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40 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com What was once a chance encounter on a movie set became a whirlwind marriage that put vows like richer or poorer and in sickness and in health to the test. Married more than 30 years, college sweethearts Larry and Lorraine Ziff built two successful careers and raised two sons, while dealing with multiple cancer diagnoses. One thing that hasn't changed is their dedication and devotion to each other and their family. Lorraine, a successful actress and voiceover artist, is in high demand on movie and television sets in New York and Los Angeles. Larry is the founder of the Ziff Agency, an independent life insurance provider who provides personal representation with his clients around the country by working with multiple insurance companies. He is recognized as an innovator as one of the first people to bring life insurance into the banking industry, something that is standard today. This is a couple – and family - that works together. While the bright lights and glitterati of Hollywood call, Lorraine has worked alongside her son, Matthew, 24, also an actor. Oldest son Adam, 26, works alongside Larry in the family insurance business. While acting and insurance may be their business, giving back to others is at the heart and soul of this couple. The Ziffs are also very prominent in the local philanthropic community. Here, in their own words, the Ziffs share the moment when they first met, the struggles they endured and the lessons they passed down to their sons on how to build a successful marriage. How did you first time you met? She Said During my second year of college, I went on an open call audition for a new movie called "The Muppets Take Manhattan." Both of us were chosen, and Larry and I met for the first time on the movie set. His friend was actually talking to me but I wasn't interested. I did like Larry, so I went around this group of people to get in front of him. I turned to him and said, "Are you following me?" He said, "Well I am now." He Said Lorraine was just absolutely breathtaking and stunning. I looked at her and I didn't know what to say. She was very forward. She Said I said to myself, "If this guy doesn't come over to talk to me, I am so out of here." His pick-up line to me was, "You have really nice teeth." (laughs) How soon was your first date and how did it go? He Said She gave me her phone number and I think I gave her mine, but she wouldn't take it. I went home and put the little piece of paper with her number on my bedroom dresser. For a couple of days, I couldn't find her phone number to ask her out on a date. Turns out when our cleaning lady was dusting, the piece of paper fell behind my dresser and I didn't know it. When I couldn't find her number after three days, I called the casting director of the movie and he gave me her number. I frantically called Lorraine that day, and she said to me, "Well, what happened? You didn't call me for the last three days." She Said He showed up at my house that night wearing a white tank top and shorts. His van had black fur inside and when the sliding door opened, there was a bed in there. My mother refused to let me go. She grabbed my arm and said, "You're not going anywhere." I told her, "You're going to embarrass me," to which she replied, "be home early." We went out on his friend's boat up and down the Hudson River. I fell in love with him that night. We ended up spending hours talking in a restaurant afterwards. Tell me about how those early years of your marriage and how both of you balanced careers and starting a family. He Said Lorraine went to law school in California and became a paralegal and opened her own business. I decided to go into the life insurance business, but I created the concept of being an independent insurance broker, representing every company and product available. She Said That's how we've been able to work. When we were in California after law school and while I opened my business it was great. When I got pregnant, Isaid we're not raising the kids in California, so we moved back to the TriState area. While the kids were young, I continued with my She Said HE SAID Larry and Lorraine Ziff Owner, Ziff Agency & Actress and Voiceover Artist Sarasota

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