Still Here Hollywood

Patrick Duffy "Dallas"

Patrick Duffy became one of television's most recognizable stars as Bobby Ewing on the legendary series Dallas, but the stories behind his remarkable career are every bit as fascinating as what happened on screen.

Patrick joins Steve Kmetko for a revealing and deeply personal conversation about the extraordinary success of Dallas, his instant friendship with Larry Hagman, the phenomenon of "Who Shot J.R.?" and the incredible secrecy surrounding Bobby Ewing's famous return from the dead in one of television's most unforgettable shower scenes.

He also shares hilarious memories of...

Titus Welliver, the actor who brought detective Harry Bosch to life for more than a decade, joins Steve Kmetko for a revealing and deeply personal conversation on Still Here Hollywood.

Welliver opens up about the surprising end of Bosch: Legacy, why he believes devoted fans deserved a better farewell, and the possibility of Harry Bosch returning in a standalone film.

But the story behind his most famous role is even more extraordinary.

Just months after losing his wife to breast cancer, Welliver was struggling with grief while raising his young daughter. Then came...

Jason Priestley, the actor who became a household name playing Brandon Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, joins Steve Kmetko for an unforgettable conversation about Hollywood fame, friendship, heartbreak, and a terrifying brush with death.

For ten seasons, Jason was at the center of one of television's biggest cultural phenomena. But behind the sideburns, magazine covers, and worldwide fame was a young actor trying to figure out how to survive success.

In this revealing interview, Jason shares intimate memories of his friendships with Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty, including seeing Shannen just one week before her death...

Kevin Pollak joins Steve Kmetko for one of the funniest and most revealing conversations yet on Still Here Hollywood.

This episode is sponsored in part by Quince. Shop Quince at https://www.quince.com/stillhere Thanks to Quince for supporting Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko.

From performing stand-up comedy at just 10 years old to starring alongside Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Gabriel Byrne and Kevin Spacey, Kevin shares unforgettable stories from one of Hollywood's most remarkable careers.

He discusses:

• The Usual Suspects
• A Few Good Men
•...

Before millions of Americans knew Denise Nicholas as Liz McIntyre on the groundbreaking television series Room 222, she was living through history.

Denise traveled through Mississippi and Louisiana with the Free Southern Theater during the Civil Rights Movement, an experience that put her face-to-face with violence, racism and even death threats. In this remarkably candid conversation with Steve Kmetko, Denise recalls bombs being thrown at the stage, sleeping on the floor of Fannie Lou Hamer's home because of gunfire, and the terrifying moment a police officer put a gun to her head.

Then came Hollywood.

Anson Williams became a television icon as Potsie Weber on Happy Days, but his Hollywood story goes far beyond Arnold’s Drive-In.

Anson joins Steve Kmetko for a revealing look back at more than five decades in show business, including how he stumbled into his first acting job with a young Steven Spielberg, what Garry Marshall taught the Happy Days cast about surviving Hollywood, and the extraordinary day John Lennon secretly showed up on the Happy Days set with his son Julian.

Anson also tells the remarkable story of how his connection to Dr. Henry He...

Linda Purl has spent more than five decades building an extraordinary career across television, film, Broadway and music. In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Linda joins Steve Kmetko for a funny, candid and surprisingly personal conversation about Happy Days, Matlock, The Office, Andy Griffith, Garry Marshall, aging in Hollywood and the unexpected love story that brought her and Dallas star Patrick Duffy together.

Linda reveals what The Office was really like behind the scenes, why Happy Days had only one bathroom for the cast and crew, and the remarkable story Andy Griffith told her about fighting...

Elisa Donovan became forever recognizable as Amber, Cher Horowitz's fabulously overdressed rival in the 1995 classic Clueless. But behind one of the most memorable characters of the '90s is an actress, writer and mother whose life took turns she never could have imagined.

Elisa joins Steve Kmetko for a candid conversation about landing Clueless, creating Amber from the mean girls she knew growing up, working with Alicia Silverstone, and the Clueless joke she didn't even understand when she delivered it.

