Robert Urich fans turn out in Toronto for book-signing

TORONTO -- Tom Urich admits he hasn't read the one -- and only -- biography penned about his kid brother, the late actor Robert Urich.

"I didn't know it was out until you called," he told author Joe Martelle, adding it was "a long time in the making."

"I haven't read it, but I hope everybody who does read it remembers their roots and where they come from."

Urich joined Martelle Saturday at a book signing at the Main Street Museum in Toronto celebrating the national release of "The Robert Urich Story -- An Extraordinary Life."

The 572-page authorized biography tells Urich's life story from an insider's point of view -- the ultimate insider, Robert Urich himself.

The Toronto native, who starred in a record 16 television series, including "Vega$," "Spenser: For Hire" and the popular CBS mini-series "Lonesome Dove," died in 2002 after a six year battle with cancer.

"I had access to Bob's journals, so it's like he's telling the story," Martelle said. "I wove my interviews and comments around his words. I think that makes it different."

"I think it does, too," Carolyn Motter Walker, president of the Main Street Museum, chimed in. "You can hear him talking to you."

Martelle met the late actor in Boston in the 1980s. Back then, he was one-half of the Joe and Andy Family morning show on radio station WROR. Robert Urich was in town filming Spenser: For Hire, stopped in at the station after his driver, a long-time fan, introduced him to the Boston staple.

"I didn't have a clue who he was," Martelle said. "He introduced himself…I knew he was an actor, but that was it. He gave me a big hug, I made a friend that day. I remember thinking if he doesn't take himself too seriously, I want to hang out with that guy. He was in control without being egotistical. He was just a great guy."

Martelle said it was his wife, Kim's, idea to write the book.

"She was Googling online and said, 'There's no books about your friend, Bob. Every other actor in the world has a book.' I Googled it myself and realized she was right. So I reached out to Heather Menzies-Urich, Bob's wife. She said, 'If anybody should tell the story, it's you because you knew him.'"

He worked on it with Heather Menzies-Urich and other members of the Urich family, including Tom Urich who also acted on Broadway, in movies and on TV. Heather Menzies-Urich died in 2017 less than a month after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

It details the Urich family's Toronto roots and anecdotes about his life, including old family stories like how at one point, "he thought about being a monk," Martelle said. With a Roman Catholic mother and a Byzantine Catholic father, "he went to two masses on Sundays," Martelle said, adding, "His faith was strong."

The book includes previously unpublished family pictures, too, including some of him in his final years.

"He was diagnosed in July 1995 and died in April 2002," Martelle said. "He did some of his best working during those five or six years he had cancer. He didn't curl up into a fetal position. He kept working, he didn't want anyone to know he was sick."

While he was writing the book Martelle, himself fighting cancer, found inspiration in his friend's strength.

"He'd told me once…if you ever get this insidious disease, don't ever give up," Martelle said. "He got me through it…without even being on the planet."

Pittsburgh Steelers great Rocky Bleier, who Robert Urich had portrayed in the 1980 made-for-TV movie, "Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story," was on hand Saturday to swap stories with Martelle and the late actor's brother.

"Having known Bob and having spent time with him, especially when we were doing the movie all those years ago, this was my opportunity to pay tribute to him," Bleier said. "I came here to support Joe and his book, and to see some of the community."

Martelle said he's heard sales are strong worldwide, saying a woman came in Saturday from Phoenix "just to meet me."

"She said she loved Robert Urich and just want to meet me, thank me for writing it," he said. "I think a lot of people feel that way."

Martelle said he wanted readers to see the late actor as his inner-circle did: A good guy who never lost sight of where he came from, supporting things like the Fourth of July fireworks, schools and other projects in his hometown.

"His hometown was very important to him," Martelle said. "And I also wanted to show how Bob was underrated as an actor. He did it all: He could act, he was a very good singer, he was a producer…

"I felt he deserved to be recognized," he added. "He was just a good guy. I don't think there are enough Robert Urichs around."

Martelle will be at the Public Library of Steubenville-Jefferson County's Schiappa branch today from 1-3:45 p.m. to discuss his book.