About
"I love it when it's right and you hit the ball in the sweet spot. It's transformative. Especially when you're telling a story and you're feeling the audience. The collective aspect of it, the audience aspect of it. The immediacy."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Hector Elizondo talks about his early years as a child singer and making his first television appearance, on the children's series The Adventures of Oky Doky. He describes his first feature film, The Fat Black Pussycat, as well as his first adult television role, on The Jackie Gleason Show. He recounts his guest-starring role on the memorable All in the Family episode, "The Elevator Story," as well as roles on Kojak, Columbo, and The Rockford Files. He recalls working for Norman Lear, co-starring on A.k.a. Pablo, and working for Diane English on Foley Square. He discusses at length his role as "Dr. Phillip Watters" on the David E. Kelley drama Chicago Hope. Elizondo talks of the show's rivalry with ER, the fame that resulted from the show, and his eventually winning an Emmy for the episode "Bridge Over Troubled Watters." He speaks of co-starring (along with executive producer Jimmy Smits) in Cane, a Latino drama that was cut short due to the Writers Guild strike of 2007. He concludes by detailing his long association with Garry Marshall, including his roles in Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, and sums up with advice to aspiring actors. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on April 17, 2015 in Burbank, CA.
Highlights
Hector Elizondo on co-starring on the series Cane as "Pancho Duque"
Hector Elizondo on his Chicago Hope character "Dr. Phillip Watters"
Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family
Hector Elizondo on co-starring in Garry Marshall's feature film "Pretty Woman"
Hector Elizondo on his proudest career achievement - unintentionally being an inspiration for fellow Latinos
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on listening to the radio as a child; on the first time he saw television and early shows he watched
On his television debut as a child on The Adventures of Oky Doky; on attending The High School of Music and Art and his path to becoming an actor through the theater; on his first feature film "The Fat Black Pussycat"
On appearing on The Jackie Gleason Show; on appearing on All in the Family; on appearing on Kojak
On appearing on Columbo; on appearing on The Rockford Files; on starring in the series Popi
On co-starring on A.k.a Pablo; on co-starring on Foley Square created by Diane English; on avoiding being typecast
Chapter 2
On singing as a young boy; on directing A.k.a. Pablo; on partaking in Norman Corwin's 50th Anniversary of "War of the Worlds"; on being nominated for an Emmy for the American Playhouse production of "Mrs. Cage" in which his co-star was Anne Bancroft
On playing "Dr. Phillip Watters" on Chicago Hope; on doing medical research for his role on Chicago Hope; on working with David E. Kelley on Chicago Hope
On his Chicago Hope character "Dr. Phillip Watters"; on Chicago Hope competing with ER and the popularity of the show; on James Garner guest-starring on Chicago Hope
On the fame that resulted from his co-starring on Chicago Hope; on the cast changes of Chicago Hope and the show going up against Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?; on the end and legacy of Chicago Hope
On guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy; on guest-starring on Monk; on co-starring on the series Cane as "Pancho Duque"
On co-starring on Last Man Standing; on his voiceover work
Chapter 3
On appearing the feature film "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three"; on his long association with Garry Marshall; on appearing in "Pretty Woman" and "The Princess Diaries"
On appearing in the feature film "Tortilla Soup"; on his proudest career achievement; on how the industry has changed since he started
On advice to an aspiring actor; on career regrets; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
A.k.a. Pablo
Hector Elizondo on co-starring on A.k.a Pablo
Hector Elizondo on directing A.k.a. Pablo
All in the Family
Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family
American Playhouse
Hector Elizondo on being nominated for an Emmy for the American Playhouse production of "Mrs. Cage" in which his co-star was Anne Bancroft
Cane
Hector Elizondo on co-starring as "Pancho Duque" on the series Cane (starring and executive produced by Jimmy Smits)
Hector Elizondo on working with Rita Moreno on > Cane
Hector Elizondo on > Cane representing a Latino family>
Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on co-starring as "Dr. Phillip Watters" on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on doing medical research for his role on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on working with David E. Kelley on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on his Chicago Hope character "Dr. Phillip Watters"
Hector Elizondo on working with writer/producer John Tinker on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on Chicago Hope competing with ER and the popularity of the show
Hector Elizondo on James Garner guest-starring on Chicago Hope and working through pain on The Rockford Files
