"I don't think I ever thought of myself as going to be an actor; I always knew that I was an actor. I was an actor when I was four, when I was seven, when I was ten, and so on. I never aspired to this job; I just knew that's what I would do with my life, and I did." 

    About This Interview

    In his two-hour interview, Robert Vaughn (1932-2016) talks about growing up as the son of actors and speaks of his own early stage and radio performances during the 1940s. He outlines his academic studies and his move to Los Angeles, his first television appearances on Medic and Playhouse 90, and being typecast as a villain. He describes some of his early career milestones, including the lead in the play End as a Man and his appearance in the feature film The Young Philadelphians, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Vaughn then details the role for which he is most famous: that of "Napoleon Solo" on the classic 1960s spy series, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. He chronicles the show's casting process, working with co-star David McCallum, Ian Fleming's connection to the series, the show's production schedule, and the series' abrupt cancellation. He recounts his early opposition to the Vietnam War; his scholarly work on the Hollywood Blacklist, published as the book Only Victims; and discusses his approach to acting and researching roles. Vaughn speaks of his Emmy-award-winning work in Washington: Behind Closed Doors, in which he played a character based on H.R. Haldeman, and comments briefly on other series in which he appeared as a regular: The Protectors, The A-Team, and Hustle (Hu$tle). Ron Simon conducted the interview on May 18, 2007 in New York, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Robert Vaughn

    Robert Vaughn on getting discovered by Burt Lancaster when Vaughn performed in "End is a Man"

    02:33
    Thumbnail of Robert Vaughn

    Robert Vaughn on playing villains

    00:44
    Thumbnail of Robert Vaughn

    Robert Vaughn on his character, "Napoloeon Solo" in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    01:00
    Thumbnail of Robert Vaughn

    Robert Vaughn on his dissertation becoming the book Only Victims  

    01:01
    Thumbnail of Robert Vaughn

    Robert Vaughn on advice to aspiring actors

    00:42
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early influences; on his fascination with radio and acting; on meeting John Barrymore when Vaughn was six-years-old; on early stage and radio performances; on sports he played in high school; on his early impressions of television

    11:47

    On moving to Los Angeles; on attending Los Angeles City College and acting in student productions; on his first professional television job in L.A. - on Medic; on the influence of Marlon Brando on him; on the play "End is a Man"; on Burt Lancaster and working with Paul Newman in film The Young Philadelphian;  on The Magnificent Seven

    12:48

    On his work in television westerns; on playing villains; on live television anthologies

    04:47

    Chapter 2

    On working with director John Frankenheimer; on Alfred Hitchcock Presents; on McCarthyism and his dissertation on the Blacklist; on his starring role in The Lieutenant;  on the assassination of President Kennedy

    12:42

    On playing the romantic lead in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on his character, "Napoloeon Solo"; on co-stars David McCallum and Leo G. Carroll; on production of the show; on the fame he and David McCallum experienced; on the writers and directors of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    16:35

    Chapter 3

    On The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (contd.); on the gadgets on the show, his contract, and guest appearances on other shows in character as "Napoleon Solo"; on his dressing room; on his involvement with politics

    18:57

    On The Man From U.N.C.L.E. going off the air; on The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.; on his dissertation on The Blacklist; on his dissertation becoming the book Only Victims; on the legacy of  The Man From U.N.C.L.E; on the craft of acting

    10:42

    Chapter 4

    On his favorite genre in which to work; on his role in Bullitt; on political roles he's played; on his Emmy win for Washington: Behind Closed Doors; on Porky Pig and his production company; on The Protectors; on guest starring on and directing Police Woman with Angie Dickinson

    11:16

    On TV movies and miniseries in the 1970s and starring in Washington: Behind Closed Doors; on The Fifteen Year Later Affair - reunion movie of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on appearing on the final season of The A-Team

    06:56

    On his stage work in the '80s - "Inherit the Wind"; on returning to England to shoot Hustle; on differences between acting in America and in England; on living on the East Coast, on his proudest professional achievement; on his biggest professional regret - not doing My Fair Lady; on his musical talents

    11:03

    Chapter 5

    On advice to aspiring actors; on roles that meant a lot to him; on his stage role as Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten; on how he'd like to be remembered; on being recognized as "Napoleon Solo"

    08:19

    A-Team, The

    Robert Vaughn on appearing on the final season of The A-Team

    02:16

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

    Robert Vaughn on working on Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    00:44

    Danny Kaye Show, The

    Robert Vaughn on guest appearances on other shows in character as "Napoleon Solo"

    00:59

    Girl From U.N.C.L.E., The

    Robert Vaughn on The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.  

    00:47

    Good Morning America

    Robert Vaughn on reuniting with David McCallum on Good Morning America in 1982 and for a reunion show

    02:08

    Gunsmoke

    Robert Vaughn on his work in television westerns

    01:54

    Hullabaloo

    Robert Vaughn on hosting Hullabaloo

    00:32

    Jimmy Durante Meets the Lively Arts

    Robert Vaughn on guest appearances on other shows in character as "Napoleon Solo"

    00:59

    Lieutenant, The

    Robert Vaughn on his starring role in The Lieutenant

    05:05

    Man From U.N.C.L.E., The

    Robert Vaughn on the premise of, his role in, co-stars of, and production on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    16:35

    Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (contd.) - on the different seasons, gadgets, his contract

    05:34

    Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. going off the air; on the continuation of the franchise

    02:57

    Robert Vaughn on the legacy and relevancy of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. in the 21st century

    00:37

    Robert Vaughn on being recognized as "Napoleon Solo"

    01:03

    Medic

    Robert Vaughn on his first professional television job in L.A. - on Medic

    01:26

    Playhouse 90

    Robert Vaughn on working with director John Frankenheimer

    01:21

    Robert Vaughn on "The Troublemakers" on Playhouse 90 with Ben Gazarra, directed by John Frankenheimer

