Creative Influences and Inspiration

Andy Ackerman on being a stage manager/assistant director for a high school production and learning a lot from his teacher

Alan Alda on his adoration for the early radio comedians and talk show hosts such as Arthur Godfrey and Steve Allen

Alan Alda on how the burlesque comics and Vaudeville influenced him at an early age

Alan Alda on his father, Robert Alda's, early TV roles

Alan Alda on working with and being influenced by actor Burgess Meredith with Naked City

Alan Alda on writing the M*A*S*H episode "Dear Sigmund"

Alan Alda on the craft of writing

Kay Alden on working with William Bell on The Young and the Restless

Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles

John Aniston on Macdonald Carey being a mentor in his career

Army Archerd on his mentor, Harrison Carroll

James Arness on having a mentor and being a mentor

Beatrice Arthur on the performers who inspired her

John Astin on his influences as a director and actor

Hank Azaria on his mentors

Reza Badiyi on how much he learned from Professor John Humphrey of Syracuse University's program in Tehran

Rick Baker on meeting makeup artist Dick Smith

Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim

Paris Barclay on advice from mentor Stephen Sondheim

Rona Barrett on her influences and people who helped her in her career

Bonnie Bartlett on mentors in her career

Samantha Bee on taking a theater class in college, and how that led to her interest in performing

Ed Begley, Jr. on his comedic influences, and on his philosophy of comedy

Joe Behar on his directing style and his hero, John Frankenheimer

Earl Bellamy on what he learned from his mentor, George Cukor

Rick Berman on the death of Gene Roddenberry

Rick Berman on how he'd like to be remembered

Bruce Bilson on important skills you need as a director and his mentor Bob Sweeney

Allan Blye on mentors he had in his career

Sam Bobrick on his mentors

Steven Bochco on the creation of Hill Street Blues and his fight for creative control

Tom Bosley on working with director George Abbott

Ed Bradley on discovering his calling after meeting a Philadelphia disc jockey when Bradley was enrolled at a teacher training college

Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes executive producer Don Hewitt's beneficial influence on Bradley's work, and on his influence on television news programs in general

Ed Bradley on his mentor Del Shields, from WDAS radio in Philadelphia

Eric Braeden on his interest in theater and classical texts, and actors who made an impression on him

Kevin Bright on how his father, a former Vaudeville comedian, brought comedy into their home when Bright was a child

Kevin Bright on his love of television as a child, and how that sowed the seeds for his career

Kevin Bright on attending Emerson College

Tom Broecker on the various elements that go into costume design, and how studying dance in his youth made him realize he'd prefer to be behind-the-scenes than in front of an audience

Tom Brokaw on the ways in which David Brinkley was a mentor to him

Kirk Browning on his first job at NBC, and on NBC executive Warren Wade

Kirk Browning on the person who taught him the ropes of stage managing, and on working on NBC Opera Theatre

Janie Bryant on the inspiration for the costumes on Deadwood

Mark Burnett on his creative influences and inspiration from his mother

Allan Burns on how living in Hawaii developed his creativity

Documentarian Ken Burns on developing his approach to using photographs in documentaries during the development of Brooklyn Bridge

Robert Butler on his mentors and people he's mentored

Sid Caesar on his influences and the importance of being "prepared" for when your break comes along

Vince Calandra on his mentors and his longevity

Stephen J. Cannell on producer Jo Swerling Jr.

Stephen J. Cannell on producer Jo Swerling Jr.

Stephen J. Cannell on what he learned from Roy Huggins

Steven J. Cannell on being a mentor to young television writers

Charles Cappleman on his mentors

Josie Carey on the hosts of Ask the Girls, including her mentor Florence Sando

George Carlin on the genesis of much of his material

George Carlin on preparing for his then-upcoming HBO special It's Bad for Ya

George Carlin on his creative process

Steve Carlin on his early mentors

Steve Carlin on his early mentors

Chris Carter on The Outer Limits' influence on The X-Files

Dick Cavett on his creative influences

Glen Charles on being inspired by the book and movie version of From Here to Eternity; on his literary influences

