Florrie Fisher
Encyclopedia
Florence "Florrie" Fisher (circa 1918 – 26 May 1972) was an American
motivational speaker
in the 1960s and 1970s who traveled to high school
s in the United States
, telling stories about her past as a heroin addict and prostitute. She is better known today as the inspiration for the character Jerri Blank on the television series Strangers with Candy
.
, then later moved to Miami, Florida
.
Fisher said she had a series of short-lived marriages. She describes being married at least four separate times: first in a parent-arranged marriage to a childhood friend named Joe Rosinsky; next, to her pimp
, whom she identified in her autobiography as David "Davey" Bohm; to a heroin junkie
identified as Danny Orenstein, who claimed to be an insurance collector in Miami
; and lastly, to a sheet metal foreman named Manuel "Philip" Bacalad (aka Bocala), whom she initially met as a pen pal just prior to becoming a motivational speaker.
After an interview with David Susskind
generated 100,000 letters, Susskind invited Fisher to appear on The Mike Douglas Show
while Susskind co-hosted with Douglas in 1969. Fisher then began speaking at schools and wrote an autobiography, The Lonely Trip Back, which told of her life from childhood up to the point when she became a motivational speaker. In 1970, she appeared in The Trip Back, a public service announcement
recording of her appearance at a New York high school. During her time as a motivational speaker, Fisher was affiliated with the rehabilitation movement Synanon
, which she credited with helping her beat her addiction. She also had ties to Phoenix House
, a sister organization of Synanon's, and often recommended it to students during her speeches as a reliable means of combating addictions.
According to an epilogue appended to the Mike Douglas transcript in The Rotarian, Fisher died in Miami, Florida
in 1972 from liver cancer
, kidney failure and cardiac arrest
.
, drug binges, larceny
, botched abortions
, and lesbian jailhouse encounters, turned her into a cult figure in the late 1970s, with bootleg videos of her speaking engagements becoming a collector's item in the 1980s.
Among those who saw The Trip Back were Stephen Colbert
and Paul Dinello
, who noticed a resemblance between Fisher and their friend Amy Sedaris
. The two men showed Sedaris a copy of the video and, suitably impressed with an impression that Sedaris did of Fisher, they then created a television series based around the concept of Florrie Fisher going back to high school as a student. The result was Strangers with Candy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
in the 1960s and 1970s who traveled to high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, telling stories about her past as a heroin addict and prostitute. She is better known today as the inspiration for the character Jerri Blank on the television series Strangers with Candy
Strangers with Candy
Strangers with Candy is a television series produced by Comedy Central. It first aired on April 7, 1999, and concluded its third and final season on October 2, 2000. Its timeslot was Sundays at 10 p.m....
.
Biography
The exact date of Fisher's birth is unclear. In her autobiography, The Lonely Trip Back, Fisher gives conflicting dates, at one point stating that she was 43 in 1963, then later indicating that she was born in 1918. According to the information given by the publisher, Fisher was born in 1920. Her parents lived in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, then later moved to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
Fisher said she had a series of short-lived marriages. She describes being married at least four separate times: first in a parent-arranged marriage to a childhood friend named Joe Rosinsky; next, to her pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
, whom she identified in her autobiography as David "Davey" Bohm; to a heroin junkie
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
identified as Danny Orenstein, who claimed to be an insurance collector in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
; and lastly, to a sheet metal foreman named Manuel "Philip" Bacalad (aka Bocala), whom she initially met as a pen pal just prior to becoming a motivational speaker.
After an interview with David Susskind
David Susskind
David Susskind was a producer of TV, movies, and stage plays and also a pioneer TV talk show host.-Personal:...
generated 100,000 letters, Susskind invited Fisher to appear on The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
while Susskind co-hosted with Douglas in 1969. Fisher then began speaking at schools and wrote an autobiography, The Lonely Trip Back, which told of her life from childhood up to the point when she became a motivational speaker. In 1970, she appeared in The Trip Back, a public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
recording of her appearance at a New York high school. During her time as a motivational speaker, Fisher was affiliated with the rehabilitation movement Synanon
Synanon
The Synanon organization, initially a drug rehabilitation program, was founded by Charles E. "Chuck" Dederich, Sr., in 1958, in Santa Monica, California, United States...
, which she credited with helping her beat her addiction. She also had ties to Phoenix House
Phoenix House
Phoenix House is a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization operating in ten states with 150 programs. Programs serve individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse and dependency.- History :...
, a sister organization of Synanon's, and often recommended it to students during her speeches as a reliable means of combating addictions.
According to an epilogue appended to the Mike Douglas transcript in The Rotarian, Fisher died in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
in 1972 from liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
, kidney failure and cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
.
Legacy
Fisher's distinctive appearance, thick Brooklyn accent, and larger-than-life tales of prostitutionProstitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, drug binges, larceny
Larceny
Larceny is a crime involving the wrongful acquisition of the personal property of another person. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of England into their own law. It has been abolished in England and Wales,...
, botched abortions
Unsafe abortion
An unsafe abortion is the termination of an unwanted pregnancy by persons lacking the necessary skills, or in an environment lacking minimal medical standards, or both...
, and lesbian jailhouse encounters, turned her into a cult figure in the late 1970s, with bootleg videos of her speaking engagements becoming a collector's item in the 1980s.
Among those who saw The Trip Back were Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
and Paul Dinello
Paul Dinello
Paul Dinello is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and an alumnus of Chicago-based The Second City, Improv Institute, and Annoyance Theatre...
, who noticed a resemblance between Fisher and their friend Amy Sedaris
Amy Sedaris
Amy Louise Sedaris is an American actress, author, and comedian. She is known for playing the character Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central television series Strangers with Candy. Sedaris regularly collaborates with her older brother, humorist and author David Sedaris...
. The two men showed Sedaris a copy of the video and, suitably impressed with an impression that Sedaris did of Fisher, they then created a television series based around the concept of Florrie Fisher going back to high school as a student. The result was Strangers with Candy
Strangers with Candy
Strangers with Candy is a television series produced by Comedy Central. It first aired on April 7, 1999, and concluded its third and final season on October 2, 2000. Its timeslot was Sundays at 10 p.m....
.
External links
- For the Love of Florrie (online tribute)