Robert Culp

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-hour interview, Robert Culp (1930-2010) talks about his childhood interests and how he aspired to be an animator for Disney when he grew up. He talks about his acting training and his move to New York City, breaking into theater and television. He explains how he was able to get work in television as an indirect result of the Hollywood Blacklist, as a newcomer with no affiliations. Culp talks about his early experiences in Los Angeles as a struggling actor and describes his first role as a series regular, on the series Trackdown. He speaks fondly of working with Dick Powell, whose Four Star Productions produced that series. He describes some of the roles he had in a variety of the popular TV genres of the day— Western, detective, medical, sci-fi— including his memorable parts on the classic sci-fi anthology The Outer Limits. Culp then speaks in great detail about the role and the series with which he is most closely associated: "Kelly Robinson" on I Spy. For I Spy he talks about the on-location shooting, working with co-star Bill Cosby (and the controversial casting of an African American lead), and talks about some of the series' episodes in which he acted as well as wrote. He then speaks about memorable appearances in The Greatest American Hero and Everybody Loves Raymond. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on November 6, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"On opening night, the lights hit me and I went backstage and sat behind the flats, listening. Not to the people onstage. I knew what they were saying. To the audience. I had never experienced that before. It was alive. I had never been so thrilled in my life. I never stopped working as an actor from then on."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Robert Culp on appearing in various stage plays in New York City, which led him to television
03:22
Robert Culp on his work on Everybody Loves Raymond
05:01
Robert Culp on his I Spy character, "Kelly Robinson"
01:50
Robert Culp on his chemistry with Bill Cosby on I Spy, and on acting advice he gave him
08:02
Robert Culp on his Greatest American Hero co-stars William Katt and Connie Sellecca
02:05
Robert Culp on the rumor of his being set to replace Larry Hagman on Dallas, and on the end of Greatest American Hero
03:14
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on originally wanting to be a cartoonist, and on discovering acting
On his earliest impressions of television, and on playing a part on radio and being signed by William Morris; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On modifying his acting when going from stage to television; on making a living as an actor

Chapter 2

On making money as an actor, and on getting work on the stage; on writing a play, and on learning how to prepare material to perform; on appearing in various stage plays in New York City, which led him to television
On moving to Los Angeles and appearing on NBC Matinee Theater and Trackdown; on becoming a writer for Trackdown, the series he was starring in
On playing "Hoby Gilman" in the Four Star-produced western series Trackdown; on his experience with Dick Powell and Powell's Four Star Productions

Chapter 3

On what it was like to work for Dick Powell's Four Star productions; on the Western genre
On meeting and working with Sam Peckinpah on The Westerner episode "Line Camp"; on working on a Shirley Temple's Storybook episode when he heard that President Kennedy had been shot
On working on Alfred Hitchcock Presents; on meeting Barbara Stanwyck on The Barbara Stanwyck Show; on Mary Astor

Chapter 4

On guest-starring on the series Cain's Hundred; on the events that led up starring on I Spy produced by Sheldon Leonard; on Sheldon Leonard casting Bill Cosby on I Spy at the suggestion of Rob Reiner
On shooting the pilot for I Spy co-starring Bill Cosby and produced by Sheldon Leonard, and on writing four episodes; on his I Spy character, "Kelly Robinson"
On public reaction to I Spy; on traveling around the world to shoot I Spy

Chapter 5

On his chemistry with Bill Cosby on I Spy; on he and Bill Cosby acting as mentors for each other on I Spy; on dealing with the racial aspect of I Spy
On the non-legacy of I Spy; on the 1994 revival of I Spy
On how The Greatest American Hero came about, and on working with the cast; on working with Stephen J. Cannell on Greatest American Hero; on how his fanbase shifted with Greatest American Hero, and on appearing on The Cosby Show

Chapter 6

On the rumor of his being set to replace Larry Hagman on Dallas, and on the end of Greatest American Hero; on his work on three episodes of The Outer Limits
On his work on Everybody Loves Raymond; on then-current projects
On professional achievements and regrets; on advice to an aspiring actor; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

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Robert Culp on working on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
01:07

