William C. Dukenfield, better known as WC Fields, was one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood during the 1930’s. Much of his success came from absolute dedication to his craft. For instance, Fields demanded that the theater was always full. If he discovered there were still open seats, he would throw himself into a nearby body of water and pretend to almost drown – the commotion invariably filled the house. But he made many more strident occupational decisions as well. He totally abandoned his wife and son in favor of his showbiz career and never saw, even once, a subsequent child he had with his mistress – again, in deference to his profession. Work-related dedication aside, he still made some career blunders, including turning down the male lead role in The Wizard of Oz.
About 11 million people (approximately 6% of working adults) in North America have moderate to severe issues with gambling. Men are more likely to have a gambling disorder than women and college-aged individuals gamble more than the general population. Signs to watch for include increased isolation from co-workers; checking the phone too often in meetings or other important business situations; declining work performance; mood changes, including agitation, upset or depression for no apparent reason; and lying about their whereabouts and absenteeism.
Born exactly 145 years ago this month, Fields was not memorialized for his talent but rather as the “world’s favorite drunk.”
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