The music, movie stars and murder trial that shaped actor Griffin Dunne

Griffin Dunne was a Hollywood insider long before he became the successful actor he is today – in fact, he might not have survived childhood if Sean Connery hadn’t pulled him from the bottom of a pool. But Griffin’s story, captured in his memoir The Friday Afternoon Club, is much more than a catalog of celebrity encounters.

In this episode, Griffin opens up about his parents’ divorce, landing his breakout role in An American Werewolf in London, the sudden tragedy that changed his family forever, and the music that has accompanied a life lived in the spotlight’s glare and shadow. Here are his songs:

1. Volver Volver by Vicente Fernandez
2. Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees
3. Nature's Way by Spirit
4. Symphony No. 5: IV. Adagietto. Sehr Iangsam by Gustav Mahler
5. Life During Wartime by Talking Heads
6. Sailing by Christopher Cross
7. Cortez the Killer by Crazy Horse and Neil Young

Listen to Griffin Dunne’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at ⁠lifeinsevensongs.com⁠. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ⁠lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com⁠.