Sarasota Lifestyles
On any given day around town you could be rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. Due to its beauty and laid back lifestyle Sarasota has always been known to attract celebrities on vacation....
But who actually lives here?
By ABBY WEINGARTEN Correspondent
Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Paparazzi are rare, traffic is tame and mansions in the 941 are a tad cheaper than those in the 323. But there are plenty more reasons celebrities forgo real estate in the Hollywood Hills in favor of Sarasota-Manatee's flatlands.
They may relocate to be closer to retired relatives, or maybe they just want to sun themselves on Siesta Key's beach without enduring sneaky camera flashes. Some reside in town full-time while many add a winter waterfront palace to their already lengthy list of worldwide properties. Others -- like Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Tom Selleck and Michael Jordan -- have drifted in and out over the years. Here are several stars walking among us:
Joe Perry
With his long curly hair and chiseled chest, the Aerosmith guitarist has been spotted participating in Sarasota beach cleanups and walking around St. Armands Circle. He and his wife, Billie, live in South Pomfret, Vt., much of the year and have a second home on Longboat Key. Still on tour and playing at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre in Tampa on Aug. 7, the 59-year-old Perry is ranked No. 48 on Rolling Stone Magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. In 2009, he released his solo Joe Perry Project album, "Have Guitar, Will Travel."
Brian Johnson
The raspy-voiced AC/DC frontman has graced the stages of local venues like the Irish Rover Pub in Gulf Gate, and has collaborated with area musicians on various projects. At 62, the English singer-songwriter and Rock N' Roll Hall of Famer has an estate on Bird Key with his wife, Brenda, and is still touring the globe. The 1973-formed hard rock band, which Johnson joined in 1980, is responsible for making "Back in Black" the second best-selling album of all time. In 2003, Johnson worked on a musical version of "Helen of Troy" with Sarasota Ballet choreographer Robert de Warren.
Stephen King
His books -- from "The Shining" to "Misery" -- are now part of the American vernacular. Yes, 62-year-old suspense fiction author Stephen King, who lives on Casey Key in Osprey with his wife, Tabitha, is a household name. King has sold more than 350 million copies of his novels and short story compilations and many have been adapted for TV and film. He has a second home in Bangor, Maine, and has been photographed at anti-war protests and other community events throughout Sarasota and Bradenton.
'Macho Man' Randy Savage
The former American pro wrestler (real name: Randall Mario Poffo) became an icon in the 1980s for his ostentatious wardrobe and perpetually bronzed physique. Now 57, the longtime performer with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) married Lynne Payne on Lido Beach in May. Savage held 20 championships during his career and was the 1987 WWF "King of the Ring." His catchphrase, "Ooh yeah!" and his cameos in Slim Jim commercials are ingrained in pop culture.
Jerry Springer
The former king of tabloid TV, a resident of Bird Key, is often seen dining in downtown Sarasota. At 66, Springer is best known for hosting "The Jerry Springer Show" -- a portrait of dysfunctional families that battle everything from adultery to racism -- which first aired in 1991 and is now syndicated globally. He is also a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, as well as a musician, having opened for country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. When his TV scheduling allows, he leaves the studio in Stamford, Conn., and heads south.
Dickey Betts
A founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts was born in Bradenton and is still a fixture in the city's music scene. He and his most recent band, Great Southern, played at such events as the De Soto Seafood Festival, and Betts has a home in Osprey with his wife, Paulette. Now 66, Betts is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995) and won a Grammy Award for best rock performance for the song "Jessica" in 1996. He is No. 58 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list.
Jane Lynch
At the end of May, the "Glee" actress made headlines when she married her partner, Dr. Lara Embry, a former psychology professor at New College of Florida. The two have a home in Sarasota, where Embry practices at the Carter Psychology Center, and Lynch stays when she's not playing the beloved character, Coach Sue Sylvester, in the Fox musical comedy series. Lynch appeared in several episodes of the Starz series "Party Down" and is also known for her humorous roles as a poodle handler in "Best in Show" and a lecherous store manager in "The 40 Year Old Virgin."
Dick Vitale
When he's not appearing on ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning," the well-known basketball sportscaster is dining at The Broken Egg on Siesta Key and in Lakewood Ranch. Vitale lives in the latter with his wife, Lorraine. An author of seven books and a former coach for college and professional teams, Vitale is recognized for his broadcasting trademark catchphrase, "Awesome, baby!" The 71-year-old celeb is also a regular at Tampa Bay Rays games.
Nick Bollettieri
During this year's Sarasota Open at the Longboat Key Club and Resort, the tennis coaching legend was there, paying homage to the up-and-comers in the sport. A 78-year-old resident of Longboat Key with his wife, Cindi, Bollettieri founded Bradenton's Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in 1978. He has groomed such champions as Andre Agassi and Monica Seles (a Sarasota resident) and still remains active in the development of the academy.
Martina Navratilova
Considered by some to be one of the best singles, doubles and mixed doubles players ever, Czech tennis icon Martina Navratilova has a home in Sarasota. Now 53, Navratilova won the Wimbledon women's singles nine times and has won a record 20 total Wimbledon titles. Navratilova is an avid animal rights advocate and has done charity work for sanctuaries in Sarasota.
Jack Perkins
The former host of A&E's "Biography," once famously parodied by "Saturday Night Live's" Darrell Hammond, is a Sarasota resident. The 77-year-old anchorman, narrator and award-winning journalist currently hosts "A Gulf Coast Journal," a weekly magazine show that airs on WEDU-TV in Tampa. Perkins is also an amateur photographer and poet, and recently compiled a book titled, "Island Prayers: Photographs and Poems of Praise."
Donald 'Duck' Dunn
Known for his work in the 1960s R&B band Booker T. & the MG's, Dunn lives on Snead Island in Palmetto. The 68-year-old bassist, songwriter and producer has participated in recordings with such artists as Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. He was also a member of the Blues Brothers. Booker T. & the MG's were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Although semi-retired, Dunn continues to do shows with Booker T. & the MG's.
Graeme Edge
A founding member of The Moody Blues, the 69-year-old drummer-songwriter has a home along the Manatee River in Bradenton. He's the only original member left in the art-rock group, which formed in Birmingham, England, in the early 1960s. His longtime bandmates, Justin Hayward and John Lodge, joined in 1968. The trio opens a two-month North American tour tonight in South Bend, Ind. They'll then launch a monthlong tour of Britain in September.
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