Hector Elizondo on the fame that resulted from his co-starring on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on the cast changes of Chicago Hope and the show going up against Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Hector Elizondo on the Chicago Hope episode "Bridge Over Troubled Watters" for which he won an Emmy
Hector Elizondo on the end and legacy of Chicago Hope
Columbo
Hector Elizondo on appearing on Columbo
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Hector Elizondo on the Chicago Hope episode "Bridge Over Troubled Watters" for which he won an Emmy
ER
Hector Elizondo on Chicago Hope competing with ER and the popularity of the show
Foley Square
Hector Elizondo on co-starring on Foley Square created by Diane English
Grey's Anatomy
Hector Elizondo on guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy
Jackie Gleason Show, The
Hector Elizondo on appearing on The Jackie Gleason Show
Kojak
Hector Elizondo on appearing on Kojak
Rockford Files, The
Hector Elizondo on appearing on The Rockford Files starring James Garner
Hector Elizondo on James Garner guest-starring on Chicago Hope and working through pain on The Rockford Files
Who Wants to be A Millionaire
Hector Elizondo on the cast changes of Chicago Hope and the show going up against Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Topics
Advice
Hector Elizondo on advice to an aspiring actor
Characters & Catchphrases
Hector Elizondo on his Chicago Hope character "Dr. Phillip Watters"
Emmy Awards
Hector Elizondo on the Chicago Hope episode "Bridge Over Troubled Watters" for which he won an Emmy
Fame and Celebrity
Hector Elizondo on the fame that resulted from his co-starring on Chicago Hope
Historic Events and Social Change
Hector Elizondo on Cane representing a Latino family
Pop Culture
Hector Elizondo on his Chicago Hope character "Dr. Phillip Watters"
Representation on Television
Hector Elizondo on Cane representing a Latino family
Television Industry
Hector Elizondo on the fame that resulted from his co-starring on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on how the industry has changed since he started
Hector Elizondo on advice to an aspiring actor
Underrepresented Voices
Hector Elizondo on Cane representing a Latino family
Professions
Actor
Hector Elizondo on avoiding being typecast
Hector Elizondo on what he likes about acting
Hector Elizondo on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
Hector Elizondo on avoiding being typecast
Hector Elizondo on what he likes about acting
Hector Elizondo on advice to an aspiring actor
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Hector Elizondo on being nominated for an Emmy for the American Playhouse production of "Mrs. Cage" in which his co-star was Anne Bancroft
Comedy Series
Hector Elizondo on appearing on The Jackie Gleason Show
Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family
Hector Elizondo on starring in the series Popi
Hector Elizondo on co-starring on A.k.a Pablo
Hector Elizondo on directing A.k.a. Pablo
Hector Elizondo on co-starring with Tim Allen on Last Man Standing
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Hector Elizondo on appearing on Kojak
Hector Elizondo on appearing on Columbo
Hector Elizondo on appearing on The Rockford Files with James Garner
Hector Elizondo on guest-starring on Monk
Drama Series
Hector Elizondo on co-starring on the series Cane as "Pancho Duque"
Medical Dramas
Hector Elizondo on co-starring as "Dr. Phillip Watters" on Chicago Hope
Hector Elizondo on guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Hector Elizondo on starring in the 1992 made-for-television movie Burden of Proof
People
Tim Allen
Hector Elizondo on co-starring with Tim Allen on Last Man Standing
Julie Andrews
Hector Elizondo on working with Julie Andrews on the feature film "The Princess Diaries"
Anne Bancroft
Hector Elizondo on being nominated for an Emmy for the American Playhouse production of "Mrs. Cage" in which his co-star was Anne Bancroft
Norman Corwin
Hector Elizondo on partaking in Norman Corwin's 50th Anniversary of "War of the Worlds"
Diane English
Hector Elizondo on co-starring on Foley Square created by Diane English
Peter Falk
Hector Elizondo on appearing on Columbo starring Peter Falk
James Garner
Hector Elizondo on appearing on The Rockford Files starring James Garner
Hector Elizondo on James Garner guest-starring on Chicago Hope and working through pain on The Rockford Files
Jackie Gleason
Hector Elizondo on appearing on The Jackie Gleason Show
David E. Kelley
Hector Elizondo on working with David E. Kelley on Chicago Hope
Norman Lear
Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family created by Norman Lear
Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo on his long association with Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo on co-starring in Garry Marshall's feature film "Pretty Woman"
Rita Moreno
Hector Elizondo on working with Rita Moreno on Cane
Carroll O'Connor
Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family starring Carroll O'Connor
Telly Savalas
Hector Elizondo on appearing on Kojak starring Telly Savalas
Jimmy Smits
Hector Elizondo on co-starring as "Pancho Duque" on the series Cane (starring and executive produced by Jimmy Smits)