Cheryl Hines, Actress

Hines and her nephew, Michael.

by Michael McLeod

Cheryl Hines may be best known for playing Cheryl, the levelheaded wife to Larry David’s scatterbrained husband in HBO’s long-running Tinseltown spoof, Curb Your Enthusiasm. She’s also attracting attention from her current gig as Dallas, the ditzy, spray-tanned, breast-augmented socialite in the ABC comedy Suburgatory.

But health-care advocates appreciate the multitalented University of Central Florida graduate for another high-profile role: crusader for children.

As a member of the board of trustees of United Cerebral Palsy, the 46-year-old Hines makes yearly trips to Washington, D.C., to lobby legislators for their support. Throughout the rest of the year she appears at charity galas on behalf of UCP chapters across the country. That includes the 19th annual UCP of Central Florida event, which she’ll co-host with comedian and actor Dan Aykroyd on March 10 at Disney’s Buena Vista Palace Hotel.

Several of Hines’ close family members live in Orlando, including her nephew, Michael, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy seven years ago. Neither Hines nor her family knew much about the disease, so she visited the Los Angeles UCP headquarters looking for information and assistance. Impressed, she became active in the organization soon thereafter.

Hines, who sounds just as even-keeled in person as she appears to be in her largely improvisational role in Curb Your Enthusiasm, was on vacation with a friend in Aspen, Colo., where Orlando Home & Leisure caught up with her for a telephone interview.

Q: What have you learned about politicians from your trips to D.C.?
A: They’re often just like everybody else in some respects: Until a disability hits home, they don’t spend much time thinking about it. They don’t think that some day they might have a hearing loss or have trouble walking. But if you sit down and talk to them, get them talking about their family, their family history, you’ll find out they have an uncle with autism, an aunt with something else.
It’s all very complicated. A lot of times it comes down to money. I actually enjoy going into their offices. Apparently my presence does open up a door or two. I was with some other people from UCP on one visit, and we got ushered into a room they hadn’t gotten into. And they said: “Gee. We never got to sit by the fireplace before.”

But you do have to understand that these politicians have a lot on their plates. I’ve learned to be patient, keep an open mind and try to embrace both [political parties]. Although, of course, the frustration is that one party seems more agreeable about our issues than the other.

Q: I see you’ve become a diplomat.
A: (Laughs) You have to be.

Q: How else has your volunteer work changed you?
A: If I have a tough day for myself, I think about a family with a [disabled] child, or even two [disabled] children, and for that family every day is a tough day. I have tough days, yes, but I really don’t have tough days like that.

Something else that has changed me is meeting some very amazing people with disabilities. Now that I’m attuned to the issues, I see it everywhere. I just ran into a disabled guy who had a special ski made so he can get out on the slopes. I’ve been out watching these guys race, and they’re winning; they’re beating some of the skiers who aren’t disabled. And that’s the thing: The technology to help people is getting better and better. It takes time and money, though, and that’s what this [UCP] community is for.

But I think what stands out the most is talking to parents of disabled children who started out feeling very alone and scared, not knowing where to turn. I see what UCP has done for those families. Doing the galas year after year, I see how much families can change during that time; how much joy and happiness they can have with their children that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Q: How is Michael doing?
A: When he was younger, we never would have thought that he would be able to talk. But in the last few years he began to learn just a few words, then complete sentences. Now they’re working him into a motorized wheelchair. My whole family has rallied around Michael.

Q: I think it’s interesting that the role you’re doing now on Suburgatory is so different from your role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Cheryl David is extremely intelligent. She is basically the only sane person in that show. Dallas Royce is – well, let’s just say she’s been compared to the women on those “real housewives” reality shows.

A: Well, she does work very hard at looking good. She just feels like if you look good, you feel good. And yes, she’s a bit superficial. But at the same time, she’s a loyal friend and a good person. She tries to do the right thing. And you know, I’m not knocking this suburb thing. I play tennis, I play croquet, I have a blast – it’s not such a bad life.

Q: Another difference is that you’re able to improvise in Curb Your Enthusiasm. But Suburgatory is more traditional. It’s scripted. Is that an adjustment for you? Do you like one method better than the other?
A: I do have to work on breaking a few habits with a scripted show. But I like it. I like the idea that there is a whole bunch of writers somewhere, working on clever things for my character to say.

Q: Curb Your Enthusiasm is such a remarkable show. Has that been the highlight of your career?
A: I was very, very lucky. It was an amazing opportunity. And my relationship with Larry – I’ll always treasure that. But I’d better not say that out loud, because if he sees it, he’ll just say, “Oh, baloney.”That’s too sentimental for him.

Q: In other words, the real Larry David is pretty much just like the Larry David in that show.
A: Pretty much, yes.