizing that one is not necessarily appropriate for the other. But maybe the waiter understood; after all, this being Los Angeles, the waiter’s probably an aspiring actor too.

KEVIN DAWSON

Sunland

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One career highlight omitted from your profile of John Glover illustrates how his range of talent reached across yet another medium besides film, stage and prime-time television. In the early 1980s, Glover portrayed a shady businessman named Vargas on NBC’s then-longest running daytime drama, “Search for Tomorrow.”

Writers and producers immediately recognized his scope and power; before long (and before he tormented Ann-Margret in “52 Pick-Up”), Vargas was stuffing soap matriarch Mary Stuart (“Jo”) into the car trunk and alternating between sadism and psychobabble as he reverted to his childish alter ego who could only be pacified by his imaginary mother reading “Le Petit Prince.” Few could have pulled off the sanguine heartbreak so compellingly. He not only inspired the genre’s prolific use of “crazy” characters, he helped generate “SFT’s” highest ratings for NBC.

He even adds class and insight to his PR duties, as evidenced by his appearances on TBS’ “Dinner and a Movie” and online chats. Hollywood, keep this humble and gifted man working.

NELSON ASPEN

Los Angeles