Sharon Gurney shies from the spotlight

A: Sharon Gurney Rhodes was born in 1950. She began her acting career in the late 1960s on the London stage and later moved on to television; she also appeared in a few films. In 1970, she married Simon Gough, with whom she later co-starred in “The Corpse.” By the mid-’70s, she retired from acting. Although I could not find any official reason for her retirement, the fact that she had four children early on in her marriage makes me believe she preferred to stay at home and take care of her family. The last I heard, she was living in Norfolk, England.

Q: Why is calamari called calamari? It’s squid. Why not call it that? Have you ever tried it? — D.A., San Francisco

A: “Calamari” is the plural form of “squid” in Italian (singular: calamaro). The word comes from the Latin “calamarium.” As for why it is called calamari and not squid, I suppose someone once decided that calamari sounded more appetizing than squid, and others apparently agreed.

I am told the meat is firm and white with a mild, slightly sweet and almost nutty flavor. No, I have never tried calamari; I don’t eat seafood or meat.

Q: My favorite show as a child was “Captain Kangaroo.” Is Bob Keeshan still alive? — G.L.

A: Robert James “Bob” Keeshan was a TV producer and actor born in 1927. He is, of course, best known as the title character of the children’s program “Captain Kangaroo,” which aired from 1955 to 1984. One role Keeshan is not as well known for is the original Clarabell the Clown on “Howdy Doody.”

Keeshan and his wife were married for 45 years, until her death in 1996; they had three children together. He died in 2004.

Q: I recently saw a 25th anniversary production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which was staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London and broadcast on PBS. After the production, many former cast members performed excerpts from the show.

Michael Crawford, the original Phantom, was introduced with great fanfare, but he was the only Phantom who did not sing. I am concerned about him. He was, by far, the greatest Phantom. Can you find out why he did not sing? — G.D., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.