Glen and Les Charles on their mentors

Les Charles on being influenced by Charles Dickens; on his literary influences

Glen and Les Charles on their mentors

David Chase on how both his parents and The Rockford Files influenced the character development of "Tony Soprano"; on the character's strengths and weaknesses

David Chase on some of "Livia Soprano's" memorable lines, which he quoted from his own mother, like "Poor you" 

Michael Chiklis on meeting his mentor while doing Summer Stock as a teenager

Margaret Cho on her comedic influences

Margaret Cho on getting to work with her mentors

Margaret Cho on being a role model for Asian American female comedians

Margaret Cho on being a role model for Asian American female comedians

Ron Clark on mentors in his career

Robert Clary on his mentor, Eddie Cantor

Kevin Clash on meeting Kermit Love, and on appearing on Captain Kangaroo

Bob Claver on his mentors Hy Averback and Jackie Cooper

Nick Clooney on his early mentors

Richard Coogan on his mentor

Joan Ganz Cooney on her high school teachers that influenced her

Anderson Cooper on the kinds of stories he covered early on as a correspondent for ABC News  and his admiration for reporter Bob Simon

Anderson Cooper on his mentors and people who have impacted his career

Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon

Barbara Corday on her mentors Barbara Avedon, Herman Rush, and Frank Biondi

Ron Cowen on the creative influence his mother, a former costume designer for Twentieth Century Fox, had on his life

Ron Cowen on mentors he's had in his career: Jerome Lawrence, Lloyd Richards, and Angela Lansbury

David Crane and Marta Kauffman on mentors in their careers

Judith Crist on Roger Ebert telling her she was his inspiration

Hume Cronyn on memorable teachers at The American Academy of Dramatic Art

Judy Crown on her mentors

Billy Crystal on his early stand-up act, and on Jack Rollins' criticism of his act

Billy Crystal on being the "class comedian" in his high school, and on being influenced by comedians like Johnathan Winters

Billy Crystal on mentors in his career, including Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner, and Jack Rollins

Robert Culp on he and Bill Cosby acting as mentors for each other on I Spy

Ann Curry on the advice her father gave her growing up about choosing a profession that was of service to others, and how this led her to journalism

Ann Curry on how television, and in particular television journalism, impacted her growing up, and how that led to her career choices

Ann Curry on studying journalism at the University of Oregon, and on her shift from newspaper reporting to broadcast journalism with an internship at KTVL in Medford, Oregon

Jane Curtin on her mentors

Bill Daily on his comedic idols

Bill Dana on being influenced by Danny Kaye and music in general

Greg Daniels on television he watched while he was growing up and his early comedic influences

William Daniels on what he likes about acting, and on his mentor Howard Lindsay

Elias Davis and David Pollock on their mentors

Elias Davis and David Pollock on the legacy of M*A*S*H  and its creator Larry Gelbart

Elias Davis and David Pollock on the legacy of M*A*S*H  and its creator Larry Gelbart

Elias Davis and David Pollock on their mentors

John Debney on going to work at Disney as a gofer, and on his mentor, Buddy Baker

Thomas Del Ruth on becoming involved with Conrad Hall and working his way up to be a camera operator 

Milton Delugg on his musical influences

Milton Delugg on mentors in his career including Frank Loesser

Sam Denoff on how television changed the world; how early TV influenced him

Joe DeTullio on the production design team at Saturday Night Live

Vin Di Bona on mentors Nick Vanoff, Gary Smith, and Dwight Hemion

Hugh Downs on his Emmy wins

Rebecca Eaton on her mother, who was an actress, taking her to the theater when she was a child

Rebecca Eaton on working at the BBC in London after graduating from Vassar College, and her love of British culture

Rebecca Eaton on her mentor, Henry Becton, former President of WGBH in Boston

Garvin Eddy on what he learned from his mentor Edward Stephenson

Barbara Eden on her mentor

Peter Ellenshaw on his early interest in film and his mentor 

Harrison Ellenshaw on following in his father's footsteps as a matte artist

Harrison Ellenshaw on following in his father's footsteps and becoming a matte artist 

