Star-Studded Night Boosts Drug Fight

“I’ve got some great friends, “ said song-and-dance man Ben Vereen on Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.

And they show up. Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Angela Lansbury, Della Reese, Linda Blair, Florence Henderson, Debbie Reynolds and more attended the first Celebrities Gala for a Drug Free America, an event which raked in more than $300,000 for drug prevention programs sponsored by Drug Abuse Is Life Abuse and Celebrities for a Drug Free America.

On a social circuit where the promise of an appearance by a celeb can be as hollow as last night’s souffle, it felt good to see superstars sweep into the Hyatt for a sit-down feast and a show by Vereen.

Some of the celebs came because they’ve fought--and won--their own battle with drugs. “I know what it’s like; my narcotic was booze,” said Anthony Hopkins, who starred with Jodie Foster in the psycho-thriller “Silence of the Lambs.” (“Looks like there’s going to be a sequel,” Hopkins said. “Don’t know when.”)

“I bottomed out and got some help,” Hopkins added. “Drugs are the cancer of the world.”

Some came because they’ve watched the careers of fellow artists end because of drug addiction. “I have a lot of friends who fell (from stardom) because of drugs,” said Della Reese, star of television’s “The Royal Family.”

“I’m here because if we can stop drugs now, maybe there’s another Billie Holiday or Charlie Parker out there who is 12 and will make it--live to give us their wonderful talent.”

And some just came. “I’m proud to be here with Ben--to stand up with him,” said Angela Lansbury, the cunning sleuth of television’s “Murder, She Wrote.”

“Drugs are a scourge among our young. Anything we can do to help get our youth off of drugs we must do.”

Major donors--$15,000 bought you the chance to dive into your filet mignon at a table graced by a celebrity--were treated to a pre-gala cocktail reception with members of the gala committee. Among those schmoozing with donors and stars in Zot (the intimate Hyatt nightclub) were developer Kathryn Thompson and Michael Hayde--president of Drug Abuse Is Life Abuse (a local drug prevention program founded by Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates).

“This is the first time we’ve asked for money,” said Gates, who attended the gala with his wife, Deedee. “We’ve been around for a little over four years and never asked for money. But now we’re at a point where we need to raise funds to keep the organization going strong.”

Funds will be used to develop programs for students, Gates said. Drug Abuse Is Life Abuse has representatives (many were at the gala) from 60 of Orange County’s 73 high schools trained to take the message of drug prevention to fellow students.

About 500 guests watched gala emcee Robert Guilliame (he took Michael Crawford’s place in “The Phantom of the Opera” in Los Angeles) tell guests the gala “was a wonderful step in the right direction.”

“We were all galvanized the other day when Magic Johnson announced his terrible news. We live in very strange and perilous times,” he said.

While the general gala mood was somber, Thompson lightened things up when she announced the night’s proceeds. “We have made $325,000,” she said. Thunderous applause.

Thompson told the crowd that Vereen had asked her to support his Celebrities for a Drug Free America after appearing at an Orangewood Ball. “At first, I thought, ‘I don’t know,”’ Thompson said. “But then, I thought of Drug Abuse Is Life Abuse.” And the possibility of raising funds for both organizations.

It worked. Hey, that’s what friends are for.