She also opens up about Brittany Murphy, sharing a hilarious memory from the Clueless set...

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Michael Chiklis joins Steve Kmetko for a remarkably candid conversation about The Shield, Fantastic Four, The Commish, Hollywood, artificial intelligence, reinvention, family, failure, and the future of the entertainment business.

Chiklis opens up about the dramatic changes he's witnessed in Hollywood and why he believes the industry has contracted far more than many people realize. He discusses his concerns about AI, actors losing control of their own likenesses, and what happens when technology companies become some of Hollywood's most powerful players.

Michael also reveals how his wife helped convince him...

Richard Kind has seemingly worked with everyone, and he has the stories to prove it. The beloved character actor joins Steve Kmetko for a hilarious, candid conversation about his unlikely path from Second City to Mad About You, Spin City, Scrubs, Pixar and beyond. Richard remembers working alongside Michael J. Fox and Charlie Sheen, explains what Christopher Walken taught him simply by watching him act, talks about his experiences with Disney and Pixar, and reveals why he still considers himself an actor rather than a comedian.

And then there is George Clooney.

Kind shares a...

Gail O’Grady became one of television’s most recognizable faces as Donna Abandando on the groundbreaking ABC drama NYPD Blue. In this encore episode of Still Here Hollywood, Gail joins Steve Kmetko for a candid conversation about the role that changed her career, why she decided to leave the hit series, and why she now wishes she had stayed longer.

Gail also remembers legendary producer Steven Bochco, reveals the unusual way she created Donna for her NYPD Blue audition, talks about working with Sharon Lawrence, and shares stories from Desperate Housewives, Law & Order: SVU, Boston Legal and...

From Raiders of the Lost Ark to Spider-Man 2, Boogie Nights, Frida and Broadway, Alfred Molina has built one of Hollywood's most extraordinary and versatile careers.

In this revealing conversation with Steve Kmetko, Molina looks back at making his movie debut for Steven Spielberg, and admits he was so inexperienced he didn't even understand the marks on the floor. He shares the story behind becoming Doctor Octopus, explains how Doc Ock's famous mechanical arms really worked, and reveals the nickname he and the puppeteers gave themselves.

Molina also takes us behind the scenes of Boogie Nights...

Jeff Kober has spent more than four decades disappearing into some of television’s most unforgettable characters, from China Beach and The Walking Dead to Sons of Anarchy, General Hospital and now The Pitt.

Today, Kober joins Steve Kmetko with something remarkable to celebrate, Emmy recognition for both The Pitt and General Hospital.

Kober reveals how a last-minute self-tape nearly went completely wrong before helping land him his role on The Pitt, what it is really like working opposite Noah Wyle, and why the acclaimed medical drama feels different from almost anything else he has do...

Maria Conchita Alonso has lived one of Hollywood's most fascinating lives.

She joins Steve Kmetko to discuss escaping Cuba, growing up in Venezuela, becoming an international music star, starring alongside Robin Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Penn, Danny Glover and Nicolas Cage, and why she sacrificed career opportunities to stand up for her beliefs.

She also reflects on aging, fame, animal rescue, Broadway, activism, and what truly matters most after four decades in entertainment.

00:00 Opening

00:37 Cuba, Venezuela and finding home

03:30 Lessons from her parents

06:47 Beauty pageants a...

Before Animal House became one of the greatest comedies ever made, Tim Matheson was already building one of the longest and most fascinating careers in Hollywood.

In this episode of Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko, Tim shares unforgettable stories about John Belushi, Lucille Ball, Steven Spielberg, Henry Fonda, Ryan Reynolds, Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Meghan Markle, Aaron Sorkin, Clint Eastwood and many more.

He reveals what Belushi was really like before fame changed everything, how Spielberg personally tracked him down in Las Vegas, the acting lessons he learned from Henry Fonda, directing Meghan Markle...

https://www.wingsofrescue.org/

David Chokachi returns to Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko for an inspiring conversation about purpose, perseverance and second chances.

