Bernie Kopell

Actor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

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.

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

"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."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Bernie Kopell on the popularity of The Love Boat, and on the end of the show

04:10

Bernie Kopell on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock

02:23

Bernie Kopell on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart, and on his friend Don Rickles

07:39

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

05:50

Bernie Kopell on favorite Get Smart episodes, and on working with Ted Bessell on That Girl

02:08

Bernie Kopell on how he would like to be remembered

02:51

Full Interview

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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

01:17

Bewitched

Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery

08:35

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

06:54

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

05:53

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

02:23

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

08:06

Flying Nun, The

Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show

08:06

Get Smart

Bernie Kopell on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart

01:35

Bernie Kopell on getting the role of "Siegfried" on Get Smart, and on his friend Don Rickles

07:39

Bernie Kopell on "Siegfried's" accent on Get Smart, and on his look

06:37

Bernie Kopell on "Siegfried's" relationship with "Maxwell Smart" played by Don Adams on Get Smart, and on show producer Leonard Stern

05:59

Bernie Kopell on King Moody as "Starker" on Get Smart

02:50

Bernie Kopell on Get Smart co-creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry

05:25

Bernie Kopell on favorite Get Smart episodes, and on working with Ted Bessell on That Girl

02:08

Bernie Kopell on participating in Get Smart revivals

02:21

Bernie Kopell on the legacy of Get Smart

00:54

Hawaii Five-O

Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Hawaii Five-O

06:17

Jack Benny Program, The

Bernie Kopell on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program

04:45

Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour, The

Bernie Kopell on appearing in The Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour

01:50

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

04:57

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

05:00

Bernie Kopell on Shelley Winters guest-starring on The Love Boat

03:08

Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat

03:43

Bernie Kopell on working with Juliet Prowse on The Love Boat

03:48

Bernie Kopell on being cast as "Doc Adam Bricker" on The Love Boat, and on his experience in the Navy

11:08

Bernie Kopell on working with Gavin MacLeod as "Captain Merrill Stubing" on The Love Boat

02:19

Bernie Kopell on working with Scatman Crothers on The Love Boat, in a script Kopell wrote with Fred Grandy

02:04

Bernie Kopell on working with Ted Lange as "Issac 'The Bartender' Washington" on The Love Boat

02:23

Bernie Kopell on the formula of The Love Boat, and on what his character, "Doc," was like as a doctor

05:01

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

05:50

Bernie Kopell on working with Love Boat producer Aaron Spelling

01:40

Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song

02:02

Bernie Kopell on the popularity of The Love Boat, and on the end of the show

04:10

My Favorite Martian

Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show

08:06

Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)

Bernie Kopell on appearing on The Steve Allen Show

03:57

Bernie Kopell on favorite sketches and characters of his from The Steve Allen Show

06:41

That Girl

Bernie Kopell on playing "Jerry Bauman" on That Girl

02:41

Bernie Kopell on working with Marlo Thomas, who played "Ann Marie" on That Girl and was also a producer on the show

01:22

Bernie Kopell on favorite memories of shooting That Girl

03:27

Bernie Kopell on the end of That Girl, and on producer Danny Arnold

03:54

Bernie Kopell on the legacy of That Girl

02:24

When Things Were Rotten

Bernie Kopell on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten

04:12

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

05:50

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Bernie Kopell on mentors in his career

03:45

Pivotal Career Moments

Bernie Kopell on mentors in his career

03:45

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

05:50

Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song

02:02

TV Theme Songs

Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song

02:02

Television Industry

Bernie Kopell on how television has changed since he started

02:07

Professions

Actor

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Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show

08:08

Bernie Kopell on his acting process, his preparation for a given role, and on working with Neil Simon

07:18

Performers

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Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show

08:08

Bernie Kopell on his acting process, his preparation for a given role, and on working with Neil Simon

07:18

Genres

Comedy Series

Bernie Kopell meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program

04:45

Bernie Kopell on doing accents, and on using them on My Favorite Martian, The Flying Nun, and The Doris Day Show

08:06

Bernie Kopell on being fired from The Danny Kaye Show, what he learned from it, and on encountering Kaye later in his career

05:53

Bernie Kopell on playing "Siegfried" on Get Smart

40:52

Bernie Kopell on appearing in The Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Hour

01:50

Bernie Kopell on playing "Jerry Bauman" on That Girl

13:48

Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery

08:35

Bernie Kopell on playing "Doc" on The Love Boat

57:14

Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Arrested Development

01:17

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Bernie Kopell on guest-starring on Hawaii Five-O

06:17

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

06:54

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

02:23

Talk Shows

Bernie Kopell on appearing on The Steve Allen Show

10:37

People

Don Adams

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Bernie Kopell on "Siegfried's" relationship with "Maxwell Smart" played by Don Adams on Get Smart

05:58

Steve Allen

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Bernie Kopell on appearing on The Steve Allen Show

10:37

Danny Arnold

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Bernie Kopell on That Girl producer Danny Arnold

02:48

William Asher

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Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery

08:35

Mel Brooks

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Bernie Kopell on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten

04:12

Lee J. Cobb

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Bernie Kopell on appearing in the 1966 television production of Death of a Salesman with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock

02:23

Scatman Crothers

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Bernie Kopell on working with Scatman Crothers on The Love Boat, in a script Kopell wrote with Fred Grandy

02:04

Fred Grandy

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Bernie Kopell on working with Scatman Crothers on The Love Boat, in a script Kopell wrote with Fred Grandy

02:04

Shirley Jones

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Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat

03:43

Danny Kaye

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Bernie Kopell on being fired from The Danny Kaye Show, what he learned from it, and on encountering Kaye later in his career

05:53

Harvey Korman

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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

06:54

Ted Lange

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Bernie Kopell on working with Ted Lange as "Issac 'The Bartender' Washington" on The Love Boat

02:23

Sheldon Leonard

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Bernie Kopell on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program

04:45

Gavin MacLeod

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Bernie Kopell on working with Gavin MacLeod as "Captain Merrill Stubing" on The Love Boat

02:19

Ray Milland

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Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat

03:43

Elizabeth Montgomery

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Bernie Kopell on appearing on Bewitched, directed by William Asher and starring Elizabeth Montgomery

08:35

Dick Van Patten

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Bernie Kopell on appearing in When Things Were Rotten created by Mel Brooks and co-starring Dick Van Patten

04:12

Don Rickles

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Bernie Kopell on his friend Don Rickles and his appearances on Get Smart

01:49

Eva Marie Saint

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Bernie Kopell on Eva Marie Saint, Shirley Jones, and Ray Milland guest-starring on The Love Boat

03:43

Frank Sinatra

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Bernie Kopell on his friendship with Frank Sinatra

04:27

Bernie Kopell on his friendship with Frank Sinatra

07:31

Aaron Spelling

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Bernie Kopell on working with Love Boat producer Aaron Spelling

01:40

Leonard Stern

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Bernie Kopell on Get Smart producer Leonard Stern

04:19

Lauren Tewes

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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

04:57

Marlo Thomas

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Bernie Kopell on working with Marlo Thomas, who played "Ann Marie" on That Girl and was also a producer on the show

01:22

Danny Thomas

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Bernie Kopell on meeting Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, and being cast on The Jack Benny Program

04:45