ABSTRACT
The late Herb Caen continues to get credit for coining the name “Male Actress” for Charles Pierce, but the truth is that Charles gave that title to himself. He used it first when he appeared as “Helen” in the play Geese, and then again as “Margo Channing” in the musical Applause. Charles phoned Caen and told him that he, Charles Pierce, was playing “real women” at last, and that he was now a “Male Actress.” Of course, Herb printed the bit in his column, but didn’t give Charles credit for the clever name.