The Baywatch star discusses returning to the franchise that made him famous, rescuing hundreds of dogs after the Los Angeles fires, working with Wings of Rescue, and why helping animals has become more rewarding than Hollywood itself.

He also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the new Baywatch series, explains how social media has changed casting, and reflects on aging, fitness and finding meaning beyond fame.

...

John O'Hurley became television history as the unforgettable J. Peterman on Seinfeld, but his remarkable career goes far beyond one iconic role.

He joins Steve Kmetko to reveal how he nearly turned down Seinfeld, explains the secret that made the show's comedy so brilliant, shares stories about Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, recalls the terrifying night he sang Sinatra to Frank Sinatra, and talks about Broadway, Family Feud, the National Dog Show, voice acting, and even becoming part owner of the real J. Peterman Company.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:38 How John Almost Turned...

Baywatch icon Erika Eleniak joins Steve Kmetko on Still Here, Hollywood for a raw, honest conversation about fame, body image, and reinvention. Before she became one of the most recognizable faces of 90s television as lifeguard Shauni McClain on Baywatch, Erika stole hearts as the babysitter in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In this episode, she opens up about being personally cast by Spielberg at age 12, the real story behind that iconic E.T. kiss scene, and what it was actually like filming Baywatch's famous slow-motion beach runs in freezing January water.

Erika also gets candid...

From Forrest Gump to The Last Rodeo, actor, director, and musician Michael Tyrone "T" Williamson sits down with Steve Kmetko on Still Here Hollywood for a raw, soulful conversation about the role that changed his life. In this episode, T shares the real story behind landing the role of Bubba Blue opposite Tom Hanks, how he improvised some of the film's most iconic lines, the surprising reason he's never eaten at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and what it's really like working alongside Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Al Pacino, and Gary Sinise. He also opens up about his new Angel...

Heather Thomas became one of television's biggest stars as Jody Banks on The Fall Guy alongside Lee Majors. During the height of her fame, her posters covered bedroom walls around the world and she became one of the defining television icons of the 1980s.

But behind the scenes, fame came with a darker side.

In this candid conversation with Steve Kmetko, Heather opens up about the terrifying stalking incidents that ultimately pushed her away from Hollywood, her battle with substance abuse, working with Lee Majors, life as an 80s sex symbol, raising a family, activism...

Before becoming Cliff Clavin on Cheers, John Ratzenberger spent years traveling the world, building houses, performing improvised comedy across Europe, and chasing adventure wherever it led.

In this encore episode, John shares the remarkable story behind his famous Cheers audition, his friendships with Hollywood legends, his long-running relationship with Pixar, and why he believes young people should learn practical skills before pursuing fame.

It's a funny, thoughtful conversation filled with stories only John Ratzenberger could tell.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:52 A Lifetime of Travel and Adventure
04:26 Landing the Role of Cliff...

Kristanna Loken became a global star when she landed the role of the T-X in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, but her story began far from Hollywood on an apple farm in upstate New York.

In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Kristanna joins Steve Kmetko to discuss her unforgettable experience working alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, the intense physical transformation required for Terminator 3, and how the blockbuster changed her life forever.

She also opens up about growing up with actor and model parents, her journey from modeling to acting, coming out publicly as bisexual, raising her...

Kent McCord became a television icon as Officer Jim Reed on Adam-12, one of the most influential police dramas in television history. But long before Adam-12, Kent's life was already taking remarkable turns.

In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Kent shares never-before-heard stories about working with Jack Webb, the realism behind Adam-12, how the series became a training tool for police departments across America, and the surprising impact the show had on law enforcement.

Kent also recalls his friendship with Rick Nelson, an unforgettable football game between teams organized by Rick Nelson and Elvis...

Before streaming, before social media, and before reality TV took over, millions of viewers stayed up late watching USA Up All Night.

