In a country where the word “comeback” is often applied to a relief pitcher whose minor arm surgery made him sit out half a summer, we sometimes overlook the most amazing stories that are practically laid out right before us. But the prototypical heart-wrenching Hollywood comeback story is one that contains many ingredients. Initial success, followed by many years of struggle amid constant pangs of self doubt, then financial strain and hardship despite an almost stubborn dedication to the trade that had originally brought him to the pinnacle of his industry. The best stories, the ones that grab our attention and refuse to let go, are the ones where the main protagonist is a likable family man with impeccable taste and values, whose only fault is his inability to do anything that does not feel honest. If the story ends happily, not quite like a fairy tale but in a believable fashion that is at once joyous and redeeming, it can be a liberating experience for the reader. Finally, if it returns our hero to the very pinnacle of his profession where he once was and rightly belongs, then we have an invigorating tale to tell. This describes the story of Gray Kunz. [read more]

by Carolyn D. Richmond, Esq.