Once and for all, Don Bachardy isn't just Christopher Isherwood's much younger partner. His sketches of famous friends are nuanced and revealing. Among his oil paintings, his official gubernatorial portrait of Jerry Brown hangs in the California State Capitol. He is the thoughtful star -- discussing his life as an artist and the power imbalances of a 30+ year relationship that began when he was southern California teenager and his new English bf in his late forties was already internationally lauded -- of the documentary Chris & Don: A Love Story, which received great reviews from every critic tabulated here. Today he turns 75.
Happy Birthday, Don! Chris and Don was a wonderful documentary, and worth seeing at least once.
Posted by: Jack M | May 18, 2009 at 04:12 AM
Saw it last year at NewFest and he spoke after the movie. It was very good.
Posted by: Cynthia Dunn | May 18, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Hi Don!
I cannot believe that I just watched you and Chris on Sundance!! Hopefully, you will remember me as one of your models in 1962!!!! You used to come to my apartment and I would sit for you many times, while, my then husband did your landscaping. I would love to speak with you again and tell you on email that this was such a wonderful experience for me. At one time, my baby had awoken from a nap and you said that you wanted to do a pen and ink of the both of us and you did and it is on a wall in my living room. You told me that she (Erica) was the first baby that you had ever drawn and so forth. Hopefully, you remember me, I have several drawings that you did of me (fashion stuff), at the time you were doing drawings of Paul Newman and Jane Fonda, etc. Please contact me if you read this. You are definetly one of my heros!!!!! Thank you for following your dreams!
In Fact, you used to sit in a Chounard and sketch me when I modeled along with some other of my artist friends. Gosh, I would love to speak with you.....Fondly, Charlene (Ross) at that time and I lived quite close to downtown L.A. over the freeway.
Posted by: Char Shapiro | June 21, 2009 at 02:43 PM
Hello Don,
I have just viewed the documentary "Chris and Don: A Love Story", for the second time! What a wonderful story. I have actually gotten more out of the second viewing. This time around, I got more of an impression of what your life may have really been like during your formative years as an artist and as the partner of Chris Isherwood. Speaking of Christopher, I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have only just read The Berlin Stories! What a great piece of work!
I hope that life is good to you, and that you continue to enrich our culture with your wonderful, wonderful work!
Posted by: Ronald Brister | October 05, 2009 at 02:55 PM