John Forsythe

Actor
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
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.

"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."

People Talking About ...
John Forsythe
Highlights
John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty
01:40
John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock
08:11
John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels for producer Aaron Spelling
08:51
John Forsythe on appearing in the feature "In Cold Blood" 
06:30
John Forsythe on how he'd like to be remembered 
00:35
Full Interview

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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

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John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and working with Alfred Hitchcock
08:11

Bachelor Father

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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

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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

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John Forsythe on the decline in quality of Dynasty and on the spin-off The Colbys
04:04

Dynasty

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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)

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John Forsythe on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination 
02:48

Hallmark Hall of Fame

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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

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John Forsythe on starring on The John Forsythe Show
01:02
John Forsythe on The John Forsythe Show
00:54

See How They Run

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John Forsythe on starring in See How They Run, the first made-for-television movie
01:25

Studio One

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John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and U.S. Steel
03:37

Suspense

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John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, 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

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John Forsythe on appearing on To Rome with Love
04:59

United States Steel Hour, The

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John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and The  U.S. Steel Hour
03:37
Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

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John Forsythe on Bachelor Father  switching between the three networks and on the sponsorship of the show
01:27

Advice

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John Forsythe on advice to aspiring actors
00:25

Characters & Catchphrases

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John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels  for producer Aaron Spelling
08:51

Emmy Awards

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John Forsythe on the quality of the live shows in the '50s and his first Emmy nomination 
02:48

Hollywood Blacklist

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John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist
02:12

Industry Crossroads

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John Forsythe on the Hollywood Blacklist
02:12

Pop Culture

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John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels  for producer Aaron Spelling
08:51

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

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John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and The  U.S. Steel Hour
03:37

Television Industry

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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
Professions

Actor

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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

View Profession
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
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

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John Forsythe on his early experiences on live television including Studio One, Suspense, and U.S. Steel
03:37
John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock
08:11

Comedy Series

View Genre
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

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John Forsythe on providing the voice of "Charlie" on Charlie's Angels
09:48

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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John Forsythe on playing "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty
18:39

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
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
People

Aaron Spelling

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John Forsythe on working with Aaron Spelling
05:13

Al Corley

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Al Corley
00:16

Alfred Hitchcock

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John Forsythe on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents  and working with Alfred Hitchcock
08:11

Ali MacGraw

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Ali MacGraw
00:38

Diahann Carroll

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Diahann Carroll
00:31

Heather Locklear

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Heather Locklear
00:29

Jack Coleman

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Jack Coleman
00:26

Joan Collins

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John Forsythe on working with Joan Collins as "Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter" on Dynasty
01:40

John James

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: John James
00:33

Linda Evans

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John Forsythe on the guest stars on Bachelor Father  including Linda Evans
02:01

Noreen Corcoran

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John Forsythe on Noreen Corcoran as "Kelly Gregg" on Bachelor Father
04:14

Pamela Sue Martin

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Pamela Sue Martin
00:28

Rock Hudson

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John Forsythe on the cast of Dynasty: Rock Hudson
00:42

Sammee Tong

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John Forsythe on Sammee Tong as "Peter Tong" on Bachelor Father
02:46

All Interviews

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