    02:53

    Police Woman

    Robert Vaughn on guest starring on and directing Police Woman with Angie Dickinson

    01:06

    Protectors, The

    Robert Vaughn on working with Lew Grade on The Protectors

    05:08

    Return of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Year Later Affair

    Robert Vaughn on reuniting with David McCallum on Good Morning America in 1982 and for a reunion show

    02:08

    Washington: Behind Closed Doors

    Robert Vaughn on his Emmy win for Washington: Behind Closed Doors

    00:57

    Robert Vaughn on TV movies and miniseries in the 1970s and starring in Washington: Behind Closed Doors

    01:32

    Anthology Drama

    Robert Vaughn on "The Troublemakers" on Playhouse 90 with Ben Gazarra, directed by John Frankenheimer

    02:53

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Robert Vaughn on his character, "Napoloeon Solo" in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    01:00

    Robert Vaughn on being recognized as "Napoleon Solo"

    01:03

    Fame and Celebrity

    Robert Vaughn on the fame he and David McCallum experienced

    03:39

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Robert Vaughn on McCarthyism and the Hollywood Blacklist; on his dissertation on the Blacklist

    03:54

    Robert Vaughn on his dissertation on The Blacklist

    03:59

    Robert Vaughn on his stage role as Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten, and what blacklisting means today

    03:18

    Industry Crossroads

    Robert Vaughn on his dissertation on The Blacklist

    03:59

    JFK Assassination and Funeral

    Robert Vaughn on the assassination of President Kennedy (the week Vaughn shot the pilot for The Lieutenant)

    01:09

    Television Industry

    Robert Vaughn on his dissertation on The Blacklist

    03:59

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

    Robert Vaughn on "The Troublemakers" on Playhouse 90 with Ben Gazarra, directed by John Frankenheimer

    02:53

    Vietnam War

    Robert Vaughn on his involvement with politics and speaking out against the Vietnam War

    13:23

    Actor

    Robert Vaughn on his fascination with being an actor

    00:27

    Robert Vaughn on his growth as an actor during The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    00:28

    Robert Vaughn on how he gets into character and prepares for a role

    01:55

    Robert Vaughn on the acting for stage, film, radio and television

    01:14

    Robert Vaughn on advice to aspiring actors

    00:42

    Adventure/Espionage Series

    Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    16:35

    Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (contd.) - on the different seasons, gadgets, his contract

    05:34

    Classic Anthology Series

    Robert Vaughn on "The Troublemakers" on Playhouse 90 with Ben Gazarra, directed by John Frankenheimer

    02:53

    Comedy Series

    Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    16:35

    Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (contd.) - on the different seasons, gadgets, his contract

    05:34

    John Barrymore

    Robert Vaughn on meeting John Barrymore when Vaughn was six-years-old

    03:01

    Richard Boone

    Robert Vaughn on his first professional television job in L.A. - on Medic

    01:26

    Marlon Brando

    Robert Vaughn on the influence of Marlon Brando on him

    01:50

    Leo G. Carroll

    Robert Vaughn on David McCallum and Leo G. Carroll,, co-stars in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    02:21

    James Coburn

    Robert Vaughn on suggesting friend James Coburn for a part in The Magnificent Seven

    01:28

    Angie Dickinson

    Robert Vaughn on guest starring on and directing Police Woman with Angie Dickinson

    01:06

    Richard Donner

    Robert Vaughn on director Richard Donner

    00:54

    Norman Felton

    Robert Vaughn on his starring role in The Lieutenant

    05:05

    Robert Vaughn on why Norman Felton cast him as the romantic lead in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    00:49

    Peter Allan Fields

    Robert Vaughn on writer Peter Allan Fields

    00:00

    Ian Fleming

    Robert Vaughn on his starring role in The Lieutenant

    05:05

    John Frankenheimer

    Robert Vaughn on working with director John Frankenheimer

    01:21

    Robert Vaughn on "The Troublemakers" on Playhouse 90 with Ben Gazarra, directed by John Frankenheimer

    02:53

    Ben Gazzara

    Robert Vaughn on "The Troublemakers" on Playhouse 90 with Ben Gazarra, directed by John Frankenheimer

    02:53

    Lew Grade

    Robert Vaughn on working with Lew Grade on The Protectors

    05:08

    Robert F. Kennedy

    Robert Vaughn on being compared to Robert F. Kennedy; on RFK's assassination

    06:43

    Burt Lancaster

    Robert Vaughn on getting discovered by Burt Lancaster when Vaughn performed in "End is a Man"

    01:04

    David McCallum

    Robert Vaughn on David McCallum and Leo G. Carroll,, co-stars in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

    02:21

    Robert Vaughn on the relationship between "Napoleon Solo" and "Illya Kuryakin"

    03:39

    Robert Vaughn on reuniting with David McCallum on Good Morning America in 1982 and for a reunion show

    02:01

    Paul Newman

    Robert Vaughn on working with Paul Newman and getting an Oscar nomination

    01:30

    George Peppard

    Robert Vaughn on appearing on the final season of The A-Team

    00:51

    Michael Ritchie

    Robert Vaughn on director Michael Ritchie

    00:17

    Gene Roddenberry

    Robert Vaughn on his starring role in The Lieutenant

    05:05

    Sam Rolfe

    Robert Vaughn on producer Sam Rolfe

    00:00

    John Sturges

    Robert Vaughn on his Oscar nominated performance in The Young Philadelphian convincing John Sturges to direct The Magnificent Seven

    01:28

    Dalton Trumbo

    Robert Vaughn on his stage role as Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten

    02:06

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