Heidi does 'Larry King Live'

September 2, 1995

[King and Fleiss] NEW YORK (CNN) -- Heidi Fleiss has became a household name over the past couple of years, and not because she wore pig tails and herded goats. This Heidi catered to Hollywood's more sensual appetites through her exclusive escort service, cheated on her taxes and got caught. But through it all, Fleiss has weathered the storm fairly well. To some, she's shown character. To others, she's the Hollywood madam who deserves to go to jail.

Fleiss handled some tough questions as she sat in the hot seat on CNN's 'Larry King Live' Saturday night. She recounted a recent event where a man jumped off a pier near her home, with his hands handcuffed behind his back, attempting to commit suicide. Fleiss' call to 911 helped save the man's life.

But she had a hard time convincing the dispatcher that she was, indeed, Heidi Fleiss.

FLEISS: It's really frustrating when you call 911 and you hear someone screaming (in the background) and the operator says, "What's your name?"

KING: Did you say Heidi Fleiss?

FLEISS: Yeah!

KING: Did they say, 'gag?'

FLEISS: I don't know... don't know if she knew it was real or not. Because I sent Bruce (Fleiss' friend who is a doctor) down there and I took the phone ... told him to get down there! She probably thought it was a drunken couple playing 911. But I said, "No! This is Heidi Fleiss. We need help now!"

KING: Did everyone watch (as they pulled the man from the water)?

FLEISS: It was hard for me because of everyone watching. If those doctors hadn't been there, I don't know what I would have done. If I had of jumped in, then I would have been the one to drown, with my luck. (The man survived)

KING: How did it make you feel to be involved? I mean, like a day later?

FLEISS: It feels so good to get some good publicity and do something good. It felt so good because I can identify with the guy and being depressed and just your future looking so bleak.

KING: Have you ever thought of doing something like that?

FLEISS: Of course I have. I can't lie to you.

KING: You've thought of killing yourself?

FLEISS: I've thought of jumping off that same pier!

Later, King asked her if she would ever give the names of some of her famous clients.

FLEISS: I really don't. I'm not the type that wants to ruin anyone's life. Some things are just private. Some things should always be private. It's just the way it should be. (102k aiff sound)

KING: We would be shocked, though? Can we say that?

FLEISS: Oh, absolutely. Everyone knows that, you don't need me to say that.

He also asked her about the now infamous Hugh Grant incident involving a prostitute on Sunset Boulevard. Grant and the prostitute, Divine Brown, were arrested and charged with committing a lewd act.

KING: What did you make of the Hugh Grant incident?

FLEISS: It goes to show that prostitution, the john, it'll never go away. At the time of the Hugh Grant thing I was in the middle of my trial and I must of gotten 300 phone calls when I got home that day about Hugh Grant. I'm like, like I really care about Hugh Grant! Here I am, on trial for my life ... won't be out of jail until I'm 40 and people want to know about him getting head in car -- excuse my language -- about whatever went on in a car! I really could care less at the moment about it. To me... she probably needed the money to feed her kids or something and he probably wanted a little bit of pleasure. Big deal. (765k aiff sound)

Heidi does 'Larry King Live'

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