Barbara Stanwyck Show, The

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Robert Culp on meeting Barbara Stanwyck on The Barbara Stanwyck Show
01:52

Cain's Hundred

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Robert Culp on guest-starring on the series Cain's Hundred, and on writing an episode of the series
06:07

Dallas

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Robert Culp on the rumor of his being set to replace Larry Hagman on Dallas, and on the end of Greatest American Hero
03:14

Everybody Loves Raymond

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Robert Culp on his work on Everybody Loves Raymond
05:01

Greatest American Hero, The

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Robert Culp on how The Greatest American Hero came about for him
03:05
Robert Culp on his Greatest American Hero co-stars William Katt and Connie Sellecca
02:05
Robert Culp on working with Stephen J. Cannell on Greatest American Hero
01:00
Robert Culp on how his fanbase shifted with Greatest American Hero, and on appearing on The Cosby Show
04:05
Robert Culp on the rumor of his being set to replace Larry Hagman on Dallas, and on the end of Greatest American Hero
03:14

I Spy

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Robert Culp on the events that led up to his starring on I Spy
02:26
Robert Culp on Sheldon Leonard casting Bill Cosby on I Spy at the suggestion of Rob Reiner
03:54
Robert Culp on shooting the original pilot for I Spy co-starring Bill Cosby and produced by Sheldon Leonard, and on writing four episodes
07:29
Robert Culp on his I Spy character, "Kelly Robinson"
01:50
Robert Culp on public and critical reaction to I Spy, and on the end of the show
04:36
Robert Culp on traveling around the world to shoot I Spy
01:57
Robert Culp on his chemistry with Bill Cosby on I Spy, and on acting advice he gave him
08:02
Robert Culp on he and Bill Cosby acting as mentors for each other on I Spy
03:22
Robert Culp on dealing with the racial aspect of I Spy
02:31
Robert Culp on the non-legacy of I Spy
02:35
Robert Culp on the 1994 revival of I Spy
02:48

NBC Matinee Theater

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Robert Culp on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on NBC Matinee Theater and Trackdown produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Productions
04:45

Outer Limits, The (1963-65)

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Robert Culp on his work on three episodes of The Outer Limits
08:54

Rifleman, The

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Robert Culp on meeting and working with Sam Peckinpah on The Westerner episode "Line Camp"
11:09

Shirley Temple's Storybook

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Robert Culp on working on a Shirley Temple's Storybook episode when he heard that President Kennedy had been shot
04:38

Trackdown

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Robert Culp on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on NBC Matinee Theater and Trackdown produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Productions
04:45
Robert Culp on becoming a writer for Trackdown while he was starring on it
02:59
Robert Culp on playing "Hoby Gilman" in the Four Star-produced western series Trackdown
03:33

Westerner, The

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Robert Culp on meeting and working with Sam Peckinpah on The Westerner episode "Line Camp"
11:09

You Are There

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Robert Culp on his first work for television on You Are There and on how his being new to television during the Blacklist period got him started in television
03:27
Topics

Advice

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Robert Culp on advice to an aspiring actor
00:41

Characters & Catchphrases

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Robert Culp on playing "Hoby Gilman" on the western series Trackdown
03:37
Robert Culp on his I Spy character, "Kelly Robinson"
01:50

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Robert Culp on he and Bill Cosby acting as mentors for each other on I Spy
03:22

Historic Events and Social Change

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Robert Culp on working on a Shirley Temple's Storybook episode when he heard that President Kennedy had been shot
01:23
Robert Culp on dealing with the racial aspect of I Spy
02:31

Hollywood Blacklist

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Robert Culp on the Hollywood Blacklist
01:19

Industry Crossroads

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Robert Culp on the Hollywood Blacklist
01:19

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Robert Culp on working on a Shirley Temple's Storybook episode when he heard that President Kennedy had been shot
01:23

Pivotal Career Moments

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Robert Culp on he and Bill Cosby acting as mentors for each other on I Spy
03:22

Pop Culture

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Robert Culp on playing "Hoby Gilman" on the western series Trackdown
03:33
Robert Culp on his I Spy character, "Kelly Robinson"
01:50

Representation on Television

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Robert Culp on dealing with the racial aspect of I Spy
02:31

Television Industry

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Robert Culp on the Hollywood Blacklist
01:19
Robert Culp on advice to an aspiring actor
00:41

Underrepresented Voices

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Robert Culp on dealing with the racial aspect of I Spy
02:31
Professions

Actor

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Robert Culp on modifying his acting when going from stage to television
05:15
Robert Culp on making a living as an actor
03:15
Robert Culp on making money as an actor, and on getting work on the stage
06:48
Robert Culp on writing a play, and on learning how to prepare material to perform
05:25
Robert Culp on his chemistry with Bill Cosby on I Spy, and on acting advice he gave him
08:02
Robert Culp on advice to an aspiring actor
00:41

Performers

View Profession
Robert Culp on modifying his acting when going from stage to television
05:15
Robert Culp on making a living as an actor
03:15
Robert Culp on making money as an actor, and on getting work on the stage
06:48
Robert Culp on writing a play, and on learning how to prepare material to perform
05:25
Robert Culp on his chemistry with Bill Cosby on I Spy, and on acting advice he gave him
08:02
Robert Culp on advice to an aspiring actor
00:41
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

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Robert Culp on starring on I Spy
22:12
Robert Culp on starring on I Spy
19:13
Robert Culp on co-starring on The Greatest American Hero
10:20

Classic Anthology Series

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Robert Culp on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on NBC Matinee Theater and Trackdown
04:45
Robert Culp working on an episode of Shirley Temple's Storybook
04:38
Robert Culp on working on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
01:07
Robert Culp on meeting Barbara Stanwyck on The Barbara Stanwyck Show
01:52

Western Series

View Genre
Robert Culp on writing and starring in Trackdown
13:17
Robert Culp on the Western genre
03:11
Robert Culp on writing for the Western genre
01:59
Robert Culp on meeting and working with Sam Peckinpah on The Westerner episode "Line Camp"
11:09
People

Barbara Stanwyck

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Robert Culp on meeting Barbara Stanwyck on The Barbara Stanwyck Show
01:21

Bill Cosby

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Robert Culp on Sheldon Leonard casting Bill Cosby on I Spy at the suggestion of Rob Reiner
03:54
Robert Culp on shooting the pilot for I Spy co-starring Bill Cosby and produced by Sheldon Leonard, and on writing four episodes
07:29
Robert Culp on his chemistry with Bill Cosby on I Spy
08:02
Robert Culp on he and Bill Cosby acting as mentors for each other on I Spy
03:22

Connie Sellecca

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Robert Culp on his Greatest American Hero co-stars William Katt and Connie Sellecca
02:05

Dick Powell

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Robert Culp on his experience with Dick Powell and Powell's Four Star Productions
01:56
Robert Culp on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on NBC Matinee Theater and Trackdown produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Productions
04:45
Robert Culp on what it was like to work for Dick Powell's Four Star productions
05:38

Larry Hagman

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Robert Culp on the rumor of his being set to replace Larry Hagman on Dallas, and on the end of Greatest American Hero
03:14

Mary Astor

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Robert Culp on Mary Astor
02:09

Rob Reiner

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Robert Culp on Sheldon Leonard casting Bill Cosby on I Spy at the suggestion of Rob Reiner
03:54

Sam Peckinpah

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Robert Culp on meeting and working with Sam Peckinpah on The Westerner episode "Line Camp"
11:09

Sheldon Leonard

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Robert Culp on the events that led up starring on I Spy produced by Sheldon Leonard
02:26
Robert Culp on Sheldon Leonard casting Bill Cosby on I Spy at the suggestion of Rob Reiner
03:54
Robert Culp on shooting the pilot for I Spy co-starring Bill Cosby and produced by Sheldon Leonard, and on writing four episodes
07:29

Stephen J. Cannell

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Robert Culp on working with Stephen J. Cannell on Greatest American Hero
01:00

William Katt

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Robert Culp on his Greatest American Hero co-stars William Katt and Connie Sellecca
02:05

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