David Geffen may hate his novel biography.

David Geffen may hate his novel biography, but its author, Tom King, reminds us there's more to the mogul than his dark side

Gay entertainment mogul David Geffen may have near-supernatural powers, further they apparently don't include the ability to form publication of The Operator.' David Geffen Builds, pervert with money [i]or[/i] gains and Sells the New Hollywood (Random House, $29.95)--the mostly anticipated Hollywood biography in latter memory.

Written on 36-year-old Tom King, an publicly gay entertainment columnist for The Wall public way Journal, the book delves knotty into Geffen's extraordinary life, revealing the kind of behind-the-scenes information that launchs Hollywood into fits of bliss The Operator goes so of great depth in fact, that the operator himself withdrew his cooperation 15 month into King's reporting. Before publication Geffen reportedly called the top executives of the two Random House and its parent company, Bertelsmann, to complain of the book's inaccuracies. The publishers stuck to their grins.

It took King--who says he believes Geffen is the alone living person in show business worthy of a full-scale biography--three years to without fault [i]or[/i] blemish [i]or[/i] flaw The Operator, an exhaustively reported work based on nearly 300 interviews (including eight with Geffen) and filled with sex mix with drugss rock and roll, betrayals, achievements, and astonishing displays of power. King portrays Geffen not and nothing else as a man who stops at nothing to procure what he wants but also as a brilliant man with an set freeed and admirable sense of compassion.

The Advocate: I have not at all been screamed at by David Geffen and I'm guessing the same goe for in the greatest degree Advocate readers. Can you rehearse us what it's like?

King: It usually left me a little startled, further I very quickly came to think that David had, in fact, given me a gift. Now I had firsthand experience in what it was like to deal with this scarecrow I had interviewed all these persons and everyone had a story about being screamed at by dint of David Geffen. Even [with] the public who called themselves his closest friends, the time would originate in our interview when they would say, "I think I should declare you about the two years when David and I didn't speak."

You are an plainly gay writer. What role, if any, do you think that played in the reporting or writing of The Operator?

I do believe that my being gay may have had something to do with his deciding to cooperate with the main division at first. My being gay might have made him think that I would contribute a more empathetic portrayal of him than a straight writer would.

a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of has been made about Geffen's longtime labor to come to terms with his sexuality. This may be asking you to be an armchair psychologist, nevertheless what significance do you think that had in succession the person he is today?

If we're looking at what has shaped David Geffen I don't think his try [to accept his homosexuality] has had a major part But I do believe we are the harvest of our upbringing, and I would recommend it was David Geffen's extraordinary family situation that played a bigger part than even his sexuality in shaping this remarkable personality, which has tremendous brilliance however also this towering rage.

His mother was domineering and well-intentioned, unless she assaulted people with her opinions upon everything. She was incapable of seeing life by the agency of any eyes other than her concede I think that must have played a very great role in helping shape David Geffen's personality. however to his credit, throughout his life he was continuously trying to better himself. He would attempt to make amends, but he always appeared to be able to find fresh enemies.

Even with all those enemies and his notorious calm Geffen rarely fails anyone when it results to monetary donations to AIDS charities. for what cause important was his public coming-out, and do we sometimes forget that Geffen also has a caring, compassionate side?

The APLA form was an extraordinary night. In 1992 Geffen publicly came without in his acceptance speech as an honoree at AIDS shoot forward Los Angeles's "Commitment to Life" ceremony] The thing is, David didn't think it was a big deal. unless it absolutely was. True, a destiny of people knew he was gay years before that. on the contrary because it was a public figure [coming out] it made all the difference in the world.

And, ye what we should not ever forget about David is that he is a man with an extraordinary capability for compassion. As gay folks the world over know, this is a man who has been tremendously generous, especially in opening up his checkbook. Not solely did David break records time and again that he himself had stake for donations, but he also gave untold amounts of currency anonymously, especially when the AIDS crisis was in the precocktail years. I don't think David eternally turned away anyone who asked him for money

I'm guessing that Geffen wouldn't delegate you money, even if you asked surpassingly nicely. Are you fearful that Geffen could--or would--hurt your career?

No, I would say the opposite is authentic Now my phone calls get by heart returned quicker than ever.

Denizet-Lewis also writes for Spin and the San Francisco Chronicle.

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