{"id":5376647,"date":"2023-10-17T13:31:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T13:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/?p=5376647"},"modified":"2023-10-17T13:32:09","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T13:32:09","slug":"insiders-view-life-goes-backstage-with-the-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/insiders-view-life-goes-backstage-with-the-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"Insider&#8217;s View: LIFE Goes Backstage with the Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In this collection of backstage pictures captured by LIFE photographers over the years, there&#8217;s a great variety of stars in all kinds of situations. But the recurring themes are those of intimacy and surprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some moments are beautiful because they are quiet, like the glimpses of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/life-with-grace-kelly-and-prince-rainier-photos-from-the-wedding-of-the-century\/\">Grace Kelly<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/audrey-hepburn-1953\/\">Audrey Hepburn<\/a> before they went on stage together at the Oscars. Or the photo of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/sammy-davis-jr\/\">Sammy Davis Jr<\/a>. eating spaghetti and watching the news on television. Or burlesque star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/history\/striptease-superstar-rare-and-classic-photos-of-gypsy-rose-lee\/\">Gypsy Rose Lee<\/a> sitting at a typewriter while in costume before she performs one of her strip-teases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or consider the photo of the cast of The Honeymooners all sitting and waiting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/behind-the-scenes-jackie-gleasons-great-train-ride\/\">Jackie Gleason<\/a> with his ankle on ice. It&#8217;s funny to see the cast of this all-time great sitcom together without a smile on their faces, or any expression at all, really. Each of these photos their own way feels like a glimpse of reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some photos offer curious juxtapositions, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/life-johnny-cash\/\">Johnny Cash<\/a>, dressed in his trademark black, coming backstage at production of the musical <em>Annie<\/em>. Same with Frank Zappa and his family posing with the cast of Broadway show <em>Cats<\/em>. You can also find unexpected couplings, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/the-many-sides-of-lucille-ball-rare-photos\/\">Lucille Ball<\/a> visiting with Shirley Maclaine in her dressing room, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/james-dean-dennis-stock\/\">James Dean<\/a> helping actress Geraldine Page with her hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also intriguing are the images of stars just before they go onstage. This gallery includes shots of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/more-than-obi-wan-alec-guinness-before-star-wars\/\"> Alec Guinness<\/a> and Albert Finney before they have leapt into character, and singer Paul Anka stretched out across two beds, They are about to cross the bridge from private person to public performer, and give their audiences the performances they came for.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f147774cb\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3683956 desc=\"Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.\" caption=\"Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/10\/150127-allan-grant-19-810x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f114774c9\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4656581 desc=\"Award presenters Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly waiting backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.\" caption=\"Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Award presenters Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly waiting backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2017\/02\/170201-womens-history-sale-03-796x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Award presenters Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly waiting backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Award presenters Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly waiting backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Annual Academy Awards, 1956.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f15d774cc\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3870727 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Sammy Davis Jr. eats spaghetti in his Golden Boy dressing room while watching The Huntley-Brinkley Report news show in 1964. &quot;My only contact with reality,&quot; he told LIFE. &quot;Whatever I&#039;m doing, I stop to watch these guys.&quot; Reflected in the mirror: LIFE photographer Leonard McCombe.\" caption=\"Leonard McCombe\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Sammy Davis Jr. ate spaghetti in his backstage dressing room while watching The Huntley-Brinkley Report news show in 1964. &quot;My only contact with reality,&quot; he told LIFE. &quot;Whatever I&#039;m doing, I stop to watch these guys.&quot; Reflected in the mirror: LIFE photographer Leonard McCombe.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/01\/12-5-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"Sammy Davis Jr. eats spaghetti in his backstage dressing room in Golden Boy. Photographer Leonard McCombe is relected in the mirror.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Sammy Davis Jr. ate spaghetti in his backstage dressing room while watching The Huntley-Brinkley Report news show in 1964. &#8220;My only contact with reality,&#8221; he told LIFE. &#8220;Whatever I&#8217;m doing, I stop to watch these guys.&#8221; Reflected in the mirror: LIFE photographer Leonard McCombe.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Leonard McCombe\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f12d774ca\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3720457 desc=\"Paul Anka, backstage at the Copacabana, 1960.\" caption=\"Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Paul Anka, backstage at the Copacabana, 1960.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/02\/150224-paul-anka-08-1024x677.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Anka, backstage at the Copacabana, 1960.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Paul Anka, backstage at the Copacabana, 1960.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f189774cd\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3659605 desc=\"Albert Finney, who won one Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture   Comedy or Musical in 1971 for Scrooge and one Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in 2003 for The Gathering Storm. Pictured here backstage before performing in the play Luther, 1963.\" caption=\"John Dominis The LIFE  Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Albert Finney backstage during a production of the play Luther, 1963.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/01\/150108-golden-globes-winners-20-1024x753.jpg\" alt=\"Albert Finney in 1963\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Albert Finney backstage during a production of the play Luther, 1963.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">John Dominis The LIFE  Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f1e0774cf\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4835480 desc=\"Elvis Presley tenderly kissing the cheek of a female admirer backstage before his concert, 1956.\" caption=\"Robert W. Kelley The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Elvis Presley tenderly kissing the cheek of a female admirer backstage before his concert, 1956.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2017\/06\/life-kisses-19-644x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Elvis Presley tenderly kissing the cheek of a female admirer backstage before his concert, 1956.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Elvis Presley tenderly kissing the cheek of a female admirer backstage before his concert, 1956.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Robert W. Kelley The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f1ff774d0\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878025 desc=\"Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/27_1152360-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f21d774d1\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3879635 desc=\"Shirley MacLaine backstage on the TV show, Shower of Stars, in 1955.\" caption=\"Loomis Dean The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Shirley MacLaine preparing to perform the TV show &quot;Shower of Stars&quot; in 1955.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/04\/140421-shirley-maclaine-04.jpg\" alt=\"Shirley MacLaine preparing to perform the TV show &quot;Shower of Stars&quot; in 1955.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Shirley MacLaine preparing to perform the TV show &#8220;Shower of Stars&#8221; in 1955.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Loomis Dean The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f23e774d2\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3879642 desc=\"Shirley MacLaine and Lucille Ball backstage during a benefit show for victims of the devastating Isewan Typhoon, 1959.\" caption=\"Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Shirley MacLaine and Lucille Ball backstage during a benefit show for victims of the devastating Isewan typhoon, 1959.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/04\/140421-shirley-maclaine-11-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Shirley MacLaine and Lucille Ball backstage during a benefit show for victims of the devastating Isewan Typhoon, 1959.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Shirley MacLaine and Lucille Ball backstage during a benefit show for victims of the devastating Isewan typhoon, 1959.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f266774d3\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5370687 desc=\"\" caption=\" MICHAEL MAUNEY\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Marcia Diamond (right) watched as her husband Neil clipped their son Jessie&#039;s nails in a dressing room at the Winter Garden Theatre, 1972.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/27141941\/00266638-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Marcia Diamond (right) watched as her husband Neil clipped their son Jessie&#8217;s nails in a dressing room at the Winter Garden Theatre, 1972.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"> MICHAEL MAUNEY\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f27f774d4\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3638221 desc=\"Not published in LIFE. Burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee writes in her dressing room in Memphis, Tenn., 1949.\" caption=\"George Skadding\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee writes in her dressing room in Memphis, Tenn., 1949.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/12\/gypsy-rose-lee-striptease-superstar-11-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Striptease Superstar: Rare and Classic Photos of Gypsy Rose Lee\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee writes in her dressing room in Memphis, Tenn., 1949.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">George Skadding\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f29a774d5\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3683962 desc=\"Bobby Darin in his dressing room, 1959.\" caption=\"Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bobby Darin in his dressing room, 1959.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/10\/150127-allan-grant-24-1024x766.jpg\" alt=\"Bobby Darin in his dressing room, 1959.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bobby Darin in his dressing room, 1959.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f2b4774d6\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3711085 desc=\"Dustin Hoffman in his dressing room for the play (which he also directed), &lt;em&gt;Jimmy Shine&lt;\/em&gt;, New York City, 1969.\" caption=\"John Dominis The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Dustin Hoffman in his dressing room for the play (which he also directed), &lt;em&gt;Jimmy Shine&lt;\/em&gt;, New York City, 1969.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/08\/150216-dustin-hoffman-06-1024x669.jpg\" alt=\"Dustin Hoffman in his dressing room\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Dustin Hoffman in his dressing room for the play (which he also directed), <em>Jimmy Shine<\/em>, New York City, 1969.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">John Dominis The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f0f6774c8\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5371961 desc=\"\" caption=\"Loomis Dean\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Mae West backstage at the Hotel Sahara with one of the co-stars of her Las Vegas show, 1954.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/17173238\/112726315-661x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Mae West backstage at the Hotel Sahara with one of the co-stars of her Las Vegas show, 1954.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Loomis Dean\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f2cd774d7\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3490147 desc=\"James Dean with the great Geraldine Page in her dressing room, New York City, 1955.\" caption=\"Dennis Stock&amp;mdash;Magnum\" title=\"James Dean with the great Geraldine Page in her dressing room, New York City, 1955.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/10\/james-dean-dennis-stock-06-1024x711.jpg\" alt=\"James Dean with the great Geraldine Page in her dressing room, New York City, 1955.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Dean with the great Geraldine Page in her dressing room, New York City, 1955.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Dennis Stock&mdash;Magnum<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f43b774d8\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4598297 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. In her dressing room at 20th Century-Fox studios Betty pulls on black mesh stockings for a scene that will feature the legs.\" caption=\"Walter Sanders The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Betty Grable, in her dressing room at 20th Century-Fox studios, pulled on black mesh stockings for a scene that would feature her famous legs, 1943.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2016\/12\/161212-betty-grable-07-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Betty Grable&#039;s Hollywood landmark legs, 1943.