About
"Filming 'The Love Boat' was remarkable because with other shows, you were filming in Hollywood. But when filming 'Love Boat' you could bring your significant other - boyfriends, girlfriends, wives, husbands, children, even some Academy Award winners."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Bernie Kopell talks about his early years, and stars he encountered as a taxi driver in Los Angeles. He describes his first television gig, on The Jack Benny Program, and later appearing on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show. He recounts making several appearances on The Steve Allen Show, and being cast as “Siegfried” on Get Smart. He discusses his time on Get Smart, working with Don Adams, and creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Kopell outlines his role of “Jerry Bauman” on That Girl, starring and executive-produced by Marlo Thomas. He speaks of his long run as “Doc Adam Bricker” on The Love Boat, and details working with the cast and various guest stars, including many Oscar winners. He recalls then-more recent roles on Arrested Development and Hawaii Five-O. Jim Colucci conducted the interview on April 19, 2017 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Bernie Kopell on the popularity of The Love Boat, and on the end of the show
Bernie Kopell on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock
Bernie Kopell on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart, and on his friend Don Rickles
Bernie Kopell on his character, "Doc's," prowess with the ladies on The Love Boat, and on Charo and Tom Hanks guest-starring on the show
Bernie Kopell on favorite Get Smart episodes, and on working with Ted Bessell on That Girl
Bernie Kopell on how he would like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in acting and on getting into the profession
On famous people he encountered while driving a cab in Los Angeles, and on early auditions he went on; on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program; on trying to make a living while pursuing an acting career, and on appearing on the daytime drama The Brighter Day with his friend Harvey Korman
On doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show; on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart
On being fired from The Danny Kaye Show, what he learned from it, and on encountering Kaye later in his career; on appearing on The Steve Allen Show; on favorite sketches and characters of his from The Steve Allen Show
Chapter 2
On getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart, and on his friend Don Rickles; on "Siegfried's" accent on Get Smart, and on his look
On "Siegfried's" relationship with "Maxwell Smart" played by Don Adams on Get Smart, and on show producer Leonard Stern; on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock; on his friendship with Frank Sinatra
On King Moody as "Starker" on Get Smart; on Get Smart co-creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry; on favorite Get Smart episodes; on working with Ted Bessell on That Girl
On participating in Get Smart revivals; on the legacy of Get Smart; on appearing in The Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour
On playing "Jerry Bauman" on That Girl; on working with Marlo Thomas, who played "Ann Marie" on That Girl and was also a producer on the show; on favorite memories of shooting That Girl
On the end of That Girl, and on producer Danny Arnold; on the legacy of That Girl; on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Chapter 3
On his friendship with Frank Sinatra; on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten; on his acting process, his preparation for a given role, and on working with Neil Simon
On the made-for-television movie versions of The Love Boat, which served as pilots, and on Lauren Tewes as "Julie McCoy" on the show; on his Love Boat character's name change from "Dr. O'Neil" to "Doc Adam Bricker," and on playing a sex symbol on the show; on working with several Oscar winning actresses on the show
On being cast as "Doc Adam Bricker" on The Love Boat, and on his experience in the Navy; on working with the cast of The Love Boat; on writing some episodes of the show
On the formula of The Love Boat, and on what his character, "Doc," was like as a doctor; on "Doc's" prowess with the ladies on The Love Boat, and on Charo and Tom Hanks guest-starring on the show
On working with Love Boat producer Aaron Spelling; on The Love Boat theme song; on the popularity of The Love Boat, and on the end of the show
Chapter 4
On guest-starring on Arrested Development; on guest-starring on Hawaii Five-O; on how television has changed since he started
On mentors in his career; on his proudest career achievement, and his regrets; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Arrested Development
Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Arrested Development
Bewitched
Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Brighter Day, The
Bernie Kopell on trying to make a living pursuing an acting career, and on appearing on the daytime drama The Brighter Day with his friend Harvey Korman
Danny Kaye Show, The
Bernie Kopell on being fired from The Danny Kaye Show, what he learned from it, and on encountering Kaye later in his career
Death of a Salesman
Bernie Kopell on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock
Doris Day Show, The
Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show
Flying Nun, The
Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show
Get Smart
Bernie Kopell on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart
Bernie Kopell on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart, and on his friend Don Rickles
Bernie Kopell on "Siegfried's" accent on Get Smart, and on his look
Bernie Kopell on "Siegfried's" relationship with "Maxwell Smart" played by Don Adams on Get Smart, and on show producer Leonard Stern
Bernie Kopell on King Moody as "Starker" on Get Smart
Bernie Kopell on Get Smart co-creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry
Bernie Kopell on favorite Get Smart episodes, and on working with Ted Bessell on That Girl
Bernie Kopell on participating in Get Smart revivals
Bernie Kopell on the legacy of Get Smart
Hawaii Five-O
Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Hawaii Five-O
Jack Benny Program, The
Bernie Kopell on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program
Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour, The
Bernie Kopell on appearing in The Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour
Love Boat, The
Bernie Kopell on the made-for-television movie versions of The Love Boat, which served as pilots, and on Lauren Tewes as "Julie McCoy" on the show
Bernie Kopell on his Love Boat character's name change from "Dr. O'Neil" to "Doc Adam Bricker", and on playing a sex symbol on the show
Bernie Kopell on Shelley Winters guest-starring on The Love Boat
Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat
Bernie Kopell on working with Juliet Prowse on The Love Boat
Bernie Kopell on being cast as "Doc Adam Bricker" on The Love Boat, and on his experience in the Navy
Bernie Kopell on working with Gavin MacLeod as "Captain Merrill Stubing" on The Love Boat
Bernie Kopell on working with Scatman Crothers on The Love Boat, in a script Kopell wrote with Fred Grandy
Bernie Kopell on working with Ted Lange as "Issac 'The Bartender' Washington" on The Love Boat
Bernie Kopell on the formula of The Love Boat, and on what his character, "Doc," was like as a doctor
Bernie Kopell on his character, "Doc's," prowess with the ladies on The Love Boat, and on Charo and Tom Hanks guest-starring on the show
Bernie Kopell on working with Love Boat producer Aaron Spelling
Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song
Bernie Kopell on the popularity of The Love Boat, and on the end of the show
My Favorite Martian
Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show
Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)
Bernie Kopell on appearing on The Steve Allen Show
Bernie Kopell on favorite sketches and characters of his from The Steve Allen Show
That Girl
Bernie Kopell on playing "Jerry Bauman" on That Girl
Bernie Kopell on working with Marlo Thomas, who played "Ann Marie" on That Girl and was also a producer on the show
Bernie Kopell on favorite memories of shooting That Girl
Bernie Kopell on the end of That Girl, and on producer Danny Arnold
Bernie Kopell on the legacy of That Girl
When Things Were Rotten
Bernie Kopell on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Bernie Kopell on his character, "Doc's," prowess with the ladies on The Love Boat, and on Charo and Tom Hanks guest-starring on the show
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Bernie Kopell on mentors in his career
Pivotal Career Moments
Bernie Kopell on mentors in his career
Pop Culture
Bernie Kopell on his character, "Doc's," prowess with the ladies on The Love Boat, and on Charo and Tom Hanks guest-starring on the show
Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song
Television Industry
Bernie Kopell on how television has changed since he started
TV Theme Songs
Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song
Professions
Actor
Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show
Bernie Kopell on his acting process, his preparation for a given role, and on working with Neil Simon
Performers
Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show
Bernie Kopell on his acting process, his preparation for a given role, and on working with Neil Simon
Genres
Comedy Series
Bernie Kopell meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program
Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show
Bernie Kopell on being fired from The Danny Kaye Show, what he learned from it, and on encountering Kaye later in his career
Bernie Kopell on playing "Siegfried" on Get Smart
Bernie Kopell on appearing in The Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour
Bernie Kopell on playing "Jerry Bauman" on That Girl
Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Bernie Kopell on playing "Doc" on The Love Boat
Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Arrested Development
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Hawaii Five-O
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Bernie Kopell on trying to make a living while trying to be an actor, and on appearing on the daytime drama The Brighter Day with his friend Harvey Korman
Talk Shows
Bernie Kopell on appearing on The Steve Allen Show
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Bernie Kopell on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock
People
Don Adams
Bernie Kopell on "Siegfried's" relationship with "Maxwell Smart" played by Don Adams on Get Smart
Steve Allen
Bernie Kopell on appearing on The Steve Allen Show
Danny Arnold
Bernie Kopell on That Girl producer Danny Arnold
William Asher
Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Mel Brooks
Bernie Kopell on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten
Lee J. Cobb
Bernie Kopell on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock
Scatman Crothers
Bernie Kopell on working with Scatman Crothers on The Love Boat, in a script Kopell wrote with Fred Grandy
Fred Grandy
Bernie Kopell on working with Scatman Crothers on The Love Boat, in a script Kopell wrote with Fred Grandy
Shirley Jones
Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat
Danny Kaye
Bernie Kopell on being fired from The Danny Kaye Show, what he learned from it, and on encountering Kaye later in his career
Harvey Korman
Bernie Kopell on trying to make a living pursuing an acting career, and on appearing on the daytime drama The Brighter Day with his friend Harvey Korman
Ted Lange
Bernie Kopell on working with Ted Lange as "Issac 'The Bartender' Washington" on The Love Boat
Sheldon Leonard
Bernie Kopell on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program
Gavin MacLeod
Bernie Kopell on working with Gavin MacLeod as "Captain Merrill Stubing" on The Love Boat
Ray Milland
Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat
Elizabeth Montgomery
Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Don Rickles
Bernie Kopell on his friend Don Rickles and his appearances on Get Smart
Eva Marie Saint
Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat
Frank Sinatra
Bernie Kopell on his friendship with Frank Sinatra
Bernie Kopell on his friendship with Frank Sinatra
Aaron Spelling
Bernie Kopell on working with Love Boat producer Aaron Spelling
Leonard Stern
Bernie Kopell on Get Smart producer Leonard Stern
Lauren Tewes
Bernie Kopell on the made-for-television movie versions of The Love Boat, which served as pilots, and on Lauren Tewes as "Julie McCoy" on the show
Danny Thomas
Bernie Kopell on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program
Marlo Thomas
Bernie Kopell on working with Marlo Thomas, who played "Ann Marie" on That Girl and was also a producer on the show
Dick Van Patten
Bernie Kopell on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten