About
"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."
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.
Highlights

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

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

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

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

John Forsythe on how he'd like to be remembered
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
On announcing for the Brooklyn Dodgers; on studying at the Actors Studio; on his early stage and film roles
Chapter 2
On his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, 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
On producing the live production The First Hundred Years; on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and working with Alfred Hitchcock
On the Hollywood Blacklist; on how Bachelor Father came about; on his character "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father
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
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
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
On appearing in the feature "In Cold Blood"; on starring on The John Forsythe Show
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
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"
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
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
On the sets of Dynasty; on the popularity of Dynasty; on shooting the show
On the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys; on the 1991 Dynasty reunion
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
Shows
Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and working with Alfred Hitchcock
Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on how Bachelor Father came about
John Forsythe on his character "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on the premise of Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on Noreen Corcoran as "Kelly Gregg" on Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on Peter Tong as Sammee Tong on Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on the guest stars on Bachelor Father including Linda Evans
John Forsythe on Bachelor Father switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show
Charlie's Angels
John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling
John Forsythe on getting involved with the movie version of Charlie's Angels
Colbys, The
John Forsythe on the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys
Dynasty
John Forsythe on being cast as "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty
John Forsythe on the premise of Dynasty
John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty
John Forsythe on working with Linda Evans as "Krystle Carrington" on Dynasty
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty
John Forsythe on the producers of Dynasty and the plots of the show
John Forsythe on the sets of Dynasty
John Forsythe on the popularity of Dynasty
John Forsythe on shooting Dynasty
John Forsythe on the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys
John Forsythe on the 1991 Dynasty reunion
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
John Forsythe on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination
Hallmark Hall of Fame
John Forsythe on starring in the made-for-television movie "A Bell for Adano" for Hallmark Hall of Fame
John Forsythe Show, The
John Forsythe on starring on The John Forsythe Show
John Forsythe on The John Forsythe Show
See How They Run
John Forsythe on starring in See How They Run, the first made-for-television movie
Studio One
John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and U.S. Steel
Suspense
John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and U.S. Steel
John Forsythe on acting on the series Suspense and the challenges of acting on live television
To Rome With Love
John Forsythe on appearing on To Rome with Love
United States Steel Hour, The
John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and The U.S. Steel Hour
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
John Forsythe on Bachelor Father switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show
Advice
John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors
Anthology Drama
John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and The U.S. Steel Hour
Characters & Catchphrases
John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling
Emmy Awards
John Forsythe on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination
Hollywood Blacklist
John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist
Pop Culture
John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling
Television Industry
John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist
John Forsythe on Bachelor Father switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show
John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and The U.S. Steel Hour
Professions
Actor
John Forsythe on studying at the Actors Studio
John Forsythe on the difference between acting on filmed or taped television and live television
John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors
John Forsythe on researching his acting roles and playing in front of a live audience
Performers
John Forsythe on studying at the Actors Studio
John Forsythe on the difference between acting on filmed or taped television and live television
John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors
John Forsythe on researching his acting roles and playing in front of a live audience
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and U.S. Steel
John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and working with Alfred Hitchcock
Comedy Series
John Forsythe on playing "Bentley Gregg" on Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on starring on Bachelor Father
John Forsythe on starring on The John Forsythe Show
John Forsythe on The John Forsythe Show
John Forsythe on appearing on To Rome with Love
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels
Daytime/Primetime Serials
John Forsythe on playing "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
John Forsythe on starring in See How They Run, the first made-for-television movie
John Forsythe on starring in the made-for-television movie "A Bell for Adano" for Hallmark Hall of Fame
John Forsythe on playing "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty
People
Diahann Carroll
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Diahann Carroll
Jack Coleman
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Jack Coleman
Joan Collins
John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty
Noreen Corcoran
John Forsythe on Noreen Corcoran as "Kelly Gregg" on Bachelor Father
Al Corley
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Al Corley
Linda Evans
John Forsythe on the guest stars on Bachelor Father including Linda Evans
Alfred Hitchcock
John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and working with Alfred Hitchcock
Rock Hudson
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Rock Hudson
John James
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: John James
Heather Locklear
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Heather Locklear
Ali MacGraw
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Ali MacGraw
Pamela Sue Martin
John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Pamela Sue Martin
Aaron Spelling
John Forsythe on working with Aaron Spelling
Sammee Tong
John Forsythe on Sammee Tong as "Peter Tong" on Bachelor Father