Strickland on The Life of Eddie Carroll

News from the University of North Georgia on Brad Strickland's new book, Wishing on a Star: The Life of Eddie Carroll, a biography of actor Eddie Carroll:

Strickland, a professor of English at the University of North Georgia, began working with Carroll's wife, Carolyn Carroll, after the actor passed away in 2010. Together they researched his life and career, and interviewed numerous friends of Carroll, including Jamie Farr, who played Klinger in M*A*S*H, and Bill Farmer, the voice of Disney's Goofy.

"The process took more than a year, due to the fact that Eddie was a generous, warm, friendly, unpretentious man who had great talent and told wonderful stories," Strickland said. "What Carolyn and I most wanted was to preserve those stories and present an account of Eddie’s philosophy and approach to life, which was always optimistic and always dedicated both to his craft and to his family."

In 2001, while autographing books in Florida, Strickland met a friend of Carroll's who encouraged him to go see a one-man showed titled "Laughter in Bloom," in which Eddie Carroll portrayed old-time radio star Jack Benny. Following a surprise phone call from Carroll acting as Jack Benny, Strickland saw "Laughter in Bloom," and later worked with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance to bring the show to Gainesville.