Coincidence or fate?
By Karina Vilela
The point is Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith lives got crossed on and off screen. Everything began when the actor hired to play Billy Campbell wasn’t working out well for the character. The canadian actor Stephen Fanning was replaced by Andrew Shue who had to reshoot all the first scenes. The replacement process couldn’t have been better, not that Fanning was an untalented actor. It seems like only Shue and Thorne-Smith could give that special bond to Billy and Alison.
"Andy, however, had to miss a lot of pre-summer publicity. He wasn’t available for interviews or photo sessions ("To find me in the photos", he quipped, "you need a magnifying glass") or to unveil the show at the affiliates meetings in New York or Chicago. Courtney couldn’t go either. Since most of Billy’s scenes in the first episode are with Alison, she had to stay back and reshoot all the films that had been done with Stephen. Good sport that she is, Courtney didn’t mind in the least", writes Randi Reisfeld in his book Melrose Place, An Unauthorized Biography.
Fiction and reality tangled as the two co-stars couldn’t resist their characters’ chemistry. Some episodes later Shue and Thorne-Smith fell in love offscreen too. "We were primarily good friends that first season and then it turned into a romance. I think that happened partly because of the pressure. You are working 14 hours a day and doing all this press. I don’t think I could’ve made it through that first year without him. But at the end of the first season, he wanted to go to Africa during break. I just wanted to hang out with my friends in LA. Now we are good friends", said Thorne-Smith to Today’s Woman magazine. She even went to his wedding.
They remain close friends besides sharing a common interest for the good causes. Back in 1994 Andrew Shue co-founded Do Something, a national organization run by young people that assists young leaders in building communities across the country. "It’s a lifetime commitment" said Shue in The Official MP Companion by David Wild. His brother and sister John and Elizabeth Shue - Oscar nominee in 1996 for Leaving Las Vegas - helped him and co-founder Michael Sanches launching Do Something. Courtney Thorne-Smith supported the organization along with celebrities such as REM Michael Stipe, Cindy Crawford, Noah Wyle and Kimberly Williams. Junior Chamber of Commerce named Andrew Shue one of 1995's 10 Outstanding Young Americans. Courtney is member of PAWS LA (Pets Are Wonderful Support, Los Angeles), a non-profit organization dedicated to assist people with HIV in keeping, feeding and caring for their pets while they are under expensive AIDS treatments. PAWS LA stimulates homeless pets adoption as well. Courtney has two basenji dogs, Ed and George. "I got one dog because he was beaten. The other dog was spoiled rotten. It’s like I’m living my own mini-soap opera", said Thorne-Smith to Today’s Woman.
During Shue’s school years he was "a kind of school superachiever who probably caused parents to nudge their kids and hiss, "Why can’t you be more like him"", wrote David Wild. At college he was elected student body president and his former leadership spirit helped the Do Something idea come true. Thorne-Smith was a top level student during the high school also and would be accepted easily by several colleges. But her quick movie career made her postpone it. It was a kind of regret for her and now she is a book eager and her readings include russian literature. When her sister Jennifer, an ad executive of the Walt Disney Company, was in college "I’d type her essays - then, while she watched the movies they were based on, I’d go read the book" said Thorne-Smith to Melrose Place, An Unauthorized Biography..
Soccer is other item in Shue’s busy schedule. Before starring Melrose Place in 1992, the actor spent one year in Zimbabwe playing soccer with the Bulawayo Highlanders team and working as high school geometry teacher. In 1994 he was spokesman for the USA’s World Cup. In 1996, he defended a LA Galaxy in the first season of the Major League Soccer. "The team’s success is extraordinary and the caliber of play is extremely high. Playing opening day in front of 70,000 fans was one of the greatest things a human can experience", said Shue to Geocities Celebrity Challenge. Courtney practices Yoga and lately has found a new obsession for golf but "I’m not that good", admits to Bikini magazine.
On october 7th, 1995, Andrew married his former UTA agent Jennifer Hageney in Swan Lake, Montana. After five years playing Alison on Melrose Place, Courtney left the show and with her any chance of Billy and Alison getting married. Melrose Place was never the same without its favorite couple and Andrew had no choice but leaving the show one season later. Nowadays, as a respected activist, he shares his efforts between Do Something and Club Mom, also co-founded with best friend Michael Sanches. Courtney, who was married to Dr. Andrew Conrad, joined the cast of the two hit series in a row Ally Mcbeal and recently According to Jim, a sitcom she co-stars with James Belushi and Kimberly Williams.
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