Sheila Kuehl

Actress / Politician


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

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.

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

"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."  

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Sheila Kuehl on being cast as "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
04:49
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy  spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:28
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
02:04
Sheila Kuehl on her decision to study law and attend Harvard Law School
11:40
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
01:21
Full Interview

Play 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

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
00:30

Beverly Hillbillies, The

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction  and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
04:50

Donna Reed Show, The

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Donna Reed Show
01:19

Geraldo

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
05:45

Good Morning America

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
05:45

Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on being cast as "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
04:49
Sheila Kuehl on her Many Loves of Dobie Gillis character "Zelda Gilroy"
05:29
Sheila Kuehl on working with The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis creator Max Shulman
01:28
Sheila Kuehl on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis director Rod Amateau
01:35
Sheila Kuehl on the production of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
01:51
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
06:16
Sheila Kuehl on doing publicity for The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
02:39
Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
03:56
Sheila Kuehl on Tuesday Weld as "Thalia Menninger" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
02:11
Sheila Kuehl on attending UCLA while on The Many Loves of Dobie Gills
02:50
Sheila Kuehl on Warren Beatty as "Milton Armitage" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gills
01:17
Sheila Kuehl on her friendship with Dwayne Hickman on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
02:56
Sheila Kuehl on moments of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis that stood out for her
01:52
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:28
Sheila Kuehl on the end of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
01:44
Sheila Kuehl on appearing in the reunion movies Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis? and Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis
04:11

My Little Margie

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on appearing on My Little Margie
01:32

Petticoat Junction

View Show Page
Sheila Kuehl on guest-starring on The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
04:50
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
01:21

Anthology Drama

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on acting in live and filmed television dramas in the 1950s
03:40

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on her Many Loves of Dobie Gillis character "Zelda Gilroy"
05:29

Civil Rights Movement

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:16

Comedy-Variety

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
11:14

Fame and Celebrity

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
03:56

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:16
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy  spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:28
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
02:04
Sheila Kuehl on the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling regarding gay marriage
01:42
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
02:04

LGBTQIA+

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy  spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:28
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
02:04
Sheila Kuehl on the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling regarding gay marriage
01:42
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
02:04

Pop Culture

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on her Many Loves of Dobie Gillis character "Zelda Gilroy"
05:29

Representation on Television

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on the planned Zelda Gilroy  spin-off of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:28
Sheila Kuehl on coming out on The Geraldo Rivera Show and Good Morning America
02:04
Sheila Kuehl on the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling regarding gay marriage
01:42
Sheila Kuehl on being the first lesbian elected to the California State Assembly
02:04

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

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
11:14
Sheila Kuehl on acting in live and filmed television dramas in the 1950s
03:40

Television Industry

View Topic
Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
03:56
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
01:21
Professions

Actress

View Profession
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
01:21

Performers

View Profession
Sheila Kuehl on advice to aspiring actors and politicians
01:21
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Jackie Erwin" on The Stu Erwin Show aka Trouble With Father
11:14
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
18:01
Sheila Kuehl on playing "Zelda Gilroy" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis  (Part 2) 
32:09
People

Warren Beatty

View Person Page
Sheila Kuehl on Warren Beatty as "Milton Armitage" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gills
01:17

James Dean

View Person Page
Sheila Kuehl on James Dean appearing on The Stu Erwin Show
05:25

Bob Denver

View Person Page
Sheila Kuehl on Bob Denver as "Maynard G. Krebs" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
06:16

Dwayne Hickman

View Person Page
Sheila Kuehl on working with Dwayne Hickman as "Dobie Gillis" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
02:35

Arnold Schwarzenegger

View Person Page
Sheila Kuehl on serving in the California State Senate under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
02:21

Dick York

View Person Page
Sheila Kuehl on coming out as a lesbian on The  Geraldo Rivera Show  and Good Morning America
05:45

All Interviews

S