Louis Nye with Emerson College

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About this interview

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

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Highlights
Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character
02:03
Louis Nye on working with Charlton Heston on The Steve Allen Show
02:16
Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm
04:39
Louis Nye on his process for learning dialects
03:28
Louis Nye on the Pagliacci syndrome and the prevalence of depression among comedians
01:42
Louis Nye on advice to students about a career in comedy and on sacrifices he made to be in the business
05:31
Full Interview

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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
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
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
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
Shows

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm
04:39

Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)

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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
Topics

Advice

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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

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Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character
02:03

Historic Events and Social Change

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Louis Nye on material he did about World War II that he performed for G.I.s and for officers
04:27

Pop Culture

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Louis Nye on developing his "Gordon Hathaway" character
02:03

Television Industry

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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

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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

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Louis Nye on material he did about World War II that he performed for G.I.s and for officers
04:27
Professions

Comedian

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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

View Profession
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
Genres

Comedy Series

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Louis Nye on working on The Steve Allen Show
03:57
Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm
04:39
People

Steve Allen

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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

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Louis Nye on his characters potentially being offensive and on working with Jack Benny
01:27

Larry David

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Louis Nye on enjoying working on Curb Your Enthusiasm
04:39

Jimmy Durante

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Louis Nye on working with Jimmy Durante
00:48

Charlton Heston

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Louis Nye on working with Charlton Heston on The Steve Allen Show
02:19

Bob Hope

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Louis Nye on working with Bob Hope
00:32

Don Knotts

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Louis Nye on Don Knotts and on how looking funny helps in comedy
00:37

Martha Raye

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Louis Nye on working with Martha Raye and others
00:30

Peter Ustinov

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Louis Nye on working with Peter Ustinov
02:33

Orson Welles

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Louis Nye and Bill Dana on Orson Welles' description of the difference between radio and television
00:31

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