About
"I'd like to be remembered as someone who led their life fully. Not just in one area, but someone who lived her days with enthusiasm and curiosity. I think if you have curiosity and you live with enthusiasm, you have a life better than any star you know could possibly dream of having."
In her nearly two-and-a-half-hour interview, Barbara Feldon speaks about her early interests in both acting and ballet, and chronicles her time at Carnegie Tech Drama School (now Carnegie Mellon). She discusses her appearance on The $64,000 Question, as a Shakespeare expert, and recalls several of her earliest appearances on television - on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and East Side/West Side. Feldon then details the role and series for which she is most associated, that of "Agent 99" on Get Smart. She describes her character, gives her impressions of her co-stars and show creators Buck Henry and Mel Brooks and relates several production stories. She talks of her work in later series including Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, Cheers, and Mad About You and comments on some of her feature films, including Michael Ritchie's Smile. Feldon also expresses her love of writing and describes poetry and prose projects on which she's worked. Jim Colucci conducted the interview on October 22, 2007 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Barbara Feldon on the character "99" she played on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on what Don Adams brought to "Maxwell Smart"
Barbara Feldon on the social agenda behind Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on her book of essays Living Alone and Loving It and her love of writing
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart catchphrases
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early years and influences; on her mother's musical talent; on her early interest in acting; on studying ballet
On attending Carnegie Tech Drama School (now Carnegie Mellon) and focusing on drama rather than ballet; on doing Summer Stock in Pennsylvania; on meeting Colleen Dewhurst; on moving to New York and living in the Bronx, then moving to Greenwich Village; on dancing at the Copacabana; on getting a bit part in a Sidney Lumet play
On being a contestant on The $64,000 Question and studying Shakespeare to become an "expert"
Chapter 2
On her appearance on the $64,000 Question -- around the time of the Quiz show scandals; on changing her name to Barbara Feldon; on disappointing roles for women; on her start in modeling and traveling to Paris
On the commercial she did for Revlon for Top Brass where she growls like a tiger; on other commercial work; on getting a role on East Side/West Side
On her part in Mr. Broadway; on initially turning down the pilot of Get Smart; on not watching much television; on guest starring on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
On the character "99" she played on Get Smart; on the premise and subtext of Get Smart - a satire about the world of political espionage
Chapter 3
On co-starring in Get Smart; on her Get Smart character, "99"; on working with Don Adams; on Get Smart catchphrases; on her Get Smart co-stars, and co-creators Buck Henry and Mel Brooks
On Get Smart showrunner Leonard Stern, director Jay Sandrich, and recurring actors on Get Smart; on Get Smart writer/performer Bill Dana; on the writing staff
On production of Get Smart; on Don Adams never rehearsing and having a wonderful memory; on her favorite episodes of Get Smart
Chapter 4
On the gadgets on Get Smart; on fan mail she received; on Get Smart switching from NBC to CBS after the 4th season and ending after 5 seasons; on reuniting with Don Adams for the TV movie Get Smart Again and remakes of the series
On her first movie, Fitzwilly; on the legacy of Get Smart; on being typecast from the show
On appearing on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; on appearing on television variety shows; on hosting syndicated show Special Edition; on the film Smile; on hosting The '80s Woman
On appearing in television movies Sooner or Later, A Guide for the Married Woman, A Vacation in Hell, Children of Divorce, and The Unforgivable Secret
Chapter 5
On the TV movie Before and After; on guest roles on Cheers and Mad About You; on her love writing poetry and reading to people; on then-current projects and her book of essays Living Alone and Loving It and her love of writing; on voiceover work
On her career achievements and regrets; on her advice to aspiring actors; on how she would like to be remembered
Shows
$64,000 Question
Barbara Feldon on being a contestant on The $64,000 Question
Barbara Feldon on her appearance on the $64,000 Question -- around the time of the Quiz show scandals
Cheers
Barbara Feldon on her guest appearance on Cheers
Dean Martin Show, The
Barbara Feldon on appearing on variety shows
East Side/West Side
Barbara Feldon on getting a role on East Side/West Side
Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on initially turning down the pilot of Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on the character "99" she played on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on the premise and subtext of Get Smart - a satire about the world of political espionage
Barbara Feldon on the social agenda behind Get Smart and what people say when they recognize her from the show
Barbara Feldon on her Get Smart character, "99", Don Adams, and the actors and writers of Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on production of Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on specific episodes of Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on some of the props on the show Get Smart; on the final season of the show and reuniting with Don for TV movies and remakes of the series
Barbara Feldon on the legacy of Get Smart and being typecast from the show
Mad About You
Barbara Feldon on her guest appearance on Mad About You
Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
Barbara Feldon on guest starring on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Barbara Feldon on appearing on the first five episodes of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The
Barbara Feldon on appearing on variety shows
Special Edition
Barbara Feldon on hosting syndicated show Special Edition
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Barbara Feldon on the character "99" she played on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on her Get Smart character, "99"
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart catchphrases
Quiz Show Scandals
Barbara Feldon on her appearance on the $64,000 Question -- around the time of the Quiz show scandals
Women
Barbara Feldon on her Get Smart character, "99"
Barbara Feldon on hosting The '80s Woman which focused on women's issues
Professions
Actress
Barbara Feldon on her early interest in acting
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Barbara Feldon on the premise and subtext of Get Smart - a satire about the world of political espionage
Comedy Series
Barbara Feldon on the premise and subtext of Get Smart - a satire about the world of political espionage
Barbara Feldon on the social agenda behind Get Smart, stars, writers, and production of the show
Barbara Feldon on some of the props on the show Get Smart; on the final season of the show and reuniting with Don for TV movies and remakes of the series
Commercials
Barbara Feldon on the commercial she did for Revlon for Top Brass where she growls like a tiger
People
Don Adams
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart co-star Don Adams
Barbara Feldon on her Get Smart co-star, Don Adams
Barbara Feldon on the Get Smart writing team
Barbara Feldon on Don Adams never rehearsing on Get Smart and having a wonderful memory
Barbara Feldon on reuniting with Don Adams for the 1989 TV movie Get Smart Again and remakes of the series
Mel Brooks
Barbara Feldon on the subtext of Get Smart - a satire about the world of political espionage
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart co-creators Buck Henry and Mel Brooks
Bill Dana
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart writer/performer Bill Dana
Colleen Dewhurst
Barbara Feldon on meeting Colleen Dewhurst
Barbara Feldon on getting a bit part in a Sidney Lumet play
Barbara Feldon on getting a role on East Side/West Side
Patty Duke
Barbara Feldon on the TV movie Before and After with Patty Duke
Jimmy Durante
Barbara Feldon on dancing at the Copacabana with Jimmy Durante
Larry Hagman
Barbara Feldon on a TV movie with Larry Hagman
Buck Henry
Barbara Feldon on the subtext of Get Smart - a satire about the world of political espionage
Barbara Feldon on the social agenda behind Get Smart; the effect of comedy on serious issues
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart co-creators Buck Henry and Mel Brooks
Bernie Kopell
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart recurring actors
Sidney Lumet
Barbara Feldon on getting a bit part in a Sidney Lumet play
Edward Platt
Barbara Feldon on her Get Smart co-star, Edward Platt
Cesar Romero
Barbara Feldon on guest starring on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Jay Sandrich
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart director Jay Sandrich
George Schlatter
Barbara Feldon on appearing on the first five episodes of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George C. Scott
Barbara Feldon on getting a role on East Side/West Side
Leonard Stern
Barbara Feldon on Get Smart showrunner Leonard Stern
Bob Stewart
Barbara Feldon on hosting The '80s Woman which focused on women's issues