“'Hi-Ho Steverino!' I never in my life thought that would become a big thing."

About This Interview

In his one-hour-plus interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Louis Nye talks about his start in radio on WTIC, where he found his footing as a performer. He discusses working on Broadway and his time on The Steve Allen Show, and reflects on working with comedians/performers Steve Allen, Larry Gelbart, Don Knotts, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Jimmy Durante. He comments on the creation of perhaps his best-known character, "Gordon Hathaway" and Hathaway's famous catchphrase, "Hi-Ho Steverino!" and talks about the power of comedy and the prevalence of depression among comedians. He also describes what it was like to work on Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiam. The interview concludes with Nye offering advice to current students of comedy and considering the question "was it worth it?" Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on March 7, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA. 

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
People Talking About ...
Louis Nye
Thumbnail of Louis Nye with Emerson College

Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character

02:03
Thumbnail of Louis Nye with Emerson College

Louis Nye on working with Charlton Heston on The Steve Allen Show

02:16
Thumbnail of Louis Nye with Emerson College

Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm

04:39
Thumbnail of Louis Nye with Emerson College

Louis Nye on his process for learning dialects

03:28
Thumbnail of Louis Nye with Emerson College

Louis Nye on the Pagliacci syndrome and the prevalence of depression among comedians

01:42
Thumbnail of Louis Nye with Emerson College

Louis Nye on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business

05:31
Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On doing dog voices on radio; on his childhood in Hartford, CT; on appearing on WTIC radio and being in the Hartford Players as a child; on what he learned from watching movies and listening to radio; on what drew him to comedy; on the first time someone told him he was funny; on his sister

11:37

On the value of humor; on material he did about World War II that he performed for G.I.s and for officers; on bringing back Old Vaudeville in his characters; on his characters potentially being offensive and on working with Jack Benny, Bop Hope, and Jimmy Durante; on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character; on what makes people laugh

17:18

On the importance of knowing the comedians and history that came before; on enjoying foreign films; on his process for learning dialects; on working with Peter Ustinov; on working with Steve Allen and Charlton Heston on The Steve Allen Show; on tools he learned for getting laughs; on the business of comedy; on the Pagliacci syndrome and the prevalence of depression among comedians

16:01

On his work in nightclubs and on Broadway; on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm; on how comedy has changed since he started his career; on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business; on what drove him to be a comedian and on his career longevity; on people expecting him to be in character; on never having a university education experience; on additional advice to students; on originality in comedy; on whether it was all worth it

27:35

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm

04:39

Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)

Louis Nye on working with Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show

01:38

Louis Nye on working with Charlton Heston on The Steve Allen Show

02:16

Advice

Louis Nye on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business

05:31

Louis Nye on additional advice to students

00:27

Characters & Catchphrases

Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character

02:03

Historic Events and Social Change

Louis Nye on material he did about World War II that he performed for G.I.s and for officers

04:27

Pop Culture

Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character

02:03

Television Industry

Louis Nye on the business of comedy

02:59

Louis Nye on how comedy has changed since he started his career

04:02

Louis Nye on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business

05:31

Louis Nye on additional advice to students

00:27

War

Louis Nye on material he did about World War II that he performed for G.I.s and for officers

04:27

World War II

Louis Nye on material he did about World War II that he performed for G.I.s and for officers

04:27

Comedian

Louis Nye on what drew him to comedy

01:22

Louis Nye on the value of humor

01:11

Louis Nye on bringing back Old Vaudeville in his characters

02:59

Louis Nye on his characters potentially being offensive and on working with Jack Benny, Bop Hope, and Jimmy Durante

02:59

Louis Nye on his process for learning dialects

03:28

Louis Nye on tools he learned for getting laughs

01:13

Louis Nye on the business of comedy

02:59

Louis Nye on the Pagliacci syndrome and the prevalence of depression among comedians

01:42

Louis Nye on his work in nightclubs and on Broadway

02:34

Louis Nye on how comedy has changed since he started his career

04:02

Louis Nye on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business

05:31

Louis Nye on what drove him to be a comedian and on his career longevity

02:01

Louis Nye on people expecting him to be in character

00:34

Louis Nye on originality in comedy

01:23

Louis Nye on whether it was all worth it

02:17

Performers

Louis Nye on what drew him to comedy

01:22

Louis Nye on the value of humor

01:11

Louis Nye on bringing back Old Vaudeville in his characters

02:59

Louis Nye on his characters potentially being offensive and on working with Jack Benny, Bop Hope, and Jimmy Durante

02:59

Louis Nye on his process for learning dialects

03:28

Louis Nye on tools he learned for getting laughs

01:13

Louis Nye on the business of comedy

02:59

Louis Nye on the Pagliacci syndrome and the prevalence of depression among comedians

01:42

Louis Nye on his work in nightclubs and on Broadway

02:34

Louis Nye on how comedy has changed since he started his career

04:02

Louis Nye on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business

05:31

Louis Nye on what drove him to be a comedian and on his career longevity

02:01

Louis Nye on people expecting him to be in character

00:34

Louis Nye on originality in comedy

01:23

Louis Nye on whether it was all worth it

02:17

Comedy Series

Louis Nye on working on The Steve Allen Show

03:57

Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm

04:39

Steve Allen

Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character

02:03

Louis Nye on working with Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show

01:38

Jack Benny

Louis Nye on his characters potentially being offensive and on working with Jack Benny

01:27

Larry David

Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm

04:39

Jimmy Durante

Louis Nye on working with Jimmy Durante

00:48

Charlton Heston

Louis Nye on working with Charlton Heston on The Steve Allen Show

02:19

Bob Hope

Louis Nye on working with Bob Hope

00:32

Don Knotts

Louis Nye on Don Knotts and on how looking funny helps in comedy

00:37

Martha Raye

Louis Nye on working with Martha Raye and others

00:30

Peter Ustinov

Louis Nye on working with Peter Ustinov

02:33

Orson Welles

Louis Nye and Bill Dana on Orson Welles' description of the difference between radio and television

00:31

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