The Masked Man

A Memoir and Fantasy of Hollywood

By: Tom Wilson

Narrated by: Tom Wilson

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Tom Wilson, the actor, comedian, and writer best known for playing "Biff" in the classic movie "Back to the Future," goes on an unplanned adventure after meeting fellow actor Clayton Moore, the man who played The Lone Ranger on T.V., experienced the pitfalls of pop celebrity, and most notably, died over a decade ago. In stories of the past that careen from Ethel Merman on Broadway to John Belushi on his last night on earth, to fantastic tales of the present, including a showdown on horseback on Steven Spielberg's driveway, two somewhat reluctant icons form a memorable bond, and a remarkable listen.

©2012 Dusty Tuba Entertainment, Inc. (P)2013 Dusty Tuba Entertainment, Inc.

Everything You Think, But Completely Different

If you could sum up The Masked Man in three words, what would they be?

Unusual, funny, satisfying

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed the self-deprecating humor, the complete truth telling, as well as the unusual literary device of the "One Ranger." Well written, creatively presented, and if none of that matters to you, he also offers up the conventional "real story" of the "behind the scenes" that we all salivate for.

Which character – as performed by Tom Wilson – was your favorite?

The "One Ranger", but all of his characterizations are spot-on and really liven up the audio experience.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I appreciated the ending. I was skeptical following him through the journey and wondered how it would all get resolved. A great finish and I think fans of the movie, of the actor, and of good memoirs will really enjoy this.

An absolute gem

Tom Wilson's story is equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and sincerely heartrending. The frame of this memoir -- the mysterious Masked Man -- is an effective vehicle for exposition, and somehow makes it feel both grounded and ethereal.

As for the narration, I was expecting an experienced voice actor to nail it, and he absolutely does. Every audiobook narrator should take notes from Mr. Wilson.

“Field of Dreams” meets “Harpo Speaks”

Like “Harpo Speaks” this book is a fun, funny, entertaining and revealing memoir of a Hollywood actor’s quest for success. Having run ins with Robin Williams, John Belushi, Sam Kinison and more, we see other sides to these men rarely shown to the public which are somehow shocking and totally believable at the same time. More importantly we find ourselves rooting for the author/protagonist at every turn.

Like “Field of Dreams” part of this book is autobiographical fiction which reveals a deeper truth. Heartfelt and sincere, you come away from this book feeling like you really know the author and that he’s your friend - or Kemosabe if you prefer.

Shoulda’ bought a Honda!

Tom is so much more than "Hey Butthead".

What made the experience of listening to The Masked Man the most enjoyable?

I especially loved all of the personal stories of encounters with famous hollywood types and comedians. Tom's recollection of "incidents" and how they occurred is outstanding and interesting. The Sam Kinison stuff is quite amusing.

What other book might you compare The Masked Man to and why?

None that I have read, or listened to. I'm not familiar with any other book that weaves a fantasy story with actual life events like this book does.

What does Tom Wilson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing the author tell the stories and how they intended the inflections and/or emphasis is something you just can't get by reading it yourself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was very easy to listen to this book in long sessions and I looked forward to the times when I could do so.

Any additional comments?

Tom is a very interesting person, and you will learn so much more about him and what made him the man he is today. When you figure out that he's pretty much the complete opposite of his meat-headed most famous character, Biff, you will see that he is a caring, talented and intellectual family man, comedian, voice actor and all around nice person.

What a fantastic book

Tom Wilson has written a wonderful account of his time as an actor with some fun fantasy as he realizes what he has really been searching for....