About
"Perform wherever you can. If it’s a living room, do it. If it’s a stage at school, do it. Whether it’s summer stock or whether it’s at a friend’s house, just do it and get that experience."
In the two-hour solo portion of his interview, William Daniels remembers his early years, and appearing on Broadway in Life with Father. He talks about early television roles on shows including Robert Montgomery Presents, Somerset Maugham TV Theater, and Captain Nice. He recalls his role in the classic feature The Graduate, and in the musical 1776. He details his Emmy award-winning role as "Dr. Mark Craig" on St. Elsewhere and working with the cast on that show. Daniels discusses his role as "George Feeny" on Boy Meets World, and his stint as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. He concludes by discussing career achievements and how he’d like to be remembered. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on August 29, 2017 in Studio City, CA.
In the one-hour joint portion of their interview, William Daniels and Bonnie Bartlett talk about how they met, and their move to New York. They speak of training with Lee Strasberg, and moving to Los Angeles where they eventually played husband and wife to great acclaim on St. Elsewhere. They talk about winning Emmy awards together, and Bonnie later joining William on Boy Meets World. They conclude by discussing their life together. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on August 29, 2017 in Studio City, CA.
Highlights
William Daniels on appearing in the feature "The Graduate"
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on acting together after St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on appearing in the television movie A Case of Rape
William Daniels on being cast as "Dr. Mark Craig" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on his Boy Meets World character "Mr. Feeny," and on his relationship with the students
William Daniels on career achievements, regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his family singing on the radio when he was a child; on appearing on an experimental television broadcast in 1943; on appearing on Broadway in "Life with Father," and being in the Army
On moving to New York, and on appearing on Robert Montgomery Presents and Somerset Maugham TV Theatre; on starring in Buck Henry's Captain Nice, and on his friendship with Grant Tinker; on appearing in the feature "The Graduate"
Chapter 2
On being cast in "The Graduate" by Mike Nichols; on appearing in various television movies; on playing "KITT" on Knight Rider, and on guest-starring on various sitcoms
On being cast as "Dr. Mark Craig" on St. Elsewhere; on shooting the pilot for St. Elsewhere; on how he prepared to play "Dr. Mark Craig" on the show
On the writers of St. Elsewhere; on the "walk and talks" of St. Elsewhere, and on the directors of the show; on the cast of the show
On being recognized from St. Elsewhere and Boy Meets World, and on the popularity of St. Elsewhere; on the ending of St. Elsewhere, and on winning Emmy Awards; on appearing on Knight Rider and St. Elsewhere at the same time
On how he was cast as "George Feeny" on Boy Meets World; on his Boy Meets World character "Mr. Feeny," and on his relationship with the students and actors; on the longevity of the show, and on guest-starring on Girl Meets World
On what he likes about acting, and on his mentor Howard Lindsay; on his distinctive voice; on how he approaches a script, and on being president of the Screen Actors Guild
On guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy; on advice to an aspiring actor; on career achievements, regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered
Chapter 3
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH BONNIE BARTLETT AND WILLIAM DANIELS: On how they met, and on their first impressions of each other; on early acting jobs they did together; on moving to New York
On training with Lee Strasberg; on moving to Los Angeles; on acting together on St. Elsewhere as "Dr. Mark Craig" and "Ellen Craig"
On acting together after St. Elsewhere; on Bonnie joining Boy Meets World; on acting together, and on their life together
Shows
Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78)
William Daniels on appearing on The Bob Newhart Show and The Nancy Walker Show
Boy Meets World
William Daniels on being recognized from St. Elsewhere and Boy Meets World, and on the popularity of St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on how he was cast as "Mr. Feeny" on Boy Meets World
William Daniels on his Boy Meets World character "Mr. Feeny," and on his relationship with the students
William Daniels on the cast of Boy Meets World
William Daniels on the longevity of Boy Meets World, and on the final episode of the series
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on Bonnie joining Boy Meets World
Captain Nice
William Daniels on starring in Buck Henry's Captain Nice, and on his friendship with Grant Tinker
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
William Daniels on winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
Grey's Anatomy