Harrison Ellenshaw on comparing his and his father's work and his father's legacy

Linda Ellerbee on gaining the courage to try to be a writer from her teacher Mabel Scott

Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Married Joan, and on learning the business from Ann Rosenthal

Ruth Engelhardt on her mentors and on attending law school while at William Morris

Diane English on her childhood and early influences; on her talent for writing

George Faber on mentors in his career

Jeff Fager on his father as his role model

Edie Falco on seeing her mother perform in amateur theater when she was a kid

Edie Falco on doing theater in high school and overcoming her shyness in order to audition

Edie Falco on a high school music teacher who inspired her artistically

Jerry Falwell on early religious broadcaster Charles E. Fuller, and on Falwell becoming a Christian 

Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo reading Invention magazine as a child and first learning about mechanical television

Barbara Feldon on mentors throughout her life

Mike Fenton on mentors in his career, and how he'd like to be remembered

Patricia Field on how being in New York City her whole life has affected her style and taste

Dorothy Fontana on being mentored in television writing by Samuel Peeples

Dorothy Fontana on updating the 1960s Star Trek worldview when making Star Trek: The Next Generation

Horton Foote on his mentors

Michael J. Fox on his childhood influences

Michael J. Fox on how his brother was his inspiration for "Alex P. Keaton" on Family Ties

Fred Foy on the advent of radio in the early 20th century and the influences shows such as "The Shadow" had on him as a youth

John Frankenheimer on directing tips from mentor David O. Selznick

John Frankenheimer on the influence of movie directors on him

Murray Fromson on getting his first byline in his junior high school newspaper

Murray Fromson on finding inspiration from Edward R. Murrow's broadcasts from London during World War II

Pamela Fryman on the enduring popularity of the sitcom, and on mentors in her career

Lowell Ganz on his early interest in television and the influence of The Dick Van Dyke Show

Greg Garrison on his mentors, including Orson Welles

Greg Garrison on working in radio and meeting Mike Wallace

Larry Gelbart on working with Ed Gardner on Duffy's Tavern on the radio as a young writer; on learning to have fun with language, the biggest lesson he took from Ed

Sandra Gimpel on how she learned the technical side of directing, starting on the set of Lost in Space

Sandra Gimpel on her mentors in the stunt profession

Lesli Linka Glatter on Steven Spielberg being her mentor on Amazing Stories, and on what she learned from him

Sharon Gless on advice she cherishes from Cagney & Lacey co-star John Karlen, who played "Harvey Lacey"

Sharon Gless on using Judi Dench's autobiography to inspire her villainous guest starring role on Nip/Tuck

Leonard Goldberg on his mentors and people he mentored

Leonard Goldberg on his mentors and people he mentored

Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair

Julian Gomez on his mentors in editing

Louis Gossett, Jr. on the many mentors in his life

Carl Gottlieb on mentorship

Lee Grant on her mentors

Director Walter Grauman on how Blake Edwards (ironically) advised him on not making artistic compromises on Peter Gunn

Walon Green on the impact David L. Wolper and Jack Haley, Jr. made with documentary series such as The Race for Space

Walon Green on William Friedkin, Tony Richardson, and Stephen Frears being mentors to him

Charles Grodin on being influenced by the movie "A Place in the Sun," and on getting into acting

Hal Gurnee on his mentors, including Jack Paar and Garry Moore

Donald Hall on mentorship and how he'd like to be remembered

Jon Hamm on his acting mentors

Earl Hamner on inspiration for episodes he wrote of The Twilight Zone

Earl Hamner on the inspiration for The Waltons

Dean Hargrove on mentors in his career

Don Hastings on his mentors

Jeffrey Hayden on how he and the cast would work on new ideas for their current scripts at lunch on 77 Sunset Strip

Florence Henderson on her mentors

Marilu Henner on James L. Brooks and other mentors

Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows

Danette Herman on working with Gilbert Cates

Albert Heschong on his mentor

Arthur Hiller on how his parents and a high school drama teacher inspired his love of theater

