April 2016
Photo © Gail Starr.
Michael Seth Starr is the TV editor for the New York Post, where he has written about television for the past 20 years. He is a native of northern New Jersey, and has authored biographies of Peter Sellers, Art Carney, Joey Bishop, Bobby Darin, Raymond Burr, and Redd Foxx. Unlike Ringo, he was born with the last name Starr; they are not related.
What are you reading? What's on your nightstand?
The President and the Apprentice: Eisenhower and Nixon
What's on your nightstand?
The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret, Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who
Where do you go to get inspired?
A good bookstore
What's something that surprised you recently (in a good way)?
The writing and depth of the '50s-era radio series Gunsmoke.
Where do you write?
In my home office.
What/who makes you laugh? Why?
Steve Coogan (I'm Alan Partridge), Peter Sellers, Ricky Gervais (The Office, Extras). I'm a big fan of British humor.
Favorite fictional character ever?
As far as a literary character, I don't really have a favorite. Most of my reading encompasses biographies. Raymond Burr, who I wrote about in Hiding in Plain Sight: The Secret Life of Raymond Burr, led an interesting life, inventing a large part of his public persona.
What do you want readers to know about you and your books?
I try to thoroughly research each of my biographical subjects, let the story tell itself, and avoid psychoanalyzing my subjects.
What are you working on?
A biography of William Shatner.
"...a solid recounting of Ringo's life and will be of interest to Beatles fans looking for more information on the least-chronicled member of the Fab Four."
—Booklist
"In this illuminating and comprehensive biography of Richard "Ringo Starr" Starkey, New York Post TV editor Starr delves into every aspect of the life of one of the 20th century's most famous drummers....Starr successfully paints a complete portrait of the legendary drummer, whose contributions to rock ‘n’ roll, he argues, have been largely overshadowed by his iconic band mates."
—Publishers Weekly