A Tribute to Judith Bilek Drake: A Remarkable and Beloved Tomato
On May 31st the planet lost a magnificent life force. My dear friend Judith Bilek Drake passed away from Pancreatic Cancer unbeknownst to the majority of her friends. She was a one-of-a-kind dynamo with a huge talent and compassionate heart. Hearing of her passing the next day was a gut punch…a total shock…that rendered me speechless, not just because I didn’t know she was sick even though I had communicated with her a couple months prior, but because her spirit and her soul were so beautifully big. As I struggle to find the right words now to praise and celebrate all that Judy was to her friends and to the world, I know this will be long for a Facebook post. And despite my being long winded there are not enough words to do justice to who Judith was.
She was one strong minded and indomitable dame. That is who Judith Drake was. At the same time, she was so adorable, funny, full of surprises and so yet seemed so sturdy. Like a beautiful tree that can withstand any wind. Judith brought me lots of giggles and just seeing her face tickled me so. That cute cheerful face just made me happy even when she frustrated me or was crotchety. So, I called her Judy Patootie. Her cheeks were always rosy, and I always thought she would have made the very best Mrs. Claus bossing Santa Claus and the elves around. Hell, she should have been Santa Claus. She would have whipped those elves into shape. The day I found out she was gone, my family gave her a big toast with our drinks at dinner and, more importantly, I devoured a huge dessert in her honor. In all the years Judy and I ate out together, Judy would never leave without having dessert. Preferably a something chocolate. Judy had a huge heart especially for animals and she always talked about the cat she had had for many years whom she just could never find it in her to replace with another cat. So, she lived vicariously through her friends’ pets and helping the homeless pets. She loved her Tai Chi class and swimming at the YMCA. Judy was a wonderful wife to Charles, her hubby-the love of her life, and she showed her deep love for him in her profound and tireless dedication to being his devoted and committed caregiver. And for those who are wondering, Charles is now in the safe care of his family.
Before I end, I have to mention the other love of Judy’s life… her passion for acting. Judith Drake was an incredibly talented actress who took the pursuit of her acting career and making a good living as an actress to a whole other level. A level I could never achieve because she was fearless and driven and that never stopped. I know she was still working in 2021. Judith was the consummate professional actress who never missed a step. Actors just starting out could have learned a thing or two or more from Judy. Her face was so alive, and her spirit was so wonderfully full that she could and would steal every scene she was in without uttering a word. Just by being Judy she would steal the show and that made her a star in my book. My dear friend Judith Drake stole my heart so many years ago and the hearts of all that knew her. Her life deserves remembrance and celebration so please send a loving thought her way in the big stage in the sky. I know she is star shining brilliantly in the heavens.
Love you and Miss you Judy.
The Three Tomatoes LA Life editor, Debbie Zipp is your friendly guide to the best of everything in LA with a tomato style perspective. Debbie is an actor, producer, and writer. She is best known for her recurring role as Donna on the CBS series "Murder She Wrote" starring Angela Lansbury. She has had many other TV and stage roles and has starred in over 300 national TV commercials. As head of In The Trenches Productions, Debbie produced, directed, acted in many short films for her company. Her book, The Aspiring Actor's Handbook: What Seasoned Actors Wish They Had Known was recently published.
Buy her book: The Aspiring Actor's Handbook: What Seasoned Actors Wish They Had Known
I’M RESPONDING TO DEBBIE ZIPP’S PIECE ON JUDY DRAKE. I KNEW JUDY (AND CHARLES) GOING BACK TO EARLY 80’s MANHATTAN WHERE WE BOTH WORKED FOR A MARKET RESEARCH COMPANY, SHE PART TIME SO SHE COULD PURSUE HER CAREER. ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND, LATER WIFE, ATTENDED NUMEROUS PARTIES AT HER CHELSEA APT. I LEFT NEW YORK 1990 (FOR SANTA FE, NM)…NOT SURE IF THE DRAKE-BILEKS HAD RELOCATED TO L.A. (WHERE I WAS BORN) BEFORE OR AFTER. MUST HAVE BEEN AFTER BECAUSE I WAS SURPRISED BY THE MOVE AS THEY HAD SO MANY FRIENDS IN NYC. BUT WE STAYED IN TOUCH VIA EMAIL. I ALWAYS ENJOYED AND LOOKED FORWARD TO THE JAQUI LAWSON E-CARDS SHE SENT MY FAMILY (AND OTHERS) ON CERTAIN HOLDAYS. WHEN I STOPPED GETTING THEM, AND RESPONSES TO MY LAST EMAILS ABOUT (ABOUT THE DODGERS — THEY WERE HUGE MLB FANS, THE METS IN NY, DODGERS IN L.A. (BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN A BROOKLYN FAN GROWING UP IN TULSA). I’M QUITE BEREFT SHE’S NOT WITH US ANYMORE AND THAT SHE HADNT SHARED HER CONDITION…BUT THEN I PROBABLY WOULDNT EITHER IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. INTERESTINGLY IT SEEMS SHE WORKED RIGHT UP TO THE END ALMOST. ANYHOW IM SO GLAD I WAS ABLE TO FIND YOUR APPRECIATION OF HER ONLINE…IT REALLY MEANS A LOT. I HAD EMAILED SAG A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFO ABOUT HER. I LEARNED ABOUT HER PASSING FROM A BRIEF MENTION ON THE IMBd WEB SITE… REGARDS ~ CHARLES YOUNG
HELLO AGAIN: JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I VISITED JUDY A COUPLE OF TIMES IN L.A. IT WAS SO GREAT SEEING HER AGAIN AFTER LEAVING NEW YORK CITY. I EMAILED HER FROM TULSA WHEN I PASSED THROUGH THERE MARCH ’22. SHE EMAILED BACK “WAVE TO TULSA FOR ME!” AND THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW ‘BEISBOL’ SEASON. THAT WAS THE LAST I HEARD FROM HER. SO STRANGE TO LEARN SHE HAD ONLY A COUPLE MORE MONTHS TO LIVE AT THAT TIME. ALSO GOOD TO KNOW CHARLES IS BEING CARED FOR. YOU KNOW SHE ALMOST BECAME A ‘CHARACTER’ ON SEINFELD, AS ‘NEWMAN’S’ MOTHER. BUT THEY WOUND UP ONLY USING A FRAMED PHOTO OF HER ON A TABLE IN NEWMAN’S APARTMENT (SEASON 7, EPISODE 21/22). WELL, THANKS AGAIN… Charles Young