Arthur Hiller on his creative influences

Arthur Hiller on people he has mentored

Hal Holbrook on attending Denison University, where he really became an actor and met his mentor

Ellen Holly on mentors Michael Kahn and Joseph Papp (Ed. note: Ms. Holly would like to note that Charlotte Perry was also an important mentor, in addition to Michael Kahn and Joseph Papp)

Monica Horan on her response to seeing aspects of her own life that have been written into episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond

Ron Howard on the first acting lesson his father taught him

Ron Howard on the inspiration for his trademark laugh from Happy Days

Ron Howard on his struggle to gain the acceptance of Bette Davis, while directing her in the TV movie Skyward

Ron Howard on how actors should always consider television as a source of good roles

Stanley Hubbard on his mentor, David Sarnoff

Felicity Huffman on her early interest in acting and theater

Felicity Huffman on studying with David Mamet and William H. Macy at the Practical Esthetics Workshop (now the Atlantic Acting School) and co-founding the Atlantic Theater Company

Felicity Huffman on mentors she's had throughout her life

Suzuki Ingerslev on an early mentor, art director Art Trugman

Suzuki Ingerslev on mentors throughout her career and on being a mentor to others

Frank Inn on meeting celebrity animal trainer Henry East

Frank Inn on his animal training mentor Henry East

Frank Inn on his duties working for Hollywood animal trainer Henry East

Seaman Jacobs on mentors in his career

Lucy Jarvis on her mentors

Joseph Jennings on his mentor and how he'd like to be remembered 

Charles Floyd Johnson on role models in his career and what he's learned from them

George Clayton Johnson on his mentors

George Clayton Johnson on his mentors

Julie Ann Johnson on mentors in her career

Russell Johnson on his mentor, Paul Henreid

Russell Johnson on his mentor, Paul Henreid

Elodie Keene on what makes Ryan Murphy's work so groundbreaking, and on what it was like to work with him

David E. Kelley on mentor Steven Bochco and what he learned from Bochco

Barry Kemp on being inspired by Dick Van Dyke's character on The Dick Van Dyke Show

Kim Kimble on attending beauty school, which she thought would allow her to eventually attend school to study fashion, but which instead led to her realizing that she loved doing hair and wanted to participate in hair shows and hair competitions

Kim Kimble on her inspiration for starting her own haircare product line

Larry King on his advice to anyone who wants to become an interviewer "you never learn a thing when you're talking"; on being interviewed

Eartha Kitt on her lack of mentors

Arnie Kogen on his mentors, and on his son, Jay Kogen

Bernie Kopell on mentors in his career

Mario Kreutzberger on being influenced by early television hosts Jack Paar, Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, and Art Linkletter and how they influenced his Spanish-language show Sabado Gigante

Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities

Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities

Susan Lacy on passion and committment (with American Masters) and why it's so essential for artists to have both 

Perry Lafferty on CBS programmer Michael Dann being his mentor

Rita Lakin on mentors in her career

Norman Lear on his parents being similar to "Archie" and "Edith" on All in the Family

David Lee on his role as Supervising Producer on Cheers and his relationship with the creative staff of Cheers

Eugene Lee on his mentors and mentoring others

Stan Lee on comic strips he read as a child

Stan Lee on wanting to be an actor when he was young

Dr. John Leverence on his first job, as a ticket-taker at the Roxy Theater in Kansas City, Missouri, which enabled him to sneak a peek at films being shown, and on his early memories of television and the shows he enjoyed

Dr. John Leverence on the importance of the Television Academy Foundation Interviews program and its extraordinary value which he believes scholars will reference for one-hundred years

Ken Levine on his early interest in cartooning, baseball, and radio and Vin Scully being an inspiration 

Barry Levinson on radio and television classes he took in college, and a training program in television he took part in

Barry Levinson on his professor at American University who opened his eyes to opportunities in the entertainment industry

Jerry Lewis on his father's influence on his career

Jerry Lewis on his father and grandmother

Daniel Lipman on writing a play during college, and sharing it with his professor, theater critic Elliot Norton, which led to him being represented by agent Audrey Wood

