Nearby Sandy Springs: Steve Guttenberg at MJCCA, Thursday

Steve Guttenberg, the actor in Diner, Cocoon, and Police Academy, will be speaking at the Marcus Jewish Community Center Thursday as part of their "A Page From the Book Festival" series.

The event starts at 7:30 p.m., today. Guttenberg will discuss his new book "The Guttenberg Bible," described as a humorous and insightful memoir about life as an actor in Hollywood.

The event with Guttenberg will be in a conversation format with Conn Jackson, host and producer of the local "Conn Jackson Show." A book signing will immediately follow the event.

Tickets are on sale now, and a reservation is recommended by the community center. Call 678-812-4005 or www.atlantajcc.org. You can also contact Lora Sommer at 678.812.4078 or at lora.sommer@atlantajcc.org.

Member tickets are $8 and non-member tickets are $13.

About the book: Guttenberg was inspired to go to Hollywood because his godfather was a voice-over actor who drove flashy cars and always had a beautiful girl on his arm.

His career start was not encouraging; the Long Island native was told he didn't have the look, the name or the talent to ever be successful in the business. He didn't listen, like many other times in his life.

He worked with Sir Laurence Olivier and Mickey Rourke on the way to acting, performing as a comedian, a director and a producer. The book is described as an unguarded and sympathetic look at the Hollywood life.