About
"People create their gods in order to eat them. Then when you meet this god you want an autograph, you want a photograph, shake a hand, hug. What you're doing, in psychological terms, is trying to get a piece of that part of the person that's a god, for yourself. When you're a celebrity what you encounter with people is their agendas, which oftentimes have nothing to do with who you are."
In his two-hour-plus interview, Paul Michael Glaser talks about his early life and the plays he performed in before being cast as "Perchik" in the feature film version of Fiddler on the Roof. He recalls his role on the daytime drama Love Is a Many Splendored Thing and talks of several guest-starring roles on shows like Cannon, The Rockford Files, and Kojak. He then describes being cast as "Dave Starsky" on the ABC cop/drama series Starsky and Hutch. He details his four years on the show and comments on his co-star David Soul and producers Leonard Goldberg and Aaron Spelling. He tells of dealing with his character's iconic car and disliking items from his wardrobe from the show. Glaser also talks about coping with the fame and celebrity that came with Starsky and Hutch. He details directing several feature films and television episodes, including an Emmy-nominated installment of Miami Vice. He recounts his appearance on 60 Minutes with his wife Elizabeth Glaser, on which they discussed her and their children's HIV-positive diagnoses. He talks of becoming the chairman of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and wraps up by discussing his book, Chrystallia and the Source of Light. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on August 6, 2014 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Paul Michael Glaser on being cast as "Dave Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the car on Starsky and Hutch and doing his own stunts
Paul Michael Glaser on working with David Soul as "Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson" on Starsky and Hutch and his qualms about the quality of the show
Paul Michael Glaser on directing Miami Vice and being nominated for an Emmy and DGA award
Paul Michael Glaser on his role as the Chairman of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up; on his early interest in directing
On appearing in plays; on acting on Love is a Many Splendored Thing; on various guest-starring roles
On being cast as "Dave Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch; on working with David Soul on Starsky and Hutch; on contributing to the writing of the show and doing his own stunts
On his iconic Starsky and Hutch wardrobe; on the production of the show and the atmosphere on the show; on working with producer Aaron Spelling
Chapter 2
On the producers of Starsky and Hutch: on working with David Soul on Starsky and Hutch; on the directors of Starsky and Hutch and directing some episodes himself
On Antonio Fargas as "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch; on dealing with the fame and celebrity that came along with Starsky and Hutch; on the end of the show and its legacy
On directing Miami Vice and being nominated for an Emmy and DGA award; on starring in the made-for-television movie The Great Houdini; on appearing in the feature film "Phobia" and directing various feature films
On dealing with his wife and children's HIV-positive diagnosis and coming forward on 60 Minutes; on directing various feature films; on his role as the Chairman of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Chapter 3
On directing the series Robbery Homicide Division; on appearing in the made-for-television movie And Never Let Her Go; on his writing career; on advice to aspiring actors and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
60 Minutes
Paul Michael Glaser on appearing on 60 Minutes to discuss his wife Elizabeth Glaser's struggle with HIV/AIDS
Cannon
Paul Michael Glaser on appearing on Cannon and how series regulars generally treated him when he was making guest appearances
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Paul Michael Glaser on directing Miami Vice and being nominated for an Emmy and DGA award
Kojak
Paul Michael Glaser on guest-starring on Kojak
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Paul Michael Glaser on playing "Peter Chernak" on Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Miami Vice
Paul Michael Glaser on directing Miami Vice and being nominated for an Emmy and DGA award
Rockford Files, The
Paul Michael Glaser on guest-starring on The Rockford Files
Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on meeting David Soul for the first time
Paul Michael Glaser on being cast as "Dave Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on working with David Soul as "Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson" on Starsky and Hutch and his qualms about the quality of the show
Paul Michael Glaser on his Starsky and Hutch character "Dave Starsky"
Paul Michael Glaser on ad-libbing on Starsky and Hutch and contributing to the writing of the show
Paul Michael Glaser on directing the Starsky and Hutch episode "Ballad for a Blue Lady"
Paul Michael Glaser on the car on Starsky and Hutch and doing his own stunts
Paul Michael Glaser on "Starsky's" iconic wardrobe on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the production of Starsky and Hutch and the atmosphere on the set
Paul Michael Glaser on the tone and humor of Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on working with producer Aaron Spelling on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the producers of Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the 2004 feature version of Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on his chemistry with David Soul as "Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson" on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the directors of Starsky and Hutch and directing some episodes himself
Paul Michael Glaser on Antonio Fargas as "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on dealing with the fame and celebrity that came along with Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the end of Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the legacy of Starsky and Hutch
Streets of San Francisco, The
Paul Michael Glaser on guest-starring on Streets of San Francisco
Waltons, The
Paul Michael Glaser on guest-starring on The Waltons
Topics
Advice
Paul Michael Glaser on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
Paul Michael Glaser on "Starsky's" iconic wardrobe on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the car on Starsky and Hutch and doing his own stunts
Emmy Awards
Paul Michael Glaser on directing Miami Vice and being nominated for an Emmy and DGA award
Fame and Celebrity
Paul Michael Glaser on dealing with the fame and celebrity that came along with Starsky and Hutch
First Big Break
Paul Michael Glaser on getting cast in Love of Life, appearing in the feature film "Fiddler on the Roof" and being put off by acting in film
Historic Events and Social Change
Paul Michael Glaser on appearing on 60 Minutes to discuss his wife Elizabeth Glaser's struggle with HIV/AIDS
Paul Michael Glaser on dealing with his wife and children's HIV-positive diagnoses and creating the Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Paul Michael Glaser on his role as the Chairman of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Pivotal Career Moments
Paul Michael Glaser on getting cast in Love of Life, appearing in the feature film "Fiddler on the Roof" and being put off by acting in film
Pop Culture
Paul Michael Glaser on "Starsky's" iconic wardrobe on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the car on Starsky and Hutch and doing his own stunts
Paul Michael Glaser on dealing with the fame and celebrity that came along with Starsky and Hutch
Television Industry
Paul Michael Glaser on advice to aspiring actors
Professions
Actor
Paul Michael Glaser on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Paul Michael Glaser on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Paul Michael Glaser on playing "Dave Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch (Part 1)
Paul Michael Glaser on playing "Dave Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch (Part 2)
People
James Garner
Paul Michael Glaser on guest-starring on The Rockford Files
Leonard Goldberg
Paul Michael Glaser on the producers of Starsky and Hutch
John Huston
Paul Michael Glaser on appearing in the feature film "Phobia" directed by John Huston
Michael Mann
Paul Michael Glaser on directing the series Robbery Homicide Division
Bruce Paltrow
Paul Michael Glaser on his college roommate at Tulane, Bruce Paltrow
Telly Savalas
Paul Michael Glaser on guest-starring on Kojak
David Soul
Paul Michael Glaser on meeting David Soul
Paul Michael Glaser on working with David Soul as "Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson" on Starsky and Hutch and his qualms about the quality of the show
Aaron Spelling
Paul Michael Glaser on being cast as "Dave Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on working with producer Aaron Spelling on Starsky and Hutch
Paul Michael Glaser on the producers of Starsky and Hutch