Daniel Lipman on mentors he's had in his career, mostly importantly writing partner Ron Cowen

James Lipton on moving to New York City, and studying acting with Stella Adler at The Actors Studio

Susan Lucci on good advice she's received as an actor

Stewart MacGregory on his mentors

Will Mackenzie on his friend and creative collaborator Barnard Hughes

Will Mackenzie on his mentors in the television industry

Bob Mackie on finding inspiration for costume designing on television

Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show

Robert MacNeil on his mentors

William H. Macy on his first taste of show business: performing in his seventh grade talent contest after his brother taught him to play guitar

William H. Macy on studying acting with David Mamet at Goddard College

Barry Manilow on his mentor Clive Davis

Ann Marcus on her mentors

Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers

Wink Martindale on mentors in his career

Jamie Masada on his role as a mentor of sorts to new comedians

Richard Matheson on the movies influencing and inspiring his writing, and the letter he wrote to producer Val Lewton praising his work

Richard Matheson on the Twilight Zone episode "Little Girl Lost" and how real life inspired the story

Richard Matheson on the seed idea for Duel

Richard Matheson on coming up with the idea for the story of Dying Room Only

David McCallum on mentors

Kent McCray on his early experience in the theater, and on his mentor, Dr. Nagy

Kent McCray on his mentors, and people he learned from while working at NBC in Los Angeles

Kent McCray on mentors in his career

Ed McMahon on early radio announcers he admired, and why he wanted to be an announcer

Eryn Krueger Mekash on An American Werewolf in London, the video for "Thriller," and movies solidifying her desire to work in makeup

Mitch Miller on how he first came to play music - through his father and through the public schools in Rochester, NY

Nolan Miller on his high school art teacher who recognized his creativity

John Moffitt on admiring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin 

Millie Moore on serving as Assistant Editor to Sid Levin

Donald A. Morgan on cinematographers who have influenced or mentored him and on cinematographers he has mentored

Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son

Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc

Tad Mosel on finding his writing style and on his influences 

Tad Mosel on his mentor, Kurt Canfield

Tony Mottola on his musical influences

Michael Moye on Laurel and Hardy being his favorite comedians as a youngster

Hal Needham on his mentor Chuck Roberson

Anne Nelson on her mentor, Ernie Martin, and on working for CBS Radio

Horace Newcomb on his distaste for mentors

Leonard Nimoy on Star Trek producer Gene Roddenberry's description of "Spock" and Nimoy's admiration for Lon Chaney in immersing himself into characters

Agnes Nixon on her literary influences

Soledad O'Brien on learning from her boss, Jeanne Blake, at WBZ

Soledad O'Brien on the importance of mentors and sponsors in her career

Carroll O'Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie Bunker in All in the Family

Fess Parker on mentors in his career

Estelle Parsons on her mentors in the theater, including Lee Strasberg

Jacques Pépin on mentors in his career

Daniel Petrie, Sr. on filmmakers who inspired him

Pam Polifroni on mentors in her career

Elias Davis and David Pollock on their mentors

Elias Davis and David Pollock on the legacy of M*A*S*H and its creator Larry Gelbart

Elias Davis and David Pollock on the legacy of M*A*S*H and its creator Larry Gelbart

Elias Davis and David Pollock on their mentors

Sterling "Red" Quinlan on his mentors

Charlotte Rae on mentors in her career

Sumner Redstone on mentors and teachers in his career

Marian Rees on her mentor Fay Kanin and her advice to create her own company

Marian Rees on her mentor Fay Kanin and her advice to create her own company

Della Reese on her mentors, and how she'd like to be remembered

Tim Reid on the impact that comedian Richard Pryor had on him

Tim Reid on launching LGCYTV.com, a streaming service designed by and for the African diaspora, during the COVID-19 pandemic and on fostering young talent

Carl Reiner on his love of radio and film comedies

Gene Reynolds on his mentors in television

Hank Rieger on how his uncle's job as a journalist inspired him

Geraldo Rivera on mentor Fred Friendly, the "architect" of his career

Tony Roberts on the comedic actor Hiram Sherman, and on what he learned from him as well as Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and others

