Behind The Laughter, Hidden Tears is the autobiography of Sal Richards, an entertainer, actor and comedian. He reveals how tears can be hidden behind laughter. From a young age his dream was to entertain. When he left school, he found mediocre jobs to pay the bills as he worked toward a career in the entertainment world. He managed to survive the business for fifty years. He shares the goodness of his marriage, which is still strong today. He also shares the hard times, such as the death of their first born at birth and his second son at the age of 21, and the struggle of dealing with a son’s drug addiction. He and his wife have faced things that have destroyed many marriages. With determination and a love for his wife and family, they pulled together and faced the tragedies.

He shares the struggles of his career choice and tales of those he worked with. The pictorial section of this book brings this family to life on the pages. You can see the love shining on his face, love for his family and his career. He held tightly to the motto: “The Show Must Go On.” Even when his body was broken and he had tears inside, he hid it with laughter.

This is a small book with very short chapters that can be read in one sitting. It’s a very enjoyable read that goes to show you can triumph over tragedy and keep on going.