My Dinner with Hervé

Danny Tate, a journalist and recovering alcoholic, is dispatched to Los Angeles for a new assignment. One of his tasks is interviewing Hervé Villechaize. He hopes the trip will keep him focused and away from drinking.

During their initial interview, Tate ends the session to pursue another interview with Gore Vidal, leaving Villechaize feeling insulted. Villechaize chides him about his career and professionalism. The encounter sets a tense tone for their relationship.

Tate pays for their meal and heads to Vidal's interview, but he arrives late and Vidal leaves, denying Tate the chance to speak with him. The missed opportunity underscores Tate's poor timing and growing conflict with Villechaize. The day ends with Tate facing the fallout of the failed interview.

That night, Villechaize phones Tate and insists on continuing their interview to finish what was started earlier. Tate decides to press on, determined not to relapse into drinking. The decision marks a fragile pact between the two men.

Villechaize arrives in a limousine and the two ride through the city while he details his life, from his dwarfism and his parents' reactions to his early ambitions. The intimate setting makes the interview feel like a personal confession. Tate listens, trying to balance empathy with his own professional boundaries.

Through Villechaize's stories, we glimpse his early years—parental resentment, a move to New York after an assault, and his growing obsession with acting after two months spent watching television. The anecdotes illuminate the roots of his hunger for fame. The conversation shifts from present troubles to a longer arc of his life.

Villechaize's persistence pays off when he barges into Martin Rothstein's office wielding a knife and secures representation with the William Morris Agency. The audacious act marks a dramatic turning point in his career. The deal gives him a chance at larger opportunities in Hollywood.

Villechaize lands a role in The Man with the Golden Gun and earns applause from audiences and his mother at the premiere. The success elevates his profile and fuels his public persona. Yet the spotlight also ushers in new pressures and scrutiny.

Despite the Bond success, Villechaize endures four years without steady work. Rothstein helps him land a role on Fantasy Island, reviving his popular status. He marries Camille Hagen after she guest stars on the show, adding a personal milestone to a professional comeback.

Villechaize and Tate visit a strip club where Villechaize pressures Tate to break his sobriety for a lap dance. Tate succumbs to temptation and has a beer, sparking tension between them. The moment tests Tate's commitment to staying clean.

The pair stop at Pink's Hot Dogs, where Villechaize takes over driving the limo and crashes it, intensifying the strain between them. The accident becomes a stark symbol of their unraveling partnership. The night grows more volatile as they press each other for truths.

Tate presses Villechaize about his womanizing and his marriage to Hagen, triggering a sharp confrontation. Villechaize stops the vehicle and storms off, leaving Tate to chase him down amid rising anger and hurt. The scene crystallizes the fracturing bond between them.

Tate revisits Rothstein's house while Villechaize reads headlines about his exploits, and Rothstein acknowledges the pressure from Montalbán while Villechaize's behavior jeopardizes his future on set. The friction culminates in Villechaize getting fired from the show. The career trajectory that once surged now careens toward collapse.

Camille Hagen divorces Villechaize, and a restraining order follows. Later, while appearing as Tattoo at an event, he has a breakdown, lights his costume on fire, and collapses in tears in the arms of his girlfriend Kathy Self. The personal and professional chaos is laid bare.

Tate returns to his hotel and agrees to meet Villechaize one last time; they share a final photograph and part on friendly terms. Shortly after, Tate learns Villechaize has committed suicide. He resists publishing the piece, resigns, and decides to write a book titled My Dinner with Hervé.