This week on Still Here Hollywood, Steve Kmetko sits down with television personality, comedian, actress, entrepreneur, and USA Up All Night host Rhonda Shear.

Rhonda shares behind-the-scenes stories from one of cable television's most beloved late-night shows, the challenges of being a woman in Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s, her experiences with Playboy, Joan Rivers, George Burns, and Johnny Carson, and how she reinvented herself after Hollywood to build the wildly successful...

Monica Potter joins Steve Kmetko for one of the most emotional and revealing conversations yet on STILL HERE HOLLYWOOD.

From starring alongside Robin Williams in Patch Adams, to unforgettable roles in Parenthood, Along Came a Spider, Con Air, and The Last House on the Left, Monica opens up about her remarkable career, motherhood, growing up poor in Cleveland, and the deeply personal lessons she learned from some of Hollywood’s most iconic actors.

She shares emotional memories of Robin Williams, hilarious stories about Nicolas Cage, heartfelt reflections on Philip Seymour Hoffman, working with Morgan Freeman, an...

Actress Marisol Nichols joins Steve Kmetko for one of the most intense and emotional episodes of Still Here Hollywood yet.

Known for her roles on 24 and Riverdale, Marisol reveals the shocking double life she led off-camera, working undercover alongside law enforcement in operations targeting human traffickers around the world.

She opens up about:

What happens when one of the funniest and most outspoken stars from Sex and the City sits down with one of television’s original openly gay entertainment journalists?

In this deeply funny, brutally honest, and surprisingly emotional episode of STILL HERE HOLLYWOOD, Mario Cantone opens up to Steve Kmetko about fame, fear, gay representation in Hollywood, censorship, aging, Broadway, comedy, family, and the legacy of Anthony Marentino from Sex and the City and And Just Like That....

Mario reveals:

Why Johnny Carson canceled his appearance

The t...

Some actors play powerful men. Others understand what power actually costs.

On this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Steve Kmetko sits down with legendary actor Eric Braeden, the man behind Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, a role he’s defined for more than four decades.

But this conversation goes far beyond daytime television.

From growing up in post-war Germany, to arriving in America and confronting its contradictions, to working with icons like Marlon Brando and James Cameron, Eric shares a deeply personal and unfiltered look at the life experiences that sh...

She was discovered at 15 in a London coffee shop… and within years, she was starring in major Hollywood films alongside legends.

In this episode, Steve Kmetko sits down with actress Vanessa Angel to talk about her unexpected rise from modeling to acting, working with icons like Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Woody Harrelson, and the reality behind building a career in Hollywood.

From Spies Like Us to Weird Science and Kingpin, Vanessa shares the moments that defined her journey, including the role she almost had that changed TV history, the truth about being a young mo...

Mike Farrell joins Still Here Hollywood to talk about his unforgettable role as BJ Hunnicutt on MASH*, one of the most beloved television shows of all time.

From the moment he landed the role to the emotional final episode that still holds the record for most-watched scripted television broadcast, Farrell shares what it was really like behind the scenes.

He opens up about his close bond with Alan Alda, the collaborative culture that made the show so special, and the powerful themes that made MASH* more than just a comedy.

Farrell also reflects...

Oscar-nominated actor June Squibb joins Steve Kmetko on Still Here Hollywood for a funny, honest, and deeply inspiring conversation about longevity, craft, and what it really means to keep working at the highest level in your 90s.

June looks back on her early days in theater, including working with the legendary Ethel Merman in Gypsy, learning Broadway discipline, and why she always knew, even as a child, that acting was not just something she wanted to do, it was who she was. She also talks about Law & Order, Nebraska, Thelma, Marjorie Prime, Yellowjackets, and what i...

She was on the biggest show in the world, but behind the slow motion runs and global fame, Nicole Eggert was dealing with something very different.

On this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Nicole opens up about joining Baywatch in her early 20s, why she walked away from the #1 show on the planet, and how the “Baywatch bimbo” label shut down her career. She shares what fame really cost her, from dating struggles to doors suddenly closing in Hollywood.

