​My dad Fred McLaren passed away in 2016, but his talent lives on through his artwork and writing.  The project he was most proud of (his dream come true) was Thornsby, a syndicated comic panel which ran in newspapers across the United States during the 1970s.   Thornsby is now a part of newspaper history, but it has long been my dream to share this treasure with today's audience.  I wanted a permanent hard copy book containing the complete Thornsby cartoon run, so that his vision can be shared for posterity.  

In October 2020, my wife Mary and I made it happen.  We authored and published the definitive book of Thornsby as a loving tribute to its talented creator.  It's a very personal book for me, allowing me to revisit a huge part of my life.  I originally planned the book as a gift for a few family members, but then decided the universal appeal of his humorous writing and expert cartooning should be seen by a wider audience.  My hope is that people, young and old, will discover or rediscover this long-hidden gem.  Within my own family, I hope the book will be passed from generation to generation, so that my dad will be with them always.  Our book has been accepted into the Library of Congress, a huge honor for any independently produced book.  With the help of family, friends, and newcomers who have the book, imy dream that Thornsby will live forever is now happening!

For those new to Thornsby, here's my summary from Lulu, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, where you can find hardcover and softcover versions of "Thornsby by Fred McLaren: The Complete Comic Collection":

Relive the trippy and turbulent 1970s with "Thornsby"! From creator, writer and artist Fred McLaren, "Thornsby" was a topical and humorous single-panel cartoon published in newspapers nationwide during this splashy decade. The hero was a family man who longed for the nostalgic days of his 1940s youth. With his unique and quirky sense of humor, he struggled with the reality of being a middle-aged man in the 1970s. Americans faced a decade of jarring political and socioeconomic changes, including inflation, pollution, shortages, recalls, protests, women's liberation, and so much more. Thornsby, his devoted wife Blanch, and free spirit son Tune-In (with his flower child girlfriend Vibes) had to find a way to muddle through this strange new world. For the first time ever, the complete syndicated run of 768 "Thornsby" cartoons is presented in this book as a tribute to its talented creator across over 450 pages of memories. Never-before-seen promotional and publicity materials are included, as well as other photographs, bonuses, and surprises. The very personal introduction and numerous cartoon anecdotes are written by Fred's son Tom McLaren. "Thornsby" is a witty and entertaining look back at the 1970s for comic strip historians, retro collectors, and fans of good humor.  

​When I was a boy, my favorite TV series was the classic Irwin Allen sci-fi adventure "Lost in Space".  I remember watching reruns and being glued to my family's small TV set in our living room.  I loved the charactors and the actors who played them, the magical sets, the majestic music, & everything else about this fun show.  I wanted to be Will Robinson and have those adventures on a strange and exciting planet every single day of my life.  I was, in short, an instant loyal fan and this love has continued my entire life.  I still collect memorabilia, watch the blu rays, and keep the flame alive every way I can.  Angela Cartwright and Marta Kristen are now two of my dearest friends.  

Fast forward to 2018, the Netflix reboot debuts and it's simply brilliant.  It's a dazzling big budget cinematic series for the entire family, which updates and carries forward the emotion, excitement, and fantasy which first captured my imagination back in the day.  Oh, what a dream it would be to be an actor in something to near and dear to my heart...

In December 2018, my personal and professional dream came true.  I flew to Vancouver and performed in Season 2 Episode 6 "Severed".  I fulfilled that childhood fantasy of 'being on the bridge' by playing the XO, Commander Kamal's Executive Officer on the Resolute spaceship.  It was a pinch yourself moment to be acting alongside Ignacio Serricchio (Don West) and Sakina Jaffrey (Commander Kamal).

I am grateful to all the wonderful people behind the scenes who made this young boy's fantasy turn into this adult man's reality.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of them.  It was a moment in time that I never dreamed would happen and I will never ever forget.  

