Royal Oak Funny Man Interviewed for Film on Aging

How old is old?

This is the question Mark Ridley, owner of Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, attempts to answer in filmmaker Keith Famie's upcoming documentary The Embrace of Aging.

On Saturday, hundreds will gather at the Shriners Silver Garden Event Center in Southfield to gain advice on growing old from Ridley and many others at the documentary's premiere. 

The film is part of a three-part series. The first part features the male perspective on aging, the second part will feature the female perspective, and part three will focus on death.

Staying one step ahead of the Grim Reaper

“I try not to fall off my bike.  That's how I deal with aging,” joked Ridley, who at 62 exercises every day. "I am just trying to stay one step ahead of the Grim Reaper."

No stranger to comedy and entertainment, joking you have to pay a cover charge to attend one of his family reunions, Ridley spent a couple of hours at his club talking to Famie about the role humor plays in aging. 

"I think it's a medical fact that laughter causes an increase in endorphins," Ridley said. "The young comedians come to me for advice, like I am Yoda. But, watching them and laughing—it keeps your mind sharp." 

Famie in Royal Oak

Ridley has known Famie for years. When he moved the Comedy Castle from Berkley to Royal Oak in 1991, Famie was already a rising star in town. Famie opened Les Auteur an American Bistro downtown on Sherman Drive in 1988.

In 1989, Food & Wine Magazine named him one of the “Best New Ten Chefs of the Year.” In the same year, Esquire Magazine named Les Auteur one of the "Best New Restaurants" in the country, according to Famie's website.

Famie was also a contestant on television program Survivor II on CBS in 2001.

These days Famie is a 10-time Michigan Emmy award-winning director/producer. 

He has shot more than 100 hours of film for the two-hour documentary, which takes a look at the latest progressive teachings; well-known medical universities; and the advice of health gurus, spiritual leaders, psychologists and men of all walks of life from vastly different environments, all facing the inevitability of growing old.

The film features one Florida man as he deals with his terminal cancer, a group of senior softball players in Michigan, and centenarians in Italy, among others.

"The goal is that it becomes a film that every guy has to see," Famie told Novi Patch in October.  He said the film is a mix of very serious content and lighthearted content. 

In addition to Saturday’s premiere, The Embrace of Aging will be shown at the Emagine Theatre, on PBS and at other venues. Dates will be announced later.

To learn more about the film visit embraceofaging.com.

If you go 

The Embrace of Aging premieres Saturday at the Shriners Silver Garden Event Center, located 24350 Southfield Rd. in Southfield.

Tickets for the premiere are available for $75 each. Contact Visionalist Entertainment Productions at 248-869-0096.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

The event will highlight the important work of the Bo Schembechler: Heart of a Champion Research Fund and Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan.