Actors – Now I've Heard Everything

A Star at Every Stage: Marsha Mason’s “Journey”

August 23, 2025Bill Thompson

Marsha Mason began her acting career in the 1960s, appearing in various theater productions before making her film debut in 1965 In the somewhat forgettable “Hot Rod Hullabaloo.” Other, more successful, films followed as she built her reputation.

And one of her big breaks, it turns out, was working with playwright Neil Simon in 1973. They fell in love and married. They worked together on several projects Including the Oscar nominated “The Goodbye Girl.”

Mason has been nominated for an Oscar four times, and has won two Golden Globes. She’s also been on a number of TV shows, including recurring guest roles on “Frasier” and “The Middle.”

In 2000, Marsha Mason wrote a memoir called Journey: A Personal Odyssey. I met her one day that fall when she was on a book tour.

So here now, from 2000, Marcia Mason.

Marsha Mason is 83 now, and lives in Connecticut.

Actor Anthony Rapp’s Emotional Road to “Without You”

August 23, 2025Bill Thompson

By the age of 10 precocious actor Anthony Rapp had already made his Broadway debut. That was in 1981, and over the next 15 years Rapp built an impressive acting and musical resume. He

In 1996 he landed the role of a lifetime, creating the character Mark Cohen in the smash Broadway hit ”Rent.”

But as he was enjoying that personal success, Rapp was also facing a personal tragedy. His mother was dying of cancer.

The two of them had always been very close, and losing her was devastating. She died in 1997.

A couple of years later Anthony Rapp began writing a memoir of Broadway, “Rent,” and his mom. It took him 6 years, but the book was published in 2006. It was called Without You.

I met him in the spring of 2006 when his publisher sent him on a book tour. Our conversation was frank and moving.

So here now, from 2006, Anthony Rapp.

In addition to his Broadway success Anthony Rapp is also well-known to TV viewers for his seven-year role on “Star Trek: Discovery”. He is 54 now.

“Taxi” Star Marilu Henner Remembers Everything. And She Wants You To Remember More Too

August 23, 2025Bill Thompson

What did you have for lunch yesterday? Where did you celebrate your birthday in 1981? What was your fourth grade teacher’s name?

Chances are there’s at least one of these things you can’t remember. Maybe you can’t remember any of them.

But what if you can remember all of them, effortlessly?

Probably have a much sharper memory than you think you have, says the popular actress Marilu Henner.

She is one of only about 100 people with an ability known as “hyperthymesia.” That’s a fancy way of saying she can remember just about every detail of her own life going back to childhood.

In 2012 Marilu Henner wrote a book called Total Memory Makeover. And in it she explains how even if you don’t have hyperthymesia you can teach yourself how to remember a lot more than you think you can.

So here now, from 2012. Marilu Henner.

Marilu Henner is 73 now. By the way,DO you remember what you had for lunch yesterday…?

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Marlo Thomas: Empowering Generations of Women

August 23, 2025Bill Thompson

In her decades-long career as an actress, an entertainer, a writer, and an activist, Marlo Thomas Has been all about empowering – starting with empowering girls and young women when she starred in “That Girl.” That was one of the first TV shows to feature a single woman living and supporting herself.

Of course that was just one of the dozens of professional roles Marlo Thomas has played.

You may have a copy of one of her “Free To Be, You And Me” books.

Thomas has embraced many feminist causes over the years, working alongside figures such as Gloria Steinem.

And in 2014 she wrote a book aimed at the older woman. Especially the older woman reinventing her life after some major life turning point. That book was called It Ain’t Over . . .Till It’s Over.

She and I talked about the book at an event she was holding at a Baltimore Library.

So here now, from 2014, Marlo Thomas.

Marlo Thomas is 88 now. She is National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A Lifetime of Becoming Someone Else: Actress Ellen Burstyn

August 23, 2025Bill Thompson

Detroit-born Ellen Burstyn Was president of her high school’s drama club. But she was not a very good student, and dropped out in her senior year.

She became a model and a dancer – even got a job dancing on the Jackie Gleason Show – before making her professional acting debut almost 70 years ago.

And since then, Ellen Burstyn has amassed a house full of awards, including acting’s Triple Crown: an Oscar, a Tony, and two Emmys.

She starred in movies ranging from “The Last Picture Show” to “The Exorcist” to “Requiem For a Dream.” She’s been in soap operas, mini-series, and “Law & Order SVU.”

In 2006 Burstyn wrote her autobiography, which she called Lessons in Becoming Myself. That’s when I had a few minutes with this extraordinary performer.

So here now, from 2006, Ellen Burstyn.

Ellen Burstyn is 92 now. She is co-president of The Actors Studio.

