Famed Actor Steve Guttenberg Reunites With Elementary School Teacher

SAG HARBOR, NY — The hopes and dreams that a teacher instills in the heart of a young child can last a lifetime. And even when years pass and that young boy grows up to be a famous Hollywood actor, when the two meet again, the bond sometimes remains strong, spanning decades and miles.

Famed actor Steve Guttenberg, now starring in his autobiographical play "Tales from the Guttenberg Bible" at the Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts in Sag Harbor, skyrocketed to fame with films including "Diner," "Cocoon," "Three Men And A Baby," and the "Police Academy" franchise. But no matter how far his talent brought him from his childhood roots in Massapequa, Guttenberg never forgot the people that symbolized home.

That's why he was delighted Thursday night to be reunited at the Bay Street Theater with his former Plainedge Elementary School teacher Diane Lewis, 91. Lewis, who now lives in Sag Harbor, was equally pleased.

"I was thrilled at the opportunity to reconnect with my teacher, Mrs. Lewis," Guttenberg said. "She not only imparted knowledge in the classroom but also played an instrumental role in fostering my passion for the arts. Plainedge Playhouse" — which Lewis helped to establish —"holds a special place in my heart. And the chance to reunite with Mrs. Lewis after all these years is truly a gift."

Gail, Lewis' daughter, actually called the theater and set up the meet and greet. "She had a blast!" Gail said of her mom. "So many shared memories — and she couldn't stop gushing over Steve and his show."

As for Lewis, seeing her former student, all grown up and a Hollywood star, was "wonderful," she said. "It was so exciting to see him again."

Guttenberg was about 9 years old when he was in her class; she taught grades 1 through 6 at the time. "I think I had him in fourth grade. I remember him, and I told him, 'You were very smart in school,'" she said. "He was one of the bright kids, one of the best readers and good at arithmetic. He was just pleasant, always helpful and always asking questions."

She added: "He was the kind of kid you liked to have in your class — no worries, no problems."

Lewis said she hopes she and Guttenberg speak again soon, as there wasn't much time during the meet-and-greet to traverse back over decades and treasure the faraway moments.

"I have so many other great memories of him," she said.

Lewis was at the theater to see her former student's show: "Tales from the Guttenberg Bible" is described as a "farcical, laugh-out-loud story," written by and starring Guttenberg. "This is a hilarious journey from the Guttenberg’s family home on Long Island to the glamour of Hollywood as Guttenberg himself tells all — i.e. how he broke into the Paramount Lot — to his run-ins with everyone from Paul Reiser to Tom Selleck, Kevin Bacon to Merv Griffin. It would be an unbelievable tale if it weren’t true (mostly)."

Lewis, who has spent time helping out backstage at the Bay Street Theater herself, was impressed by Guttenberg's performance. "I enjoyed it thoroughly," she said. "He did such a good job of telling the story. It was very cleverly done. And, of course, knowing Steve and his family background it made it very heartwarming — and sad."

Lewis, in fact, spoke to Guttenberg about her thoughts on the show, telling him how touched she was by the way he honored his late father in his performance. "It was very moving," she said.

Guttenberg, she said, has grown from a little boy to a "very warm person with a big heart. It's always nice to have a glimpse of the past."

Speaking of her experience with the Plainedge Playhouse in Bethpage, Lewis said one of the school buildings had been turned into a community center. "We built a not-for-profit theater," she said. "I was one of the founders." During her time with the theater, Lewis acted, built sets, sewed costumes. "You name it," she said.

Her children were also involved with the productions, she said.

"One day, the phone rang, and it was Steven," Lewis said, a smile in her voice. "He said, 'Hi! I'm Steve Guttenberg.' I said, 'I remember you, you were in my class.' He said, 'I have one question: Why didn't you have this theater while I was there?'"

But, but the time the theater was established, Lewis said, "It was too late for Steven — he'd gone on to Hollywood."

Watching his success over the years has been very exciting, Lewis said. "It's always heartwarming to have any pupil do so well — to know that you had some small part, maybe, in educating him in some way. If I taught him how to read, he's now able to read his scripts. That's a plus!" she laughed.

Lewis spoke of the ties that bind teachers to their students, even after so many years, with children, now grown, coming back years later.

"A friend of mine, a fellow teacher, had a bumper sticker that said, 'If you can read this, thank a teacher,'" Lewis said. "That was always one of my favorite bumper stickers."

Guttenberg, she said, thanked her for her influence on his life.

"He said I was a special teacher," she said. "It was very sweet. The fact that he remembered me!"

The pair then talked about all the other teachers they knew. "One of the other gentlemen in the play also knew some of the teachers we were talking about," Lewis said. "It was like old home week."

Reflecting on the memories and faces, she said, made them all vivid in their minds. "It seems like yesterday — and I'm going to be 92 on my next birthday!" Lewis said.

Lewis said she was very excited when she found out that her daughter had arranged for her to see Guttenberg again.

"She said, 'Mom, you always talk about having Steven in your class.' While I was out of the house, she made a phone call to the theater and told them I'd love to see Steven again. I never expected her to do it. I came home and she'd written me a note, telling me that I was set to meet Steven after the performance. I said, 'What?'"

Lewis described seeing her one-time star pupil again in the green room of the theater.

"The best part of the experience is just seeing the person, after so many years. You look to see where it is, the part that you remember. It's in his smile and in his eyes — that's Steven."

She added: "I've had that happen with other people; there's such a change from the age of 9, to 29, to 60. All of a sudden, you look at that face, and something shows. I think he may have seen it in my face, too, because he seemed to recognize me."

Her hair now is short, she said; back then, it was long.

"He was very gracious, very charming, and very sincere," Lewis said. "He really comes across as a very open and loving person."

Guttenberg, she said, did not appear changed by fame. "He was so into it, like a little boy, saying, 'My teacher is here!'" Lewis said.

And then, she added: "He asked me, 'How are you getting home?'"

She told him she'd brought her car and drive herself.

Then, he said, "I have to walk you to your car," Lewis said. "It was very heartwarming. It felt very loving and very kind. And it fit with his piece, 'Tales from the Guttenberg Bible.' That was him, onstage and off. He doesn't change."

The show runs now through August 27. Single-seat tickets are currently available starting at $49.99. To purchase tickets, visit the box office, open daily from 11 a.m. until 30 minutes prior to the show, call 631-725-9500 or visit baystreet.org online 24/7.