"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." 

    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.
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    Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Ellen Craig" on St. Elsewhere

    06:44
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    Bonnie Bartlett on playing "Mamie Eisenhower" in Ike: The War Years

    01:35
    Thumbnail of Bonnie Bartlett

    Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on early acting jobs they did together

    02:07
    Thumbnail of Bonnie Bartlett

    Bonnie Bartlett on advice to an aspiring actress

    01:30
    Thumbnail of Bonnie Bartlett

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Better Call Saul with Bob Odenkirk

    02:00
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    Bonnie Bartlett on starring in The Deliberate Stranger with Mark Harmon

    00:48
    Play Full Interview

    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

    12:08

    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

    14:04

    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

    15:14

    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

    14:25

    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

    14:49

    On training with Lee Strasberg; on moving to Los Angeles; on acting together on St. Elsewhere as "Dr. Mark Craig" and "Ellen Craig"

    18:49

    On acting together after St. Elsewhere; on Bonnie joining Boy Meets World; on acting together, and on their life together

    14:36

    Better Call Saul

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Better Call Saul

    02:00

    Boy Meets World

    Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on Bonnie joining Boy Meets World

    02:14

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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

    01:42

    ER

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on ER

    02:02

    Home Improvement

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Home Improvement

    01:09

    Ike: The War Years

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

    01:35

    Jackie Gleason Show, The

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest spots on shows like The Jackie Gleason Show

    00:50

    Little House on the Prairie

    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

    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

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Midnight Caller

    00:52

    Once and Again

    Bonnie Bartlett on appearing on Once and Again, and on playing mothers

    05:09

    St. Elsewhere

    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

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on The Waltons

    00:40

    Wiseguy

    Bonnie Bartlett on guest-starring on Wiseguy

    00:48

    Advice

    Bonnie Bartlett on advice to an aspiring actress

    01:38

    Bloopers

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

    01:18

    Creative Influences and Inspiration

    Bonnie Bartlett on mentors in her career

    00:39

    Emmy Awards

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

    01:42

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Bonnie Bartlett on mentors in her career

    00:39

    Television Industry

    Bonnie Bartlett on how the industry has changed since she started

    01:17

    Bonnie Bartlett on advice to an aspiring actress

    01:38

    Actress

    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

    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

    Comedy Series

    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

    Bonnie Bartlett on appearing on Love of Life

    05:41

    Drama Series

    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

    Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on St. Elsewhere

    13:33

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    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

    Mark Harmon

    Bonnie Bartlett on starring in The Deliberate Stranger with Mark Harmon

    00:48

    Michael Landon

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

    03:40

    Jack Lemmon

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

    01:42

    Lee Strasberg

    Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on training with Lee Strasberg

    03:05

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