"If you were playing a part where you were shot and killed and didn't move and you stayed still during that period when you were supposed to be lying down, then you were a genius. Because the instinct was that you were finished and you ran across the set to another scene. So, technically I was perfect. As an actor, less than perfect."

    About This Interview

    In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, John Forsythe (1918-2010) talks about his early years, his time as a baseball announcer, and his studies at the Actors Studio in New York City. He discusses appearing in several live broadcasts in the 1950s, including Studio One, Suspense, and The U.S. Steel Hour. He details his relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, who directed him in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, as well as the feature The Trouble with Harry. Forsythe recalls his role in several feature films, most notably In Cold Blood, and speaks of his series role as "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father. He chronicles his work on two other series, The John Forsythe Show and To Rome with Love, as well as numerous made-for-television movie roles. He discusses his voice-only role as "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels and his role as "Blake Carrington," the patriarch of the popular long-running series, Dynasty, opposite actresses Linda Evans and Joan Collins. Don Carleton conducted the interview on July 24, 2000 in Los Olivos, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of John Forsythe

    John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty

    01:40
    Thumbnail of John Forsythe

    John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock

    08:11
    Thumbnail of John Forsythe

    John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling

    08:51
    Thumbnail of John Forsythe

    John Forsythe on appearing in the feature "In Cold Blood" 

    06:30
    Thumbnail of John Forsythe

    John Forsythe on how he'd like to be remembered 

    00:35
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on radio he listened to growing up and politics in his household; on his earliest memories of television

    11:47

    On announcing for the Brooklyn Dodgers; on studying at the Actors Studio; on his early stage and film roles

    16:06

    Chapter 2

    On his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and The  U.S. Steel Hour;  on the difference between acting on filmed or taped television and live television; on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination 

    12:15

    On producing the live production The First Hundred Years;  on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock

    09:57

    On the Hollywood Blacklist; on how Bachelor Father came about; on his character "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father

    06:41

    Chapter 3

    On the premise of Bachelor Father;  on Noreen Corcoran as "Kelly Gregg" on Bachelor Father;  on Sammee Tong as "Peter Tong" on the show

    09:51

    On the guest stars on Bachelor Father  including Linda Evans; on Bachelor Father  switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show; on acting drama as opposed to acting comedy

    05:28

    On performing in Teahouse of the August Moon  on television; on starring in See How They Run, the first made-for-television movie; on starring in the made-for-television movie "A Bell for Adano" for Hallmark Hall of Fame

    05:37

    On appearing in the feature "In Cold Blood"; on starring on The John Forsythe Show

    07:33

    Chapter 4

    On The John Forsythe Show; on appearing on To Rome with Love; on hosting the documentary series The World of Survival, and appearing in various made-for-television movies

    11:17

    On appearing in the feature film "...And Justice for All"; on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling; on getting involved with the movie version of "Charlie's Angels"

    11:19

    On being cast as "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty; on the premise of Dynasty; on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty

    05:56

    Chapter 5

    On working with Linda Evans as "Krystle Carrington" on Dynasty; on the cast of Dynasty; on the producers of Dynasty and the plots of the show

    09:11

    On the sets of Dynasty; on the popularity of Dynasty; on shooting the show

    04:47

    On the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys; on the 1991 Dynasty reunion

    04:40

    On researching his acting roles and playing in front of a live audience; on advice to aspiring actors; on various people he's worked with in his career and how he'd like to be remembered

    09:58

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

    John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and working with Alfred Hitchcock

    08:11

    Bachelor Father

    John Forsythe on how Bachelor Father came about

    03:26

    John Forsythe on his character "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father

    01:03

    John Forsythe on the premise of Bachelor Father

    02:51

    John Forsythe on Noreen Corcoran as "Kelly Gregg" on Bachelor Father

    04:14

    John Forsythe on Peter Tong as Sammee Tong on Bachelor Father

    02:46

    John Forsythe on the guest stars on Bachelor Father including Linda Evans

    02:01

    John Forsythe on Bachelor Father switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show

    01:27

    Charlie's Angels

    John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling

    08:51

    John Forsythe on getting involved with the movie version of Charlie's Angels

    00:57

    Colbys, The

    John Forsythe on the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys

    04:04

    Dynasty

    John Forsythe on being cast as "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty

    01:27

    John Forsythe on the premise of Dynasty

    02:50

    John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty

    01:40

    John Forsythe on working with Linda Evans as "Krystle Carrington" on Dynasty 

    00:56

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty

    06:02

    John Forsythe on the producers of Dynasty and the plots of the show

    02:14

    John Forsythe on the sets of Dynasty

    01:11

    John Forsythe on the popularity of Dynasty

    02:22

    John Forsythe on shooting Dynasty

    01:14

    John Forsythe on the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys

    04:04

    John Forsythe on the 1991 Dynasty reunion

    00:37

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    John Forsythe on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination 

    02:48

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

    John Forsythe on starring in the made-for-television movie "A Bell for Adano" for Hallmark Hall of Fame

    01:22

    John Forsythe Show, The

    John Forsythe on starring on The John Forsythe Show

    01:02

    John Forsythe on The John Forsythe Show

    00:54

    See How They Run

    John Forsythe on starring in See How They Run, the first made-for-television movie

    01:25

    Studio One

    John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and U.S. Steel

    03:37

    Suspense

    John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and U.S. Steel

    03:37

    John Forsythe on acting on the series Suspense and the challenges of acting on live television

    03:14

    To Rome With Love

    John Forsythe on appearing on To Rome with Love

    04:59

    United States Steel Hour, The

    John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and The  U.S. Steel Hour

    03:37

    Advertising and Sponsorship

    John Forsythe on Bachelor Father  switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show

    01:27

    Advice

    John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors

    00:25

    Anthology Drama

    John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and The U.S. Steel Hour

    00:00

    Characters & Catchphrases

    John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels  for producer Aaron Spelling

    08:51

    Emmy Awards

    John Forsythe on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination 

    02:48

    Hollywood Blacklist

    John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist

    02:12

    Industry Crossroads

    John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist

    02:12

    Pop Culture

    John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels  for producer Aaron Spelling

    08:51

    Television Industry

    John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist

    02:12

    John Forsythe on Bachelor Father  switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show

    01:27

    John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors

    00:25

    TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

    John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and The  U.S. Steel Hour

    03:37

    Actor

    John Forsythe on studying at the Actors Studio

    03:39

    John Forsythe on the difference between acting on filmed or taped television and live television

    02:35

    John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors

    00:25

    John Forsythe on researching his acting roles and playing in front of a live audience 

    02:25

    Performers

    John Forsythe on studying at the Actors Studio

    03:39

    John Forsythe on the difference between acting on filmed or taped television and live television

    02:35

    John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors

    00:25

    John Forsythe on researching his acting roles and playing in front of a live audience 

    02:25

    Classic Anthology Series

    John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio OneSuspense, and U.S. Steel

    03:37

    John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock

    08:11

    Comedy Series

    John Forsythe on playing "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father

    01:03

    John Forsythe on starring on Bachelor Father

    13:19

    John Forsythe on starring on The John Forsythe Show

    01:02

    John Forsythe on The John Forsythe Show

    00:54

    John Forsythe on appearing on To Rome with Love

    04:59

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels

    09:48

    Daytime/Primetime Serials

    John Forsythe on playing "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty

    18:39

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    John Forsythe on starring in See How They Run, the first made-for-television movie

    01:25

    John Forsythe on starring in the made-for-television movie "A Bell for Adano"  for Hallmark Hall of Fame

    01:22

    John Forsythe on playing "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty

    05:56

    Diahann Carroll

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Diahann Carroll

    00:31

    Jack Coleman

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Jack Coleman

    00:26

    Joan Collins

    John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty

    01:40

    Noreen Corcoran

    John Forsythe on Noreen Corcoran as "Kelly Gregg" on Bachelor Father

    04:14

    Al Corley

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Al Corley

    00:16

    Linda Evans

    John Forsythe on the guest stars on Bachelor Father  including Linda Evans

    02:01

    Alfred Hitchcock

    John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock

    08:11

    Rock Hudson

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Rock Hudson

    00:42

    John James

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: John James

    00:33

    Heather Locklear

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Heather Locklear

    00:29

    Ali MacGraw

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Ali MacGraw

    00:38

    Pamela Sue Martin

    John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Pamela Sue Martin

    00:28

    Aaron Spelling

    John Forsythe on working with Aaron Spelling

    05:13

    Sammee Tong

    John Forsythe on Sammee Tong as "Peter Tong" on Bachelor Father

    02:46

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