My Name Is Buddy

From the Broadway stage to the main room at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Stephen's career flourished at a time when child performers were not the big business commodity they are today. His time in the limelight of stage and television would give him intimate access to a world reserved only for the elite of the Entertainment industry. Film stars like Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Susan Hayward, and Rita Moreno, and music greats such as Johnny Mathis, 'Mama' Cass Elliot, and Patrice Munsel, would become friends as well as performing partners. It was a magical journey full of travel, excitement, attention, and awards. It was also a trip full of hard work, sacrifice, and disappointment. The phrase "Too much, too soon" is often overused. In Stephen's case, it's the only phrase that can best describe how his childhood was hijacked by fame and opportunity.