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Barbra Streisand said her Yentl co-star Mandy Patinkin made her life “miserable for months” while filming the 1983 romantic comedy.
The two co-helmed Streisand’s directorial debut as students who meet in a yeshiva after Yentl (Streisand) disguises himself as a boy. Yentl soon falls in love with Avigdor (Patinkin), who is already engaged.
Streisand, 81, wrote about working with the 70-year-old “The Princess Bride” star in her new memoir “My Name is Barbra” and revealed that Patinkin, who was married, had suggested an affair to her.
“There was a moment, about a week into filming, when Mandy and I were filming a scene in the yeshiva,” Streisand recalls. “I think he had two or three lines, but he wouldn’t look me in the eyes. He just stared at my forehead.”
When she later confronted him about his behavior, Streisand said, “His face fell and he said, ‘I thought we were going to have a more personal relationship.’
“‘What?’ I had no idea what he was talking about,” she continued. “[He said,] “I thought we were having an affair.” I looked at him like he was crazy. . . 1) I would never have an affair with an actor I directed, 2) he was married, and 3) I wasn’t attracted to him at all. But I couldn’t tell him that I wasn’t exactly fascinated by him. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I just said, ‘That’s not how I act.’ Tears streamed down his cheeks.”
The Funny Girl star said she threatened to replace the Criminal Minds alum if his “behavior” continued. “We’ve only been here for two weeks. I can reshoot all your scenes if you don’t want to be more professional. “I have waited fifteen years to achieve my dream and I will not let you destroy it,” Streisand wrote.
Barbra Streisand and Mandy Patinkin
(Getty Images)
“By this point, Mandy had been giving me a hard time for months and I just couldn’t bear the thought of making love to him. I’m not that good of an actress,” she added.
“So I changed it. I rewrote the scene. And now that I look back on it, I wonder if I allowed my frustration with Mandy to override my instincts. Maybe I should have let Yentl. . . and the audience. . . Enjoy this moment.”
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The Independent has contacted Patinkin’s representative for comment.
Patinkin has been married to fellow actress Kathryn Grody since 1980. Streisand married Oceans Eleven star Elliott Gould in 1963 before they divorced in 1971. In 1998 she married again to actor James Brolin.
In an interview with the BBC ahead of the publication of her nearly 1,000-page memoir, she admitted she “didn’t have much fun in her life.”
“I want to live life,” Streisand told BBC music correspondent Mark Savage. “I haven’t had much fun in my life, to be honest. And I want to have more fun.”
“My Name is Barbra” is available now.