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Betty Grable, in her dressing room at 20th Century-Fox studios, pulled on black mesh stockings for a scene that would feature her famous legs, 1943.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Walter Sanders The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f482774d9\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3763703 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Her four-foot chignon is wound up into three tiers of buns on Miss Baker&#039;s head in dressing room. She brought her French maid over from Paris.\" caption=\"Alfred Eisenstaedt The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Josephine Baker&#039;s four-foot chignon is wound up into three tiers of buns in her dressing room, 1951.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/04\/140330-josephine-baker-07-692x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Josephine Baker during a run on Broadway, New York, 1951\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Josephine Baker&#8217;s four-foot chignon is wound up into three tiers of buns in her dressing room, 1951.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Alfred Eisenstaedt The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527f4cc774da\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4210429 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Swollen ankles which have been soaked in dressing room tub are rested as Gleason rehearses one of Honeymooners skits with Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Andrews.\" caption=\"Leonard McCombe The LIFE Images Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"The Honeymooners cast&mdash;Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Andrews&mdash;in 1954.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2016\/02\/160205-jackie-gleason-04-1024x714.jpg\" alt=\"The Honeymooners actor Jackie Gleason in 1954.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">The Honeymooners cast\u2014Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Andrews\u2014in 1954.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Leonard McCombe The LIFE Images Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527fa06774db\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5376654 desc=\"\" caption=\"Peter Stackpole\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Chorus girls watching the Ed Sullivan television show at the Roxy Movie Theater dressing room, 1958.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/12135235\/00915352-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Chorus girls watching the Ed Sullivan television show at the Roxy Movie Theater dressing room, 1958.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Peter Stackpole\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527fb0d774e1\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5369073 desc=\"\" caption=\"Peter Stackpole\/LIFE Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Alec Guinness put on theatrical makeup at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/25142516\/00982965-696x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Alec Guinness put on theatrical makeup at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Peter Stackpole\/LIFE Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527facf774dc\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5376655 desc=\"\" caption=\"John Florea\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy relaxing in dressing room, waiting for show to begin, 1942.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/12135241\/00568847-1024x781.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy relaxing in dressing room, waiting for show to begin, 1942.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">John Florea\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527fadc774dd\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5376656 desc=\"\" caption=\"Leonard McCombe\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Movie director Vincent Sherman (right) with actor Paul Newman in dressing room reviewing lines for the legal drama The Young Philadelphians, 1958.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/12135250\/00914558-928x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Movie director Vincent Sherman (right) with actor Paul Newman in dressing room reviewing lines for the legal drama The Young Philadelphians, 1958.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Leonard McCombe\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527fae9774de\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5376657 desc=\"\" caption=\"DMI\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Johnny Cash, with stepson John (right), posed with Annie star Alison Smith and Sandy at a Broadway production of musical, 1981.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/12135256\/00991182-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Johnny Cash, with stepson John (right), posed with Annie star Alison Smith and Sandy at a Broadway production of musical, 1981.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">DMI\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6527fb01774e0\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5376659 desc=\"\" caption=\"David Mcgough\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"(Center, left-to-right) Musician Frank Zappa and children Moon Unit and Dweezil visited backstage at the Broadway musical Cats in 1983; the cast included actress Betty Buckley (center, bottom).\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/12135315\/DMI12042-1024x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">(Center, left-to-right) Musician Frank Zappa and children Moon Unit and Dweezil visited backstage at the Broadway musical Cats in 1983; the cast included actress Betty Buckley (center, bottom).<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">David Mcgough\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this collection of backstage pictures captured by LIFE photographers over the years, there&#8217;s a great variety of stars in all kinds of situations. But the recurring themes are those of intimacy and surprise. Some moments are beautiful because they are quiet, like the glimpses of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn before they went on &#8230; <a title=\"Insider&#8217;s View: LIFE Goes Backstage with the Stars\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/insiders-view-life-goes-backstage-with-the-stars\/\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":3619128,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24,28],"tags":[1906,306,352,602,78,695,759,910,961,1437,1481],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.13 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Insider&#039;s View: LIFE Goes Backstage with the Stars - LIFE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/insiders-view-life-goes-backstage-with-the-stars\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Insider&#039;s View: LIFE Goes Backstage with the Stars - LIFE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this collection of backstage pictures captured by LIFE photographers over the years, there&#8217;s a great variety of stars in all kinds of situations. 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