Then the conversation takes a powerful turn.

Nicole talks c...

Melora Hardin, best known to millions as Jan Levinson on The Office, joins Steve Kmetko for a funny, revealing, and surprisingly wide-ranging conversation about her life and career in Hollywood.

Melora looks back on working with Steve Carell, the improvisational magic behind The Office, and why the legendary “Dinner Party” episode still makes her laugh. She also opens up about her early years as a child actor on Little House on the Prairie, working with Michael Landon and Clint Eastwood, her thoughts on AI and creativity, and what it was like seeing Miley Cyrus at 15 during the Hann...

Frances Fisher joins Steve Kmetko for a candid, funny, and deeply thoughtful conversation about acting, ambition, heartbreak, Titanic, Clint Eastwood, Lucille Ball, and what it really means to build a life in Hollywood.

Frances talks about growing up around the world, finding acting through community theater in Texas, bartending in New York while chasing work, and the unusual creative choice that transformed her performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She also shares a remarkable story about the phone call that may have led to Titanic, what made James Cameron such an effective director, and why...

Adrienne Barbeau joins Steve Kmetko for a candid and entertaining conversation about a career that has spanned Broadway, television, cult films, and animation.

Long before becoming a horror icon, Adrienne Barbeau first gained national attention playing Carol Traynor on the groundbreaking sitcom Maude opposite the legendary Bea Arthur. From there she built a career that moved effortlessly between stage, television, and film, appearing in classics like The Fog, Escape From New York, Creepshow, and Swamp Thing. She also became the unforgettable voice of Catwoman in Batman: The Animated Series, a role that continues to resonate w...

What really happens inside the room where casting decisions are made? Casting director Paul Ruddy has spent nearly three decades shaping careers in film, television, and now the emerging world of vertical storytelling. In this revealing conversation, he explains how actors get cast, why self-tapes changed Hollywood forever, and how star power can be felt in the first 20 seconds of an audition. Paul shares behind-the-scenes stories about discovering talent early, including Sydney Sweeney’s early auditions, the tiny acting choices that win roles, and why memorizing your lines still matters more than anything else. He also dives deep into: • The rise...

Laura Leighton takes us back inside the Melrose Place phenomenon and what it was really like to ride that wave before social media and smartphones changed everything. In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Laura talks about launching the Melrose Place rewatch podcast Still the Place with Daphne Zuniga and Courtney Thorne Smith, why it feels so freeing to show up without a script, and the surprising emotional impact of revisiting a time that happened more than 30 years ago.

Laura opens up about the cast bond that never went away, the real conversations happening around a potential...

Gabrielle Carteris helped define a generation as Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills 90210. But the story behind the show is bigger, deeper, and more surprising than you think. In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Gabrielle opens up about the truth behind landing 90210, including the age secret she kept when she was cast as a 16-year-old. She reflects on overnight fame, Beatles-level chaos, and how the show shaped her adult life in ways she is still unpacking. But this episode goes far beyond nostalgia. Gabrielle reveals the devastating on-set injury that temporarily left her partially paralyzed and unable to speak, the...

Joanna Cassidy has never fit neatly into one lane, and that is exactly why she is unforgettable. In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Joanna takes us from Syracuse University as an art student to a cross-country leap that landed her in Los Angeles and changed everything. She talks about her first film set experience with Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern, the shock of realizing she could actually act, and how her creative life has always lived in two worlds, performance and painting. We also dive into the legacy roles that keep getting rediscovered. Joanna shares what it was...

Actor and director Paul McCrane joins Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko for a funny, honest, and surprisingly deep conversation about building a career by leaning into the roles people remember most. Paul talks about intentionally pivoting into “bad guy” parts, his first reaction to reading RoboCop, and the night a massive explosion on set got a little too real. He also looks back on ER and what it was like joining the biggest show on television, plus how the stability of a long-running series can change your life outside the job. The conversation goes beyond credits and into craft. Paul...