Tony Roberts on learning comedic technique from Milton Berle, and on farce

Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther

Pat Robertson on mentor Harald Bredesen

Fatima Robinson on her mentor, Sylvia Rhone, and on mentoring others

Paul Rodriguez on working with and being mentored by Richard Pryor

Fred Rogers on the origin of his trademark sweaters and his love of music

Phil Roman on his mentors

Andy Rooney on being in on the ground-floor of television and the wonders of the modern pace of innovation

Howard Rosenberg on television critics who influenced him and his preparation to go into the field

Howard Rosenberg on television critics who influenced him and his preparation to go into the field

Barney Rosenzweig on being influenced by the themes of "Easy Rider"

Maria Elena Salinas on working with news director Pete Moraga who was a mentor

Maria Elena Salinas on advice given to her by mentors

Jay Sandrich on learning a valuable lesson about directing from actor Richard Benjamin

Ted Sarandos on writing for the local newspaper when he was in high school and getting the opportunity to do an interview with Ed Asner

Edgar Scherick on mentors throughout his career

Edgar Scherick on being a mentor to others (Roone Arledge, Brian Grazier, Scott Rudin, Barry Gordon, Michael Barnathan)

Robert Schuller on Billy Graham's influence on him to get into television

Robert Schuller on Billy Graham's influence on him to get into television

Richard Shapiro on his mentor Shimon Wincelberg

Judith Sheindlin on learning comedic timing from her father and from a family friend

Cybill Shepherd on mentors throughout her career

John Silva on first learning about television and knowing he wanted to work in it

John Singleton on how seeing "Star Wars" when he was nine made him understand what a director does

John Singleton on the importance of movies to him when he was growing up

John Singleton on changing junior high schools of his own volition (without moving or permission), and how this led him to meeting children of people in the film business who also aspired to be filmmakers

John Singleton on attending USC Film School: "It was a revelation for me"

John Singleton on seeing the film "She's Gotta Have It," meeting Spike Lee and telling him, "I'm going to USC Film School in two weeks. Watch out for me. I'm coming"

John Singleton on seeing a screening of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" and how it made him determined to find his own voice and tell his own stories

John Singleton on how he uses music and sound in his work, and how this was influenced by classes he took at USC

John Singleton on the opening sequence of his film "Baby Boy" and using the theories of psychiatrist Frances Cress Welsing

Robert Smigel on wanting to be a comedian since he was three years old, and on his early influences being comedians like Red Skelton, and television shows like Mister Ed and Saturday Night Live, but on deciding to become dentist like his father because he didn't think it was possible to have a career as a comedian

Robert Smigel on coming up with the idea for his character "Triumph the Insult Comic Dog" for Late Night with Conan O'Brien; on the character first saying “for me to poop on”; on the dog’s gold bow tie; on the cigar prop; on doing a deadpan stare as "Triumph" in the vein of comedian Myron Cohen; on the character being a good catharsis for the audience since Conan is super polite and "Triumph" is the opposite

Dick Smith on getting makeup inspiration from 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton and putting his knowledge to use scaring dormmates

G.E. Smith on his earliest musical influences

G.E. Smith on music he listened to on the radio as a child and his first exposure to rock and roll

G.E. Smith on attending a broadcast of Hootenanny and learning to play from watching other musicians

G.E. Smith on playing guitar for Hall & Oates and appearing with them on Saturday Night Live

Gary Smith on his mentors and people who he has mentored

Sid Smith on his mentor, Clark Jones, on Eddie Condon's Floor Show

Tom and Dick Smothers on the variety show genre and  working with CBS executives on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Tom and Dick Smothers on the variety show genre and  working with CBS executives on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Mark Snow on studying with composer Earle Hagen and the fact that The X-Files  theme song was an homage to him

Mark Snow on his mentors and composers that inspired him

Suzanne Somers on learning comedy from John Ritter on the set of Three's Company and being mentored by producer Mickey Ross

Darren Star on words of encouragement he received from his college writing professor, Brian Moore

