"Generally speaking, the dramatic roles are much easier. The reason that so few of us are good at comedy is that it's so damned hard. You really have to be good to be very sharp, indeed. Some very, very fine actors are lost in comedy. And they're smart enough never to do it. Have you ever seen Paul Newman in a comedy? He tried one."

    About This Interview

    In his two-hour interview, Tony Randall (1920-2004) talks about his early years, and his earliest experiences working in television with producer Fred Coe. He talks about appearing on the series Mister Peepers which starred Wally Cox, and details his observations of the Hollywood Blacklist at the time. He recounts working in several feature films, among them Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson and Doris Day, as well as appearing in several variety shows and Bob Hope specials. He details his years as “Felix Unger” on The Odd Couple, including working with co-star Jack Klugman, show creators Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, and supporting cast Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall. He chronicles his experience with two short-lived series The Tony Randall Show and Love Sidney, and his years as the head of the National Actors Theatre. Matt Roush conducted the interview on April 30, 1998 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 Tony Randall

    Tony Randall on producer Fred Coe

    02:10
    Thumbnail of Tony Randall

    Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

    02:21
    Thumbnail of Tony Randall

    Tony Randall on the low ratings of The Odd Couple

    01:22
    Thumbnail of Tony Randall

    Tony Randall on winning the Emmy Award for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show

    03:22
    Thumbnail of Tony Randall

    Tony Randall on starring on Love, Sidney

    05:58
    Thumbnail of Tony Randall

    Tony Randall on creating the National Actors Theater, and on making cameos on Late Show with David Letterman

    02:35
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on making his Broadway debut, and on making a living as a radio announcer early on; on his earliest experiences with television

    13:58

    on his earliest appearances on television including One Man's Family; on the experience of acting on live television in the '50s; on producer Fred Coe, and appearing on the series Mr. Peepers with Wally Cox

    13:33

    Chapter 2

    On a typical workweek on Mister Peepers; on Mister Peepers writer Jim Fritzell; on learning to do comedy on Mister Peepers

    08:48

    On the end of Mister Peepers and on appearing on several classic anthology series; on appearing on Studio One and the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "The Huntress" with Judy Holiday; on the Hollywood Blacklist

    07:55

    On getting into feature films; on replacing Arthur Godfrey for a couple weeks on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    06:20

    On appearing in the feature film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson; on working with Delbert Mann

    05:48

    Chapter 3

    On appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows; on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

    04:51

    On appearing in the play version of The Odd Couple before he did the movie; on playing "Felix Unger" with different "Oscar Madisons" including Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple; on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

    05:45

    On he and Jack Klugman inserting their own personalities into "Felix Unger" and "Oscar Madison" on The Odd Couple; on Garry Marshall's week-to-week involvement in the production of The Odd Couple; on working his own interests, including ballet and opera, into The Odd Couple

    06:08

    On the process of writing scripts for The Odd Couple, and on the decision to film in front of a live audience; on the low ratings of The Odd Couple;

    04:15

    On the rehearsal process of The Odd Couple, and working with directors like Jerry Paris; on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall

    06:00

    Chapter 4

    On individual episodes of The Odd Couple; on winning the Emmy Award for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show; on starring on The Tony Randall Show

    09:29

    On starring on Love, Sidney; on creating the National Actors Theater, and on making cameos on Late Show with David Letterman; on doing The Odd Couple reunion movie

    09:32

    On directing for the National Actors Theater, and on the importance of continuing to work; on career highlights, and on becoming a father late in life; on the then-current state of television, and how he'd like to be remembered

    07:35

    Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    Tony Randall on replacing Arthur Godfrey for a couple weeks on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    01:57

    Bob Hope Specials

    Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

    02:10

    Love, Sidney

    Tony Randall on starring on Love, Sidney

    05:58

    Mister Peepers

    Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox

    06:59

    Tony Randall on a typical workweek on Mister Peepers

    04:11

    Tony Randall on Mister Peepers writer Jim Fritzell

    01:43

    Tony Randall on learning to do comedy on Mister Peepers

    02:54

    Tony Randall on the end of Mister Peepers and on appearing on several classic anthology series

    02:04

    Odd Couple, The (1970-75)

    Tony Randall on playing "Felix Unger" with different "Oscar Madisons" including Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

    01:19

    Tony Randall on appearing in the play version of The Odd Couple before he did the movie

    02:05

    Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

    02:21

    Tony Randall on he and Jack Klugman inserting their own personalities into "Felix Unger" and "Oscar Madison" on The Odd Couple

    01:32

    Tony Randall on Garry Marshall's week-to-week involvement in the production of The Odd Couple

    02:37

    Tony Randall on working his own interests, including ballet and opera, into The Odd Couple

    01:59

    Tony Randall on the process of writing scripts for The Odd Couple, and on the decision to film in front of a live audience

    02:53

    Tony Randall on the low ratings of The Odd Couple

    01:22

    Tony Randall on the rehearsal process of The Odd Couple, and working with directors like Jerry Paris

    04:05

    Tony Randall on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall

    01:55

    Tony Randall on individual episodes of The Odd Couple

    04:23

    Tony Randall on winning the Emmy Award for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show

    03:22

    Tony Randall on doing The Odd Couple reunion movie

    00:56

    One Man's Family

    Tony Randall on his earliest appearances on television including One Man's Family

    01:46

    Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

    Tony Randall on appearing on Studio One and the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "The Huntress" with Judy Holiday

    03:07

    Studio One

    Tony Randall on appearing on Studio One and the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "The Huntress" with Judy Holiday

    03:07

    Tony Randall Show, The

    Tony Randall on starring on The Tony Randall Show

    01:44

    United States Steel Hour, The

    Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows

    02:42

    Anthology Drama

    Tony Randall on the experience of acting on live television in the '50s

    02:54

    Emmy Awards

    Tony Randall on winning the Emmy for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show

    03:22

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Tony Randall on the Hollywood Blacklist

    02:44

    Industry Crossroads

    Tony Randall on the Hollywood Blacklist

    02:44

    Television Industry

    Tony Randall on the Hollywood Blacklist

    45:59

    Tony Randall on the then-current state of television

    02:01

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

    Tony Randall on the experience of acting on live television in the '50s

    02:54

    Comedy Series

    Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox

    06:58

    Tony Randall on playing Felix Unger on The Odd Couple

    22:08

    Tony Randall starring in The Odd Couple

    07:45

    Tony Randall starring in The Tony Randall Show

    01:44

    Tony Randall on starring on Love, Sidney

    05:58

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows

    02:42

    Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

    02:10

    Talk Shows

    Tony Randall on creating the National Actors Theater, and on making cameos on Late Show with David Letterman

    02:38

    Sid Caesar

    Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows

    02:42

    Fred Coe

    Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox

    06:58

    Tony Randall on producer Fred Coe

    02:10

    Wally Cox

    Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox

    06:58

    Doris Day

    Tony Randall on appearing in the feature film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson

    03:29

    Bob Hope

    Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

    02:10

    Rock Hudson

    Tony Randall on appearing in the feature film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson

    03:29

    Jack Klugman

    Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

    02:21

    Delbert Mann

    Tony Randall on working with Delbert Mann

    02:19

    Garry Marshall

    Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

    02:21

    Tony Randall on Garry Marshall's week-to-week involvement in the production of The Odd Couple

    02:37

    Penny Marshall

    Tony Randall on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall

    01:55

    Al Molinaro

    Tony Randall on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall

    01:55

    Jerry Paris

    Tony Randall on the rehearsal process of The Odd Couple, and working with directors like Jerry Paris

    04:05

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