"My mother used to say to me, 'the most wonderful pillow that you can ever sleep on is the one that's filled with beautiful memories.' That's what I have. I go to sleep with beautiful memories."

    About This Interview

    In his hour-and-a-half interview, Al Lewis (1910-2006) talks about his career as a traveling medicine salesman and working at various radio stations. He discusses his early career in television and the types of characters he played, and shares a very memorable experience eating lunch with John Wayne on the lot at Universal. He recalls his time on the classic sitcom, Car 54, Where Are You? as "Officer Leo Schnauser." He talks about co-stars Fred Gwynne, Charlotte Rae, and Joe E. Ross, and speaks of various character roles he played throughout his career, including his part in the Academy Award-winning feature film, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? with Gig Young and Jane Fonda. He recalls his iconic role as "Grandpa" on The Munsters, again starring with Gwynne, along with Yvonne DeCarlo, Butch Patrick and Beverly Owen. He concludes by summing up his career and offering advice to aspiring actors. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 25, 2002 at the New York Palace Hotel in New York, NY. 

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
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    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences

    15:23

    On his early career in radio and television; on dealing with agents; on the types of characters he played early in his career

    12:29

    Chapter 2

    On meeting John Wayne (contd.) and his views on acting careers; on being cast as "Officer Leo Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    16:09

    On guest-starring on Lost in Space; on working with Nat Hiken, creator of Car 54, Where Are You?  and being a professional; on the cast of Car 54, Where Are You?

    13:53

    Chapter 3

    On his feelings on the series Car 54, Where Are You?;  on being cast as "Grandpa" on and filming the presentation for The Munsters;  on the makeup process for The Munsters

    14:24

    On working with the cast of The Munsters and his favorite memories from the show; on his post-Munsters career and advice to aspiring actors

    16:03

    Chapter 4

    On advice to aspiring actors, (contd.)

    02:18

    Car 54, Where Are You?

    Al Lewis on being cast as "Officer Leo Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    03:40

    Al Lewis on his Car 54, Where Are You? character, "Officer Leo Schnauser" and acting on the show

    03:18

    Al Lewis on working with Nat Hiken, creator of Car 54, Where Are You? and being a professional

    01:39

    Al Lewis on his Car 54, Where Are You? co-stars 

    01:23

    Al Lewis on working with Fred Gwynne as "Officer Francis Muldoon" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    01:06

    Al Lewis on working with Joe E. Ross as "Officer Gunther Toody" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    04:35

    Al Lewis on his feelings on the series Car 54, Where Are You?

    04:36

    Lost in Space

    Al Lewis on guest-starring on Lost in Space

    05:03

    Munsters, The

    Al Lewis on being cast as "Grandpa" on and filming the presentation for The Munsters

    03:20

    Al Lewis on his acting process and being a professional

    04:12

    Al Lewis on the makeup process for The Munsters

    02:07

    Al Lewis on working with Yvonne DeCarlo as "Lily Munster" on The Munsters  and the longevity of the show

    04:54

    Al Lewis on his favorite memories of The Munsters and working with Fred Gwynne and Charlotte Rae

    02:38

    Advice

    Al Lewis on advice to an aspiring actor

    05:23

    Television Industry

    Al Lewis on advice to an aspiring actor

    05:23

    Actor

    Al Lewis on meeting John Wayne at the Universal commissary and his views on acting careers

    09:05

    Al Lewis on his acting process and being a professional

    04:12

    Al Lewis on advice to an aspiring actor

    05:23

    Performers

    Al Lewis on meeting John Wayne at the Universal commissary and his views on acting careers

    09:05

    Al Lewis on his acting process and being a professional

    04:12

    Al Lewis on advice to an aspiring actor

    05:23

    Comedy Series

    Al Lewis on playing "Officer Leo Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    20:51

    Al Lewis on playing "Officer Leo Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You? (Part 2)

    04:36

    Al Lewis on playing "Grandpa" on The Munsters

    17:19

    Yvonne DeCarlo

    Al Lewis on working with Yvonne DeCarlo as "Lily Munster" on The Munsters  and the longevity of the show

    04:54

    Fred Gwynne

    Al Lewis on working with Fred Gwynne as "Officer Francis Muldoon" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    01:07

    Al Lewis on being cast as "Grandpa" on and filming the presentation for The Munsters

    03:20

    Al Lewis on his favorite memories of The Munsters and working with Fred Gwynne and Charlotte Rae

    02:38

    Nat Hiken

    Al Lewis on working with Nat Hiken, creator of Car 54, Where Are You? and being a professional

    01:38

    Charlotte Rae

    Al Lewis on his favorite memories of The Munsters and working with Fred Gwynne and Charlotte Rae

    02:38

    Joe E. Ross

    Al Lewis on working with Joe E. Ross as "Officer Gunther Toody" on Car 54, Where Are You?

    04:35

    John Wayne

    Al Lewis on running into John Wayne at the Universal commissary

    03:15

    Al Lewis on meeting John Wayne at the Universal commissary and Lewis' views on acting careers

    09:05

    Gig Young

    Al Lewis on his acting process and being a professional 

    04:12

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