Us Magazine ?/96

Entertaining

Something Unexpected      

The silence was golden as Melissa Gilbert threw a surprise party for Bruce Boxleitner, keeping it quiet was the trick. "If anyone can, it's Melissa," said the couple's close friend, actor John Allen. "And if anyone can figure it out, it's Bruce." But when Melissa Gilbert and husband Bruce Boxleitner walked into the Moonlight Tango Cafe Sherman Oaks, California, and 100 friends screamed "Surprise!" it was clear who had triumphed. "Oh my God," said Boxleitner as he clutched his forehead. "You got the whole place!"

The guest of honor slowly took in all of the smiling faces, which included his two sons from a previous marriage, Sam and Lee; his first Los Angeles roommate, General Hospital's John Reilly; and many of his Babylon 5 castmates. "This is Bruce's "This Is Your Life," said Gilbert, who orchestrated the party.

There was more than a hint of Hollywood history in the room: When Gilbert (who as a child starred in Little House on the Prairie) posed with bandleader Johnny Crawford, former star of The Rifleman, and with Lost in Space's Billy Mumy, three decades of child actors were caught in one momentous shot.

The event fell on Mother's Day, making it more meaningful for the pair, whose son, Michael Garrett, was born dangerously premature seven months earlier. "For months you've referred to me as your hero," said Gilbert in her toast. "But it's easy to be brave when I have you to come home to, and hide behind, and hold on to. I wish you the happiest birthday ever.... Let's eat!"

After dinner the couple hit the dance floor. "I think she's been giving him lessons," joked actor Charlie Schlatter. The band broke into "Happy Birthday," and Boxleitner blew out the candle on his profiteroles and took the mike. "How old am I? A little more than 45," said the newly 46-year-old. "I don't know how she pulled this off. This is the best party a guy could ask for." No one was surprised by his sentiment.
-Linda Friedman

the elements

the event: A surprise party Bruce Boxleitner's 46th:birthday

the host: Boxleitner's wife, Melissa Gilbert

the setting: The Moonlight Tango, a 1930S art deco supper club in Sherman Oaks, California

the guests: Sara Gilbert, General Hospital's John Reilly, Cbicago Hope's Roxanne Hart and her husband, actor Philip Casnoff; Silk Stalkings' Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill, Melissa's godparents; Sweet Justice's John Allen and Cree Summer; Diagnosis Murder's Charlie Schlatter

the flowers: Centerpieces of pink tulips, white Phalaenopsis orchids, and deep pink bromeliads, from Mark's Garden in Sherman Oaks

the music: Johnny Crawford's Society Dance Orchestra which played jazz and movie favorites from the twenties and thirties, including "Isn't It Romantic?" Crawford wore a top hat and tails.

the gifts: In lieu of presents guests were asked to make a donation to the March of Dimes.

the menu

the chef: Moonlight Tango's Richard Swenson

the hors d'oeuvres: Shrimp-and-crab cakes, vegetarian spring rolls, stuffed mushrooms, blue-corn tortillas with smoked salmon and caviar

the dinner: Flaming smoked mozzarella with a lemon-cognac sauce, Mediterranean-style calamari, spitfired breast of chicken, penne pasta with pesto sauce, grilled Pacific salmon, filet mignon