Janet Charlton's HOLLYWOOD

Sheryl Lee Ralph just got a star on The Walk of Fame  and we were reminded of a fun story about her. Back in the nineties when I worked for Star Magazine I got a late-night call from a security guy in the lobby of an expensive NY hotel. After a certain time, visitors were not allowed to go upstairs unless the person registered to the room came DOWN to the lobby to get them.  Robert De Niro was loudly complaining in the lobby because he would not reveal WHO he was visiting so that person could come down and get him. He made quite an awful  SCENE griping about the hotel rules  (“Do you know who I AM?) and threatening, but they REFUSED to let him go upstairs alone. The amused security guard called me  and told me everything as it was happening. FINALLY, De Niro gave in, and the person he was late-night visiting was called and came down to get him. It was his Mistress costar Sheryl Lee Ralph. They went up in the elevator together and I couldn’t WAIT to write about his tantrum and their tryst. When Star lawyers contacted De Niro about the story he denied everything, called everyone liars, and threatened to SUE. So the story was killed. But a year or so late I ran into the delightful Sheryl Lee Ralph at an E! Channel event and she laughed and admitted the story was all true. She apparently has a better sense of humor than De Niro…