Mandela: Outshining the Stars

Actress Jane Fonda brought her children to meet him. Singer Diana Ross stood on a chair to see him. Actor Richard Dreyfuss wore his sharpest suit to greet him.

“I heard people were so excited about this, there were ticket scalpers working the studios,” joked Dreyfuss, one of the many stars who were suddenly star-struck around Nelson Mandela at the most successful fund-raiser of his eight-city U.S. tour.

With just 2 1/2 weeks of planning, the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee (HWPC) and the Los Angeles Nelson Mandela Reception Committee helped fill the Armory Building of the California Museum of Science and Industry with 999 entertainment, political and business leaders. In turn, the event helped fill the coffers of the Mandela Freedom Fund with $1.2 million, minus expenses of only $190,000--a pittance by Los Angeles fund-raising standards.

Ninety percent of the money was donated by Hollywood. Why did so many give so much in so short a time?

“Because Mandela is one of the most important people in the world today,” explained actor James Garner.

“Because Mandela is a great man, and meeting him is one of the great thrills of my life,” agreed former studio owner Marvin Davis.

In between five hours of speech-giving and music-making, the Friday night party also had its poignant moments. When Mandela hugged Fonda like a member of the family, she burst into tears. And, next to Mandela, the person whose entrance received the biggest round of applause was a performer of a different sort: boxing great Muhammad Ali.

It was a night for many entertainment figures to bask in Mandela’s praise. Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt recounted how Mandela said the music industry had “focused attention worldwide” on apartheid. Sean Daniels, who helped put “Cry Freedom” into production at Universal, described how Mandela’s acknowledgement of Hollywood’s anti-apartheid films was “an incredible compliment.” And Alfre Woodward, who starred with Danny Glover in an HBO special about the Mandelas, explained how she became “as emotional as a daughter waiting for Daddy to come home from war” when she learned they would introduce him at the dinner.

Meanwhile, the presence of so many stars lent the Mandela function as much glamour as an awards dinner.

The event was a rare chance for young and old, stars and star-makers, to mingle. Mixing with newcomers Holly Robinson and Jimmy Smits were veterans Sidney Poitier and Gregory Peck, as well as major moguls Bob Daly and Berry Gordy.

Many Hollywood luminaries gave their time, talent and more. Multitalented producer Quincy Jones, whose $100,000 donation was the night’s biggest, organized the musical entertainment. HWPC founding board member Paul Weinstein, producer of the anti-apartheid film “A Dry White Season” and national secretary of the Mandela Freedom Fund, urged Hollywood leaders to buy every $1,000 ticket.

Another HWPC board member, Jimmy Blye, helped transform the dark barn of a building into a cheerful banquet hall with a fresh coat of paint, wall decorations (letters and drawings from hundreds of Los Angeles school children), and at-cost catering from the Biltmore Hotel.