About
“I’d never been in front of an audience in my life. And when I started to talk, I got a feeling I had never experienced before. I realized that people were listening to me. It tapped something inside of me. I walked off stage and there was an elderly lady who’d been in Vaudeville and theater for years. She took a look at me and she said quietly, ‘You’re hooked, sonny.’”
In this three-hour interview, Hal Holbrook (1925-2021) talks about his early life, and deciding to become an actor while in college. He chronicles the creation of his classic one-man show Mark Twain Tonight! up until and beyond performing it on CBS in 1967 for producer David Susskind. He recalls appearing on the daytime drama The Brighter Day and portraying “Hays Stowe” on the legal drama The Bold Ones. Holbrook discusses playing Abraham Lincoln on stage many times, and twice for television in Sandburg’s Lincoln and North and South. He details working for producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason on the comedy series Evening Shade, and on Designing Women, which co-starred his wife Dixie Carter. He recalls guest appearances on Sons of Anarchy and Grey’s Anatomy, and well as some of his work in feature films, including All the President’s Men and Into the Wild. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on July 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Hal Holbrook on the creation of his one man show "Mark Twain Tonight!"
Hal Holbrook on meeting Ed Sullivan and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show as "Mark Twain"
Hal Holbrook on positive public reaction of his playing a homosexual along with Martin Sheen in That Certain Summer
Hal Holbrook on playing "Reese Watson" on Designing Women, with his wife Dixie Carter
Hal Holbrook on being known as a character actor
Hal Holbrook on how he would like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences
On attending Denison University, where he really became an actor and met his mentor; on going into the Army during World War II
On meeting his first wife, Ruby Johnston, and on traveling the country with a two-person show; on the creation of his one man show "Mark Twain Tonight!"
On performing Mark Twain Tonight! on CBS in 1967 for producer David Susskind; on how Mark Twain Tonight! changed from stage to television, and on how current events changed the show over time
Chapter 2
On being cast as "Grayling Dennis" on the daytime drama The Brighter Day; on meeting Ed Sullivan and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show as "Mark Twain"; on his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show leading to "Mark Twain Tonight!" being performed off-Broadway
On playing "Hays Stowe" on The Bold Ones; on the presidency of Donald J. Trump
On appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer playing Martin Sheen's partner; on positive public reaction to his playing a homosexual along with Martin Sheen in That Certain Summer; on television and democracy
On rehearsing; on fame and celebrity, and on being part of an acting company; on being known as a character actor
On playing "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South and Sandburg's Lincoln; on the consistency of his performances as "Abraham Lincoln"; on working with Beulah Bondi in Sandburg's Lincoln
Chapter 3
On playing "Reese Watson" on Designing Women, with his wife Dixie Carter; on directing some episodes of Designing Women, and on working with Linda Bloodworth Thomason; on working with the cast of the show
On playing "Evan Evans" on Evening Shade, starring Burt Reynolds; on guest-starring on Sons of Anarchy, and on working with Katey Sagal on the show
On guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy; on appearing in the feature films "Into the Wild" and "All the President's Men"
On his father
On advice to an aspiring actor; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Bold Ones, The
Hal Holbrook on playing "Hays Stowe" on The Bold Ones
Brighter Day, The
Hal Holbrook on being cast as "Grayling Dennis" on the daytime drama The Brighter Day
Designing Women
Hal Holbrook on playing "Reese Watson" on Designing Women, with his wife Dixie Carter
Hal Holbrook on directing some episodes of Designing Women, and on working with Linda Bloodworth Thomason
Hal Holbrook on working with Jean Smart, Delta Burke, and Dixie Carter on Designing Women
Hal Holbrook on having to be convinced to take a role on Designing Women
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Hal Holbrook on meeting Ed Sullivan and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show as "Mark Twain"
Hal Holbrook on his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show leading to "Mark Twain Tonight!" being performed off-Broadway
Evening Shade
Hal Holbrook on playing "Evan Evans" on Evening Shade, starring Burt Reynolds
Grey's Anatomy
Hal Holbrook on guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy
Mark Twain Tonight!
