About
"Truthfully, you can't be remembered as the best actor. Because you never are going to be the best, there is also no such thing as the best. What there is, is a lot of very good actors, which I hope to be one of, that at the right time in their life, with the right part, can give a performance that nobody else can give. There's a lot of them. And it happens."
In his two-hour interview, Jack Lemmon (1925-2001) discusses his early television appearances on sitcoms and anthology teleplays, and his guest appearances on variety shows. He recalls becoming an established motion picture star in the 1950s, most notably in Billy Wilder's film Some Like It Hot. He talks about his return to television in 1972, in one of his favorite specials, Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin. He outlines some of the television movies he appeared in, starting from the late 1980s, which included The Murder of Mary Phagan, A Long Day's Journey into Night and 12 Angry Men. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on November 4, 1998 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Jack Lemmon on his variety special 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, S' Gershwin
Jack Lemmon on hosting the Academy Awards
Jack Lemmon on why he didn't want to be in the television version of The Odd Couple
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"
Jack Lemmon on the challenges of acting on live television
Jack Lemmon on how he'd like to be remembered and what makes a good actor
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on actors he admired while growing up
On moving to New York to become an actor; on his first big break on the radio; on Kraft Television Theatre and appearing on live television
Chapter 2
On working on Studio One; on early public reaction to him; on doing both drama and comedy; on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted his friends and colleagues
On acting on live television in the '50s; on Ford Television Theatre's "The Day Lincoln Was Shot"; on the challenges of acting on live television
Chapter 3
On acting on live television and his musical abilities; on taking acting lessons and performing on Broadway; on appearing in the feature "It Should Happen to You"
On being under contract to Columbia and playing "Ensign Pulver" in "Mister Roberts"; on why he stopped doing television; on appearing on the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"; on appearing in the film version of "Days of Wine and Roses"
Chapter 4
On why he didn't want to be in the television version of The Odd Couple; on his variety special 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous S' Gershwin; on starring in a television production of Long Day's Journey Into Night
On the best roles of his career; on his overall opinion of television programming and the then-future of television; on various people he's worked with in his career; on his family
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Jack Lemmon on hosting the Academy Awards
Ford Television Theatre
Jack Lemmon on appearing on Ford Television Theatre's "The Day Lincoln Was Shot"
Heaven for Betsy
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the series Heaven for Betsy and the Hollywood Blacklist
Kraft Television Theatre
Jack Lemmon on acting on Kraft Television Theatre and appearing on live television
Murder of Mary Phagan, The
Jack Lemmon on starring in The Murder of Mary Phagan
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Jack Lemmon on why he didn't want to be in the television version of The Odd Couple
Playhouse 90
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"
Studio One
Jack Lemmon on working on Studio One
Topics
Anthology Drama
Jack Lemmon on acting on Kraft Television Theatre and appearing on live television
Jack Lemmon on working on Studio One
Jack Lemmon on appearing on Ford Television Theatre's "The Day Lincoln Was Shot"
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"
Bloopers
Jack Lemmon on the worst thing that happened to him on live television
First Big Break
Jack Lemmon on his first big break on the radio
Hollywood Blacklist
Jack Lemmon on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted his friends and colleagues
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the series Heaven for Betsy and the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Jack Lemmon on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted his friends and colleagues
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the series Heaven for Betsy and the Hollywood Blacklist
Pivotal Career Moments
Jack Lemmon on his first big break on the radio
Television Industry
Jack Lemmon on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted his friends and colleagues
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the series Heaven for Betsy and the Hollywood Blacklist
Jack Lemmon on his overall opinion of television programming
Jack Lemmon on the then-future of television
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Jack Lemmon on acting on Kraft Television Theatre and appearing on live television
Jack Lemmon on working on Studio One
Jack Lemmon on appearing on Ford Television Theatre's "The Day Lincoln Was Shot"
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"
Professions
Actor
Jack Lemmon on the challenges of acting on live television
Jack Lemmon on acting on live television
Jack Lemmon on taking acting lessons
Performers
Jack Lemmon on the challenges of acting on live television
Jack Lemmon on acting on live television
Jack Lemmon on taking acting lessons
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Jack Lemmon on acting on Kraft Television Theatre and appearing on live television
Jack Lemmon on working on Studio One
Jack Lemmon on appearing on Ford Television Theatre's "The Day Lincoln Was Shot"
Jack Lemmon on appearing on the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Jack Lemmon on his variety special 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, S' Gershwin
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Jack Lemmon on appearing in the special The Entertainer
People
Fred Coe
Jack Lemmon on Fred Coe
John Frankenheimer
Jack Lemmon on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Face of a Hero"
Judy Holliday
Jack Lemmon on appearing in the feature "It Should Happen to You"
Walter Matthau
Jack Lemmon on working with Walter Matthau
Billy Wilder
Jack Lemmon on working with Billy Wilder