Fred Steiner on composition teacher Norman Lockwood, who was a mentor to him

Fred Steiner on his early jobs in radio working for Van Cleave, who became a mentor

Jeremy Stevens on early television 

Jerry Stiller on being influenced by Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny, George Burns

J. Michael Straczynski on being a teaching assistant to Norman Corwin

J. Michael Straczynski on the differences between the original Twilight Zone  and the revival, and meeting Rod Serling

J. Michael Straczynski on Harlan Ellison

John Strauss on his mentors

Charles Strouse on influential teachers at music school

George Sunga on mentoring 

William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

June Taylor on her mentor and taking an overview of her career

Richard Thomas on appearing on the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of "The Christmas Tree" at age 6, and on learning from Margaret Hamilton and Jessica Tandy on that show

Richard Thomas on mentors in his career including Will Geer, Geraldine Page, Michael Learned, and Ralph Waite

Saul Turteltaub on Carl Reiner as his mentor

Bill Tush on his broadcast influences 

Leslie Uggams on the importance of music in her childhood

Tracey Ullman on how she started doing impersonations of people when she was a kid, both of people she knew and women on television

Tracey Ullman on attending a performing arts school starting at age 12

Tracey Ullman on being introduced to James L. Brooks and on his idea for her to "do a Peter Sellers thing" on the then-new network Fox, and on the research she did into American comedy (and particularly female comedians) prior to starting the show

Tracey Ullman on how she maintains her confidence in her work, and on the champions she's had over the years

Tracey Ullman on the opportunities and advice mentors have given her throughout her career

Tracey Ullman on getting to meet and work with some of her comedic heroes over the years, including Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner, and Lily Tomlin

Dick Van Dyke on being influenced by the physical comedy of Laurel & Hardy, and Buster Keaton

Ellen M. Violett on writers who influenced her early in life

Jimmie Walker on discovering he wanted to be a stand-up comedian due partly to Dick Gregory

Jimmie Walker on doing stand-up in the African Room, and on learning from David Brenner

James Wall on various mentors in his career

George Watters on his mentor, Roland Gross

Keenen Ivory Wayans on seeing Richard Pryor for the first time and deciding to become a comedian

Keenen Ivory Wayans on the biggest change in his career: deciding to make his own movie with writing partner Robert Townsend

Keenen Ivory Wayans on the highlight of his career: delivering a speech at a party for Richard Pryor and on why he wasn't ready to meet him earlier

Keenen Ivory Wayans on advice to actors

Matthew Weiner on being inspired by creators who continue to have success like David Chase, Larry Gelbart, Mike Nichols

Lou Weiss on his first boss at The William Morris Agency, Abe Lastfogel

John Wells on his mentors

Tom Werner on lessons learned from Michael Eisner about development

Ellen Wheeler on her mentor

Susan Whiting on her mentors

Joseph M. Wilcots on his mentors and mentoring others

Fred Willard on his comedic influences

Andy Williams on his mentor, Kay Thompson

Larry Wilmore on his comedic influences

Larry Wilmore on mentors or examples in his career

Hugh Wilson on career mentors Jay Tarses, Allan Burns, and James L. Brooks

Ethel Winant on her mentors, including Audrey Wood and Irene Selznick, and how she felt about her career

Henry Winkler on his mentors and advice to actors entering the business

Terence Winter on The Sopranos' David Chase as a mentor and writing comedy and drama into the scripts

Ben Wolf on his mentors

Dick Wolf on his mentors in the industry

Steven Wright on comics he was influenced by

"Weird Al" Yankovic on his influences

Bud Yorkin on Billy Wilder, whom he considered a mentor

Leo Yoshimura on his various mentors at the Yale School of Drama

Louie Zakarian on being self-taught as a makeup artist and how he learned about makeup from books, magazines, and testing on himself

Alan Zweibel on the influence of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on his friendship with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks

Alan Zweibel on learning to write jokes by watching shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Dick Cavett Show

Alan Zweibel on Larry David's early stand-up act, and on his comedy mentors like Garry Shandling

Alan Zweibel on his mentors and on being a mentor