Bonnie Bartlett

Actress


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In the one-hour solo portion of her interview, Bonnie Bartlett talks about her early years, and working on the daytime drama Love of Life. She recalls guest spots on shows like The Jackie Gleason Show and The Waltons. She remembers playing the role of “Grace Snider Edwards” on Little House on the Prairie, as well as playing "Mamie Eisenhower" in the television movie Ike: The War Years. She talks about acting opposite her husband on St. Elsewhere as “Ellen Craig,” and guest-starring on several shows including Midnight Caller, Wiseguy, and Home Improvement. She details roles on Once and Again, Better Call Saul, and the acclaimed television movie Tuesdays with Morrie. She sums up with career regrets, achievements, and how she’d like to be remembered. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on August 29, 2017 in Studio City, CA.

In the one-hour joint portion of their interview, William Daniels and Bonnie Bartlett talk about how they met, and their move to New York. They speak of training with Lee Strasberg, and moving to Los Angeles where they eventually played husband and wife to great acclaim on St. Elsewhere. They talk about winning Emmy awards together, and Bonnie later joining William on Boy Meets World. They conclude by discussing their life together. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on August 29, 2017 in Studio City, CA. 

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

"You've got to be smart. Talented and smart. If you don’t think you have it, then don’t try it. Do something else. And you have to be able to weather the times when you have nothing. That’s very hard." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Ellen Craig" on St. Elsewhere
06:44
Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Mamie Eisenhower" in Ike: The War Years
01:35
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on early acting jobs they did together
02:07
Bonnie Bartlett on advice to an aspiring actress
01:30
Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Better Call Saul with Bob Odenkirk
02:00
Bonnie Bartlett on starring in The Deliberate Stranger with Mark Harmon
00:48
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on her earliest memories of television, and on her first television jobs; on playing "Vanessa" on Love of Life
On guest-starring on The Waltons; on playing "Grace Snider Edwards" on Little House on the Prairie; on playing "Mamie Eisenhower" in Ike: The War Years
On playing "Ellen Craig" on St. Elsewhere; on what she likes about acting, and on her process; on appearing on Midnight Caller, Wiseguy, Home Improvement , and ER
On starring on The Deliberate Stranger, Once and Again, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Better Call Saul; on mentors in her career and advice to an aspiring actress; on career achievements, regrets, and how she'd like to be remembered

Chapter 2

START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH BONNIE BARTLETT AND WILLIAM DANIELS: On how they met, and on their first impressions of each other; on early acting jobs they did together; on moving to New York
On training with Lee Strasberg; on moving to Los Angeles; on acting together on St. Elsewhere as "Dr. Mark Craig" and "Ellen Craig"
On acting together after St. Elsewhere; on Bonnie joining Boy Meets World; on acting together, and on their life together
Shows

Better Call Saul

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Better Call Saul
02:00

Boy Meets World

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Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on Bonnie joining Boy Meets World
02:14

ER

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on ER
02:02

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
01:42

Home Improvement

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Home Improvement
01:09

Ike: The War Years

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Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Mamie Eisenhower" in Ike: The War Years
01:35

Jackie Gleason Show, The

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest spots on shows like The Jackie Gleason Show
00:50

Little House on the Prairie

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Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Grace Snider Edwards" on Little House on the Prairie, and on working with Michael Landon
03:40
Bonnie Bartlett on her Little House on the Prairie character "Grace Snider Edwards," and on working with Victor French
02:53
Bonnie Bartlett on her favorite Little House on the Prairie episodes, and on leaving the show
02:30

Love of Life

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Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Vanessa" on Love of Life
02:47
Bonnie Bartlett on mishaps while acting on Love of Life which was broadcast live, and on leaving the show
02:54

Midnight Caller

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Midnight Caller
00:52

Once and Again

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Bonnie Bartlett on appearing on Once and Again, and on playing mothers
05:09

St. Elsewhere

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Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Ellen Craig" on St. Elsewhere
06:44
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on acting together on St. Elsewhere as "Dr. Mark Craig" and "Ellen Craig"
11:51
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on winning Emmy Awards for St. Elsewhere
01:42

Waltons, The

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on The Waltons
00:40

Wiseguy

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Wiseguy
00:48
Topics

Advice

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Bonnie Bartlett on advice to an aspiring actress
01:38

Bloopers

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Bonnie Bartlett on mishaps while acting on Love of Life which was broadcast live
01:18

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Bonnie Bartlett on mentors in her career
00:39

Emmy Awards

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Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
01:42

Pivotal Career Moments

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Bonnie Bartlett on mentors in her career
00:39

Television Industry

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Bonnie Bartlett on how the industry has changed since she started
01:17
Bonnie Bartlett on advice to an aspiring actress
01:38
Professions

Actress

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Bonnie Bartlett on what she likes about acting, and on doing comedy
02:01
Bonnie Bartlett on her process of acting once she gets a script, and on acting in different media
01:37

Performers

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Bonnie Bartlett on what she likes about acting, and on doing comedy
02:01
Bonnie Bartlett on her process of acting once she gets a script, and on acting in different media
01:37
Bonnie Bartlett and Williams Daniels on acting together, and on their life together
08:28
Genres

Comedy Series

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Bonnie Bartlett on performing on stage, and doing guest spots on shows like The Jackie Gleason Show
02:19
Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Midnight Caller, Wiseguy, Home Improvement, and ER
04:52
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on Boy Meets World
02:14

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Bonnie Bartlett on appearing on Love of Life
05:41

Drama Series

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Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on The Waltons
00:41
Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Grace Snider Edwards" on Little House on the Prairie, and on working with Michael Landon
09:29
Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Ellen Craig" on St. Elsewhere
06:44
Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Midnight Caller, Wiseguy, Home Improvement, and ER
04:52
Bonnie Bartlett on appearing in The Deliberate Stranger, Once and Again, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Better Call Saul
09:39

Medical Dramas

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Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on St. Elsewhere
13:33

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Mamie Eisenhower" in Ike: The War Years
01:35
Bonnie Bartlett on appearing in The Deliberate Stranger, Once and Again, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Better Call Saul
09:39
People

Jack Lemmon

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Bonnie Bartlett on co-starring in Tuesdays with Morrie with Jack Lemmon
01:42

Lee Strasberg

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Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on training with Lee Strasberg
03:05

Mark Harmon

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Bonnie Bartlett on starring in The Deliberate Stranger with Mark Harmon
00:48

Michael Landon

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Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Grace Snider Edwards" on Little House on the Prairie, and on working with Michael Landon
03:40

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