In loving memory from me, my wife Mary, my brother Fred, and his grandchildren Nicole and Mathew, we pay tribute to my father, Fred McLaren, an accomplished artist and writer.  His proudest achievement was the publication of his newspaper comic "Thornsby," it was his dream come.  The panel appeared in many papers across the nation, most notably Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, and many more.  Thornsby was a middle-aged man dealing with all the societal changes of the 1970s (inflation, politics, the younger generation, etc.) and dealing with getting older.  I definitely see flashes of my dad in these captions...he had similarities to Thornsby not in looks but in his way of looking at the world changing around him.    The cartoon ran from 1972-1975, with this image showing his final panel:  my dad looking at Thornsby's tombstone.


Homer F. McLaren (known professionally and to family and friends as Fred McLaren), passed away on February 15, 2016 in Chicago at the age of 85.  Army veteran of the Korean War.  Alumnus of Chicago's American Academy of Art 1954-1957 under the tutelage of William Mosby.  Commercial art director at RR Donnelly & Sons from the mid-60s to 1973.  Syndicated newspaper cartoonist and creator of Thornsby from 1972-1975, published nationwide.  Lifelong career as a free-lance artist and writer.  Born in Springfield, IL, Fred lived in New Lenox, IL, London, Ontario, and in various suburbs of Detroit, MI before returning and retiring to his favorite city, Chicago.  Admirer of the arts, collector of vintage memorabilia, and loyal Cubs fan.  He leaves a large legacy of his art in all media, which his family and friends hope will be enjoyed for years to come.

Although "Grateful" was my post for year end 2014, I feel compelled to write a new post summarizing year end 2015 and "Grateful" is still the word that says it best and says it all.

The entertainment industry can be quite a roller coaster ride.  Those who work in it face tremendous challenges.  This is why I must pause and look back at a year I never expected when I first started this journey a few years ago.  I had six feature films distributed in the past 12 months, with five of them currently in wide digital and dvd release all over the world.  I am very proud to be a part of Expelled, Mac Daddy & The Lovers, All American Bikini Car Wash, The Exorcism of Molly Hartley, and Santa's Little Helper.  I feel so lucky to be living my dream as a working actor.

To close, I will quote the ending of my year end 2014 post...I thank the many people who have made these things happen, from those creative forces behind the scenes... to the public who is the only true judge of success...to my supportive friends and family.

Grateful.  I am.

I look back at 2014 with eyes of tremendous gratitude.  I'm very fortunate for so many reasons.  

I began my creative journey in 2011 when I agreed to co-author my first book and I stepped into my first acting class.  I never expected that three years later I would be a published author and a working actor.  In October, my book "Styling the Stars - Lost Treasures from the Twentieth Century Fox" was published worldwide to great success.  In December, my feature film "Expelled" was released theatrically in the US and digitally worldwide and became an immediate hit.

I thank the many people who have made these things happen, from those creative forces behind the scenes... to the public who is the only true judge of success...to my supportive friends and family.

Grateful.  I am.

I am excited and happy to announce that my first book, Styling the Stars:  Lost Treasures from the Twentieth Century Fox Archive, will be published by Insight Editions in October.  It is a fascinating look at a bygone era of film making and photography.  With a primary focus on never-before-seen continuity photos of iconic movie stars, everyone will find their favorite actors and films in this book.  It is a wonderful hardcover quality publication for movie, art, and photography aficionados.  

My co-author is my dear friend:  actress Angela Cartwright, from the classic film The Sound of Music, TV's Lost in Space, and TV's Make Room for Daddy.  Our Foreword is from one of Fox's greatest leading ladies ever:  Maureen O'Hara, from Miracle on 34th Street and many other memorable films.
Amazon pre-order is now available in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan.  Also available in Australia.  US link as follows:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608872572/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=0BKHJ94BJ6Q9RAX4VQ92&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200482&pf_rd_i=507846

Official press release from Insight Editions:
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a1b4a79b4ff5540e89a88d743&id=67255d3e83&e=1a6a20320d

Let me take a break from my showbiz thoughts and provide my personal memories of 9/11.  My wife and I were at the White House at the moment the Pentagon was hit.  It was a day of chaos.  But we are very lucky it played out for us the way it did...

By September 10, 2001 our first DC vacation was almost over...I was booked to fly home the following morning, when her business conference was set to begin.  On the night of the 10th we decided we had time for one activity before my flight.  She wanted to visit the Pentagon...I wanted the White House. 

Fast forward 12 hours:  standing in line on the White House lawn, waiting for the tour to begin, security told us to "move back".  Everyone responded with the typical nonchalant zombie trance.  Security told us nothing else and only pushed us to move a few feet away.  We assumed it was a bomb scare, but I I told her "this IS the White House...maybe we should take this seriously."  So we walked across the street.

In lieu of the tour we wanted a front view picture of the White House, so we walked down an oddly empty E Street.  Enjoying the classic view, we were abruptly interrupted by a Secret Service man hanging onto a moving SUV.  He informed us "get back...RUN!!!"  A bit shocked, I said "we'd better run" and so we did.  

As we walked through the now crowded streets towards the subway (everyone was evacuating), we saw a huge long billow of black smoke in the distance.  I said "I bet this is related to whatever is happening here."  (We now realize this was the smoke from the Pentagon explosion.)  As we crammed into the subway car, I overheard a man talking next to me and I asked him to clarify: "a plane hit the World Trade Center?"  We thought it was a small private plane perhaps. 

Back at the hotel, we turned on the television and were shocked.  The fire alarm sounded.  We evacuated the hotel and joined everyone from surrounding buildings on the street.  The roads were jammed with cars as commuters tried to exit the city.  I heard an airplane in the sky.  The driver in front of me heard it as well...he reached his head out of the car window.  I remember this guy craning his head...and staring up.

We were trapped in that city for about one week.  We saw the National Guard, guns in hand, on every street corner.  Many of her co-workers had arrived early for the conference and we spent this week together.  Amazingly the White House tour resumed just two days later.  As we walked the rooms, Laura Bush was giving an interview on the White House lawn, but the Secret Service purposely stood in front of the windows so that we could not see her.  

With airports closed, we ultimately rented a van and drove to Charlotte, NC., so that we could all return home.  Someday we will return to DC for a true vacation...but I always feel a moment of hesitation.  It's impossible to shake this thought.

I've learned a tremendous amount since the start of this amazing journey.  First and foremost, a point we should all take to heart, is that you must have faith in yourself.  You will encounter plenty of naysayers, skeptics, and downright negative people, especially in the entertainment industry.  You must listen to your inner voice.  I believe if you work hard and put yourself out there...good things will happen.  Having booked over 50 jobs in the past 18 months, I am extremely grateful for the good fortune in my life.

On October 3, 2011 I took a giant leap of faith...and stepped into my first acting class.  I shocked everyone in my life, but I knew all along that this creative pursuit was my true calling.  I had never acted before in my entire life, not even in high school.  The desire was always there...but I had to work up the courage.  It took many many years to get to this point in my life!  I felt it was finally time to pursue my dream.  

My background was corporate business (about as far from acting as you can get!).  With a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Wayne State University, I worked at Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. as a Finance professional.  I was Director of Budgeting at Warner Bros. during the prime of my business career.  But I knew this was not my passion...I knew it was something else.  A shot of self-confidence in September 2011 set me on a new path.

I started my acting classes and found I loved it.  On a whim in January 2012 I made one inquiry to an agent and signed with him a couple weeks later.  After my fifth audition in February, I booked my first paid job (a Toyota internet commercial).  The amazing journey had officially started!  In the months that followed, I continued with classes, auditions, rehearsals, and jobs.  This was now my full-time career...my new life!

I am so grateful to my friends, family members, and co-workers who have provided support, encouragement, and guidance during this first year...most especially I thank my wife Mary.