RA: From NY police officer to bodyguard to the stars, to film producer. You have lived many lives in your lifetime. Did you find that there was a commonality among these different professions?
SS: Well over the years I’ve had a very Forrest Gumpian type of life, where I’ve always been at the right place, at the right time. I was working [security] one night in Chippendales, and this guy came up to me and asked me to come back to his penthouse to dance for these girls. At first, I blew him off, then told him I’m a cop, but he insisted. So, I eventually go, and I dance for these girls. As I’m leaving, he tells me Leonardo DiCaprio stays with him when he comes to New York. He asked if I would be interested in working security for him. I’m like “okay, call me.” The very next day, he called me to tell me Leo wanted to meet me at 8pm. I was working a bachelorette party that night and ended up getting there at 9:30. Leo is there waiting, and again I have no aspirations to be in the movie business. He just did Titanic, so he was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood at the time. But while speaking, he found out I tore my ACL and wanted to see my scar because he also tore his ACL on Basketball Diaries. I of course agreed, [showed him the scar] and just like that I was in.
