Chaucer’s Books will host actor and author Russ Tamblyn for a book talk and signing of his memoir “Dancing on the Edge: A Journey of Living, Loving, and Tumbling Through Hollywood.” Tamblyn will be in conversation with his co-author on the book, Sarah Tomlinson, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb 27 at 3321 State St., Santa Barbara.

With more than 80 years as a celebrated artist and actor under his belt, Tamblyn is known to film and pop culture fans alike, working with such legendary directors as Robert Wise, David Lynch, and Quentin Tarantino.

Acclaimed for his starring role in the original West Side Story as an actor and acrobatic dancer, Tamblyn taught Elvis Presley some signature dance moves, and became an unlikely visionary in the counterculture movement of the ’60s, alongside peers and friends Henry Miller and Dennis Hopper.
 
In his book, Tamblyn guides readers through his star-studded life and his search for a deeper, more connected existence: attending school with Elizabeth Taylor; earning an Academy Award nomination for “Peyton Place;” dropping out of Hollywood at the height of his career to become a fine artist in Topanga Canyon; and forging a lifelong friendship with Neil Young.

He shares the painful breakup of a 20-year marriage and the joy of finding true love and inspiration as a husband, father, and mentor in his own right.