Hal Holbrook on his one-man show Mark Twain Tonight, and how he came to perform it on CBS in 1967 for producer David Susskind
Hal Holbrook on how Mark Twain Tonight! changed from stage to television, and on how current events changed the show over time
North and South
Hal Holbrook on playing "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South and Sandburg's Lincoln
Hal Holbrook on the consistency of his performance as "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South and on Sandburg's Lincoln
Hal Holbrook on what he enjoyed about playing "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South, and on working with Beulah Bondi in Sandburg's Lincoln
Sandburg's Lincoln
Hal Holbrook on playing "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South and Sandburg's Lincoln
Hal Holbrook on the consistency of his performance as "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South and on Sandburg's Lincoln
Hal Holbrook on what he enjoyed about playing "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South, and on working with Beulah Bondi in Sandburg's Lincoln
Sons of Anarchy
Hal Holbrook on guest-starring on Sons of Anarchy, and on working with Katey Sagal on the show
That Certain Summer
Hal Holbrook on appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer playing Martin Sheen's partner
Hal Holbrook on positive public reaction to his playing a homosexual along with Martin Sheen in That Certain Summer
Topics
Advice
Hal Holbrook on advice to an aspiring actor
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Hal Holbrook on attending Denison University, where he really became an actor and met his mentor
Donald J. Trump
Hal Holbrook on the presidency of Donald J. Trump
Emmy Awards
Hal Holbrook on performing Mark Twain Tonight! on CBS in 1967 and being nominated for an Emmy for his performance
Fame and Celebrity
Hal Holbrook on fame and celebrity, and on being part of an acting company
Historic Events and Social Change
Hal Holbrook on going into the Army during World War II
Hal Holbrook on appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer
LGBTQIA+
Hal Holbrook on appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer
Pivotal Career Moments
Hal Holbrook on attending Denison University, where he really became an actor and met his mentor
Hal Holbrook on the creation of his one-man show "Mark Twain Tonight!"
Pop Culture
Hal Holbrook on fame and celebrity, and on being part of an acting company
Representation on Television
Hal Holbrook on appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer
Television and the Presidency
Hal Holbrook on the presidency of Donald J. Trump
Television Industry
Hal Holbrook on advice to an aspiring actor
War
Hal Holbrook on going into the Army during World War II
World War II
Hal Holbrook on going into the Army during World War II
Professions
Actor
Hal Holbrook on what he likes about acting
Hal Holbrook on rehearsing
Hal Holbrook on fame and celebrity, and on being part of an acting company
Hal Holbrook on being known as a character actor
Hal Holbrook on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
Hal Holbrook on what he likes about acting
Hal Holbrook on rehearsing
Hal Holbrook on fame and celebrity, and on being part of an acting company
Hal Holbrook on being known as a character actor
Hal Holbrook on advice to an aspiring actor
Genres
Comedy Series
Hal Holbrook on playing "Reese Watson" on Designing Women, with his wife Dixie Carter
Hal Holbrook on playing "Evan Evans" on Evening Shade, starring Burt Reynolds
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Hal Holbrook on being cast as "Grayling Dennis" on the daytime drama The Brighter Day
Drama Series
Hal Holbrook on guest-starring on Sons of Anarchy
Legal Dramas
Hal Holbrook on playing "Hays Stowe" on The Bold Ones
Medical Dramas
Hal Holbrook on guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Hal Holbrook on his one-man show Mark Twain Tonight, which he performed on CBS in 1967, produced by David Susskind
Hal Holbrook on meeting Ed Sullivan and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show as "Mark Twain"
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Hal Holbrook on appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer
Hal Holbrook on playing "Abraham Lincoln" in various projects, including North and South and Sandburg's Lincoln
People
Delta Burke
Hal Holbrook on working with Delta Burke on Designing Women
Dixie Carter
Hal Holbrook on playing "Reese Watson" on Designing Women, with his wife Dixie Carter
Hal Holbrook on working with Dixie Carter on Designing Women
Robert Redford
Hal Holbrook on appearing in "All the President's Men" and how Robert Redford convinced him to take the part in the film
Hal Holbrook on his friendship with Robert Redford
Burt Reynolds
Hal Holbrook on playing "Evan Evans" on Evening Shade, starring Burt Reynolds
Katey Sagal
Hal Holbrook on guest-starring on Sons of Anarchy, and on working with Katey Sagal on the show
Martin Sheen
Hal Holbrook on appearing in the groundbreaking made-for-television movie That Certain Summer playing Martin Sheen's partner
Jean Smart
Hal Holbrook on working with Jean Smart on Designing Women
David Susskind
Hal Holbrook and performing Mark Twain Tonight! on CBS in 1967 for producer David Susskind
Linda Bloodworth Thomason
Hal Holbrook on directing some episodes of Designing Women, and on working with Linda Bloodworth Thomason
Donald J. Trump
Hal Holbrook on the presidency of Donald J. Trump