(CNN) -- Ask Gavin MacLeod about virtually anybody, and he'll have something nice to say. Cary Grant? "To look like him for 10 minutes." Gregory Peck? "What a gentleman." Frank Sinatra? "One of the great moments of my life, getting to shake that man's hand." Except Bette Davis. Oh, MacLeod's not angry. But in his new memoir, "This Is Your Captain Speaking" (written with Mark Dagostino and out Tuesday ), he has an amusing story about inviting Davis to dinner during the height of his early '80s "Love Boat" fame. The Hollywood grande dame proved to be less than a gracious guest.
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Gavin MacLeod has new memoir, "This Is Your Captain Speaking"
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MacLeod spent years as character actor before he found TV stardom
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He was originally supposed to play Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"
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"Love Boat's" Capt. Stubing was originally tougher; character later softened
MacLeod: @placeholder was wonderful, but I wouldn't believe myself in that role.