Barbara Feldon with Emerson College

Actress

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her one-hour-and-ten-minute interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Barbara Feldon talks about her start in dancing, music and modeling, and how that path lead her to acting. Feldon speaks about her first television role on East Side/West Side, and how it led to her breakout role as "99" on Get Smart. She describes her experience working with the late Don Adams, and discusses how she doesn't consider herself to be a comedienne or a star -- Bill Dana and Jenni Matz insist otherwise. Feldon discusses her novel, Living Along and Loving It, along with her literary inspirations, offers advice to those just entering the industry, and considers the question "Was it worth it?" Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on October 18, 2005 in New York City, NY.

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

"I recognized, finally, that the camera was a basic thing of the child wanting their parent to really look at them. And once you lose, that, or realize you don't need that, it sort of loses its allure."

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Highlights

Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart

02:03

Barbara Feldon on how she and Don Adams were a great comedy duo on Get Smart

00:38

Barbara Feldon on the origins of "99" on Get Smart

02:22

Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was

00:57

Barbara Feldon on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"

01:41

Barbara Feldon on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career

04:24

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On loving the magic of the acrobat as a child; on what got her interested in performing and the thrill of performing when she was young; on attending Carnegie Tech Drama School and becoming an actress; on her mother being a performer; on how her background in dance impacted her career; on her work as a model and a showgirl; on winning $64,000 Question and going on auditions

On her modeling career taking off; on doing commercials; on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart; on how she was enticed to do Get Smart; on not believing she's a comedienne; on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama

On off-camera and on-camera relationships; on not socializing with Don Adams off the set of Get Smart, but having an incredible chemistry and relationship with Don Adams as "99" and "Maxwell Smart"; on the fine line between fantasy and reality; on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"; on the origins of "99" on Get Smart; on not getting any direction from the directors on Get Smart; on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was; on working with Don Adams on Get Smart

On doing comedy v. drama; on writing her novel; on the humor and heavier subjects in Get Smart; on Buck Henry's talents on Get Smart; on other cast and crew members; on mentors throughout her life

On advice to students about changes in the industry and how to protect yourself; on her agents and publicists and not being as in demand after Get Smart; on celebrity; on not seeing herself as a star or a comedienne; on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career; on whether it was all worth it

Shows

$64,000 Question

Barbara Feldon on winning $64,000 Question

00:12

East Side/West Side

Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart

02:03

Get Smart

Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart

02:03

Barbara Feldon on being taller than Don Adams

01:01

Barbara Feldon on how she was enticed to do Get Smart and her first review in TV Guide

02:22

Barbara Feldon on how she and Don Adams were a great comedy duo on Get Smart

00:38

Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama

02:28

Barbara Feldon on not socializing with Don Adams off the set of Get Smart, but having an incredible chemistry and relationship with Don Adams as "99" and "Maxwell Smart"; on the fine line between fantasy and reality

05:26

Barbara Feldon on the origins of "99" on Get Smart

02:22

Barbara Feldon on not getting any direction from the directors on Get Smart

02:15

Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was

00:57

Barbara Feldon on working with Don Adams on Get Smart

02:42

Barbara Feldon on the humor and heavier subjects in Get Smart; on Buck Henry's talents on Get Smart; on other cast and crew members

03:57

Topics

Advice

Barbara Feldon on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"

01:41

Barbara Feldon on advice to students about changes in the industry and how to protect yourself; on her agents and publicists and not being as in demand after Get Smart

08:40

Barbara Feldon on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career

04:24

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Barbara Feldon on mentors throughout her life

00:21

Fame and Celebrity

Barbara Feldon on celebrity

02:09

Historic Events and Social Change

Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama

02:28

Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was

00:57

Pivotal Career Moments

Barbara Feldon on mentors throughout her life

00:21

Pop Culture

Barbara Feldon on celebrity

02:09

Representation on Television

Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama

02:28

Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was

00:57

Television Industry

Barbara Feldon on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"

01:41

Barbara Feldon on the one time she was directed on television

00:36

Barbara Feldon on advice to students about changes in the industry and how to protect yourself; on her agents and publicists and not being as in demand after Get Smart

08:40

Barbara Feldon on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career

04:24

Women

Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama

02:28

Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was

00:57

Professions

Actress

View Profession

Barbara Feldon on what got her interested in performing and the thrill of performing when she was young; on her early interest in ballet

02:09

Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama and acting in the film Smile

04:08

Performers

View Profession

Barbara Feldon on what got her interested in performing and the thrill of performing when she was young

02:09

Barbara Feldon on not believing she's a comedienne

00:48

Barbara Feldon on being an actor performing comedy v. being a comedienne

01:24

Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama and acting in the film Smile

04:08

Genres

Comedy Series

Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama

04:08

Barbara Feldon on the power of humor to heal in painful situations and how it differs on comedies and dramas

01:58

Commercials

Barbara Feldon on acting in commercials

00:12

Drama Series

Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama

04:08

Barbara Feldon on the power of humor to heal in painful situations and how it differs on comedies and dramas

01:58

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Barbara Feldon on how much she enjoyed performing on variety/sketch shows and on those programs disappearing over the years

02:00

People

Alan Alda

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Barbara Feldon on off-camera and on-camera relationships and the factory atmosphere in Hollywood

01:16

Buck Henry

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Barbara Feldon on Buck Henry's talents on Get Smart

00:49

Don Adams

View Person Page

Barbara Feldon on being taller than Don Adams

01:01

Barbara Feldon on how she and Don Adams were a great comedy duo on Get Smart; on being an actor performing comedy v. being a comedienne or comedian

02:04

Barbara Feldon on not socializing with Don Adams off the set of Get Smart, but having an incredible chemistry and relationship with Don Adams as "99" and "Maxwell Smart"; on the fine line between fantasy and reality

05:26

Barbara Feldon on working with Don Adams on Get Smart

02:42

George C. Scott

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Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart

02:03