About
"No gay or lesbian person had ever won even a primary for California for the State Legislature. The thing that actually made it easy was 'Zelda Gilroy.' Everybody already liked 'Zelda.' They liked her a lot. And once you realize your third grade teacher, the nurse that saved your life in the hospital, or your aunt are gay, you change your mind about stuff. 'Zelda' helped people feel they were electing a gay person who they already knew and liked."
In her two-hour-forty-five-minute interview, Sheila Kuehl talks about her introduction to performing on live radio as a child. She tells how that led to her role as "Jackie Erwin," the youngest daughter on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father. She recalls working on the program with a then-unknown actor named James Dean, as well as guest starring on My Little Margie and several dramatic programs. Kuehl recounts her four years as "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, discusses her fondness for co-stars Dwayne Hickman and Bob Denver, and details the production of the show. She recalls filming a pilot for a spin-off called Zelda Gilroy, which was eventually rejected by the network president for her being "too butch." She discusses leaving acting to pursue a career in law and attending Harvard Law School. She outlines her political career from being the first lesbian to serve in the California State Assembly, to her service in the California State Senate, where she worked with California governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on June 27, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Sheila Kuehl on being cast as "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
Sheila Kuehl on her decision to study law and attend Harvard Law School
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her introduction to performing; on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
On her favorite Stu Erwin Show moments; on her education as a child actor; on acting in 1950's television dramas
On appearing in the feature film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"; on James Dean appearing on The Stu Erwin Show
On being cast as "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on her character "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on working with Dwayne Hickman as "Dobie Gillis" on the show
Chapter 2
On Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on doing publicity for and interacting with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on Tuesday Weld as "Thalia Menninger" on the show
On attending UCLA; on Warren Beatty as "Milton Armitage" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and the end of the show
On various guest-starring roles; on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show as one of "The Ladybugs"
On attending Harvard Law School; on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis reunion movies
Chapter 3
On her law career; on coming out on Good Morning America and The Geraldo Rivera Show; on being elected to the California State Assembly and speaking at the Democratic National Convention
On her West Hollywood Cable TV show Get Used To It; on serving in the California State Senate
On her most important contributions in government; on how television has changed; on career highlights and regrets and her advice to aspiring actors and politicians
Shows
Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet, The
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Beverly Hillbillies, The
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Donna Reed Show, The
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Donna Reed Show
Geraldo
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The
Sheila Kuehl on being cast as "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on her Many Loves of Dobie Gillis character "Zelda Gilroy"
Sheila Kuehl on working with The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis creator Max Shulman
Sheila Kuehl on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis director Rod Amateau
Sheila Kuehl on the production of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on working with Dwayne Hickman as "Dobie Gillis" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on doing publicity for The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
Sheila Kuehl on Tuesday Weld as "Thalia Menninger" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on attending UCLA while on The Many Loves of Dobie Gills
Sheila Kuehl on Warren Beatty as "Milton Armitage" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gills
Sheila Kuehl on her friendship with Dwayne Hickman on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on moments of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis that stood out for her
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on the end of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on appearing in the reunion movies Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis? and Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis
My Little Margie
Sheila Kuehl on appearing on My Little Margie
Petticoat Junction
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Topics
Advice
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
Anthology Drama
Sheila Kuehl on acting in live and filmed television dramas in the 1950s
Characters & Catchphrases
Sheila Kuehl on her Many Loves of Dobie Gillis character "Zelda Gilroy"
Civil Rights Movement
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Comedy-Variety
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
Fame and Celebrity
Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
Historic Events and Social Change
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
Sheila Kuehl on the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling regarding gay marriage
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
LGBTQIA+
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
Sheila Kuehl on the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling regarding gay marriage
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
Pop Culture
Sheila Kuehl on her Many Loves of Dobie Gillis character "Zelda Gilroy"
Representation on Television
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
Sheila Kuehl on the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling regarding gay marriage
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
Television Industry
Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
Sheila Kuehl on acting in live and filmed television dramas in the 1950s
Professions
Actress
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
Performers
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
Genres
Comedy Series
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (Part 2)
People
Rod Amateau
Sheila Kuehl on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis director Rod Amateau
Warren Beatty
Sheila Kuehl on Warren Beatty as "Milton Armitage" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gills
James Dean
Sheila Kuehl on James Dean appearing on The Stu Erwin Show
Bob Denver
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Dwayne Hickman
Sheila Kuehl on working with Dwayne Hickman as "Dobie Gillis" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sheila Kuehl on serving in the California State Senate under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Dick York
Sheila Kuehl on coming out as a lesbian on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America