William Daniels on guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy
Knight Rider
William Daniels on appearing on McCloud and on being cast as the voice of "KITT" on Knight Rider
William Daniels on appearing on Knight Rider and St. Elsewhere at the same time
Nancy Walker Show, The
William Daniels on appearing on The Bob Newhart Show and The Nancy Walker Show
Robert Montgomery Presents
William Daniels on appearing on Robert Montgomery Presents and Somerset Maugham TV Theatre
St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on being cast as "Dr. Mark Craig" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on shooting the pilot for St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on how he prepared to play "Dr. Mark Craig" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on the writers of St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on the "walk and talks" of St. Elsewhere, and on the directors of the show
William Daniels on Ed Begley, Jr. as "Dr. Victor Ehrlich" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on Ed Flanders as "Dr. Donald Westphall" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on Norman Lloyd as "Dr. Daniel Auschlander" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on Howie Mandel as "Dr. Wayne Fiscus" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on David Morse as "Dr. Jack Morrison" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on Christina Pickles as "Nurse Helen Rosenthal" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on Denzel Washington as "Dr. Philip Chandler" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on Mark Harmon as "Dr. Robert Caldwell" on St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on being recognized from St. Elsewhere and Boy Meets World, and on the popularity of St. Elsewhere
William Daniels on the ending of St. Elsewhere, and on winning Emmy Awards
William Daniels on appearing on Knight Rider and St. Elsewhere at the same time
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on acting together on St. Elsewhere as "Dr. Mark Craig" and "Ellen Craig"
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on winning Emmy Awards for St. Elsewhere
Topics
Advice
William Daniels on advice to an aspiring actor
Creative Influences and Inspiration
William Daniels on what he likes about acting, and on his mentor Howard Lindsay
Emmy Awards
William Daniels on winning Emmys for his role on St. Elsewhere
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
Pivotal Career Moments
William Daniels on what he likes about acting, and on his mentor Howard Lindsay
Technological Innovation
William Daniels on appearing on an experimental television broadcast in 1943
Television Industry
William Daniels on advice to an aspiring actor
Professions
Actor
William Daniels on what he likes about acting, and on his mentor Howard Lindsay
William Daniels on his distinctive voice
William Daniels on how he approaches a script, and on being president of the Screen Actors Guild
William Daniels on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
William Daniels on what he likes about acting, and on his mentor Howard Lindsay
William Daniels on his distinctive voice
William Daniels on how he approaches a script, and on being president of the Screen Actors Guild
William Daniels on advice to an aspiring actor
Bonnie Bartlett and Williams Daniels on acting together, and on their life together
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
William Daniels on appearing on Robert Montgomery Presents and Somerset Maugham TV Theatre
Comedy Series
William Daniels playing "George Feeny" on Boy Meets World
William Daniels on appearing on The Bob Newhart Show and The Nancy Walker Show
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on Boy Meets World
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
William Daniels on appearing on McCloud and on being cast as the voice of "KITT" on Knight Rider
Medical Dramas
William Daniels on playing "Dr. Mark Craig" on St. Elsewhere
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on St. Elsewhere
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
William Daniels on appearing in the television movie A Case of Rape
William Daniels on playing G. Gordon Liddy in Blind Ambition
People
Ed Begley, Jr. with Emerson College
William Daniels on Ed Begley, Jr. as "Dr. Victor Ehrlich" on St. Elsewhere
Mark Harmon
William Daniels on Mark Harmon as "Dr. Robert Caldwell" on St. Elsewhere
Buck Henry
William Daniels on starring in Buck Henry's Captain Nice, and on his friendship with Grant Tinker
Norman Lloyd
William Daniels on Norman Lloyd as "Dr. Daniel Auschlander" on St. Elsewhere
Howie Mandel
William Daniels on Howie Mandel as "Dr. Wayne Fiscus" on St. Elsewhere
Mike Nichols
William Daniels on being cast in "The Graduate" by Mike Nichols
Lee Strasberg
Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels on training with Lee Strasberg
Grant Tinker
William Daniels on starring in Buck Henry's Captain Nice, and on his friendship with Grant Tinker
Denzel Washington
William Daniels on Denzel Washington as "Dr. Philip Chandler" on St. Elsewhere