The Fond Recollections of Hollywood Legend Garry Marshall

July 11, 2025Bill Thompson

If you’ve ever watched ”Happy Days,” ”Laverne & Shirley,” ”Mork & Mindy,” or any of a dozen other TV shows, you’ve seen the work of Garry Marshall.

If you’ve ever seen ”Pretty Woman”, ”Overboard,” ”The Princess Diaries,” or any of over a dozen other movies, you’ve seen the work of Garry Marshall.

For years one of Hollywood’s most successful, and most popular, producer-directors, you may also know Garry Marshall as an actor, on TVs ”Murphy Brown” and in his sister Penny Marshall’s movie “A League of Their Own.”

In 1995, not long after he turned 60, Garry Marshall wrote a book that was autobiographical-ish called Wake Me When It’s Funny. I got the chance to speak with him when he was on a book tour.

Here now, from 1995, Garry Marshall.

Garry Marshall died in 2016. He was 81.

Balancing Faith And Career: Actress Lisa Whelchel

July 3, 2025Bill Thompson

Her story reads something like a Hollywood fairy tale.

Talent scouts found Lisa Whelchel in her small town in Texas in 1976, casting for “The New Mickey Mouse Clu” on Disney.

Lisa moved to Hollywood and appeared on the show for two years. Then, her big break: the role of Blair Warner on a new show called “The Facts of Life.” Whelchel played Blair for nine seasons.

What many people didn’t know at the time was that underpinning her show business career was a strong faith in God. Lisa had been a devout Christian since age 10.

And, as you’ll hear in this interview, that faith helped shape the way she portrayed characters on TV and in film.

In 2001 Lisa Whelchel wrote an autobiography called The Facts of Life, subtitled And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me. I met her that fall when she was on a book tour.

Here now, from 2001, Lisa Whelchel.

Lisa Whelchel is 62 now. She and her husband divorced in 2012.

Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Son On Fame, Family, and the Price of Success

June 18, 2025Bill Thompson

In the mid-1950s a former country music disc jockey from Pasadena seemed to be everywhere.

Tennessee Ernie, he called himself on the radio. Ernie Ford not only had a hit record but guest appearances on “I Love Lucy” propelled him into a TV show of his own.

An album of Christian hymns put Tennessee Ernie Ford on Billboard’s chart for over five years.

At home, watching all of this unfold, was Ford’s son, Jeffrey Buckner Ford, often known simply as Buck.

Buck and his little brother saw the good times, and the rough times, as the double-edged sword of success impacted the family.

Both Ernie and wife Betty grappled with substance abuse, and Betty Ford took her own life in 1989. Ernie Ford died 2 years later.

In 2008 Jeffrey Buckner Ford wrote a critically acclaimed book about his parents, called River of No Return. He and I met 1 day that spring at our local Borders bookstore to talk about it.

So here now, from 2008, Jeffrey Buckner Ford.

Tennessee Ernie Ford died in 1991 at age 72. His son Buck Ford is now 75.

Actor John o’Hurley’s Ode to Fatherhood, As Told by His Dog

June 18, 2025Bill Thompson

30 years ago actor John O’Hurley took on a role that would help define him for the rest of his career.

O’Hurley’s portrayal of the idiosyncratic entrepreneur J. Peterman became one of the most memorable characters on TVs “Seinfeld.”

After the series ended, he took on a new role, game show host. He even competed on “Dancing With The Stars.”

And John O’Hurley writes books, including a 2007 volume called Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework First You Have To Do It

Despite a title that may make you think the book was just a gag, it’s actually a thoughtful, even poignant book inspired by the birth of his son, his first child. And it’s a book that may Inspire other fathers.

So here now, from 2007, John O’Hurley.

John O’Hurley is 70 now. He sits on the board of directors of the real J. Peterman Company.

The Memoir of The Puppeteer Who Brought Elmo To Life

June 8, 2025Bill Thompson

If you’ve had a small child in your life anytime in the last 30 years or so you know this voice. That’s Elmo, the furry red monster from Sesame Street and one of the most popular Muppet characters ever.

The puppeteer who made Elmo and his giggle famous is a Baltimore native named Kevin Clash.

Growing up in the ‘60s Clash was entranced by everything from Kukla Fran and Ollie to Captain Kangaroo and Sesame Street. At age 10 he started making his own puppets.

At 19 he was so skilled he joined the Captain Kangaroo show as a puppeteer.

And in 1984 he joined the cast of Sesame Street. Elmo came along a year later, and for the next 27 years Kevin Clash was 3-year-old Elmo.

In 2006 Clash wrote an autobiography, a book he called My Life As a Furry Red Monster. That’s when I had the chance to meet him.

So here now, from 2006, Kevin Clash.

Kevin Clash will be 65 this fall. In 2012 he publicly came out as gay