Episodes
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Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking with….host Josh Mills. Yes, on this episode, our 100th, we somehow wrangled guest Daisy Torme, daughter of singer Mel Torme and actress Janette Scott to be a guest host as part of this special episode.
In fact, it was because of this podcast that we reconnected with Daisy and her brother James Torme months prior which led to a few lunches, quite a few laughs and much merriment. So when we were thinking of what to do for our 100th episode, it seemed pretty simple as to who we’d like to mix things up with. Daisy was kind enough to slip behind the proverbial desk and guest host the podcast and interview the host about his life. What a concept.
Daisy was terrific in her newfound role as we discussed family connections, Josh’s mom’s, Edie Adams career, celebrities connections we had in common, family music publishing and a whole lot more. It’s also safe to say that Josh had a good time as guest. Because, after all who doesn’t have the “Enough about me, what about me?” syndrome? So we touched on quite a bit that maybe in prior episodes we danced around but didn’t fully explain. Here, on this episode – we do.
So please enjoy this latest encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast this American Thanksgiving week 2024 and remember, everyone has a story. Even the host. Another child of a celebrity, interviewed by another child of a celebrity. With a twist. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast.
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Today on Part Two of our conversation about silent film stars Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we continue our conversation with Suzanne Lloyd, their granddaughter who was raised as their daughter. Last week we laid the groundwork on the life and legacy of one of the silent era’s greatest comedians. This week, we discuss the life Suzanne led in the family’s Green Acres 16 acre estate in Benedict Canyon. Harold seemed to have a way with money and he indulged all his passions with abandon. Although retired when Suzanne was growing up, Harold remained very active in his passions. Be it photography, the Shriners hospital, the estate itself or even his passion for bowling with Howard Hughes, we get into it all.
Topics discussed in this episode include: Harold’s passion for Stereo, Rick Nelson, TV director Richard Correll, Debbie Reynolds, the Blacklist, Paul McCartney & Wings, Disneyland, the Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, Roddy McDowell, Harmon Kardon audio and more. Along the way we discuss 3-D photography, pipe organs and an almost ridiculous obsession with Christmas and Christmas trees you have to hear to believe. But we get into it, oh yes we do!
We pick up our conversation with Suzanne mid-interview as we compare Ernie Kovacs to Harold Lloyd on this episode, of this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story. Enjoy.
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Missing episodes?
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Today on another brand new episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we give you part one of our conversation with Suzanne Lloyd, the granddaughter of silent film comedy star & Christmas tree obsessive, Harold Lloyd. Now, if the name (or the image) of Harold Lloyd doesn’t immediately ring a bell like Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin, this is one of the reasons we do this podcast, to make sure the legacy of legendary (or sometimes just working actors) are not forgotten. And after you hear Suzanne’s lengthy and almost encyclopedic remembrances of the man who raised her and why his name isn’t always mentioned as one of the three silent film comedians, you will understand it after listening to part one and next week’s part two. There is a reason. One we know all too well ourselves with the Ernie Kovacs estate.
On today’s episode, we discuss the silent era of film and names like Hal Roach, Colleen Moore, Mary Pickford, Daryl Zanuck, Irving Thalberg, Snub Pollard and more are bandied about like so many of Suzanne’s colorful stories about Harold Lloyd. We also hearabout Suzanne’s grandmother, actress Mildred Davis who was a pretty huge silent film star in her own right. It’s a whirlwind of information that fans of silent films won’t get enough of and fans who love old Hollywood but maybe don’t know the silent era well will want to learn more about.
Suzanne was a marvelous guest – someone who knows dates, places, studios, names and more like these things happened just yesterday. It’s clear that because she now controlls the Harold Lloyd Estate and his production company that she learned all this while also genuinely loving her grandfather who raised her like a daughter. It’s terrific stuff. So now podcast listeners, we bring you the story of Speedy aka Harold Lloyd on this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a listen.
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Welcome to another bonus edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Today we bring you something a little different. Just for fun. On Saturday September 28th and Sunday the 29th, 2024 the good folks at the VideoFest in Dallas presented Devo’s Gerald Casale with the Ernie Kovacs award. Since the 1997, Bart Weiss and the Video Association of Dallas has given out a (semi) annual Ernie Kovacs award with the help of Edie Adams and since her passing in 2009, her son, Rarified Heir Podcast host Josh Mills. Past recipients include Joel Hodgson, Paul Reubens, Amy Sedaris, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Mike Judge, George Schlatter, Kevin McDonald & Dave Foley of Kids in the Hall, Al Franken, Martin Mull, Michael Nesmith and more.
Thank you to Kyle Riche for recording the event, Bart Weiss and the VideoFest in Dallas Texas for holding an Ernie Kovacs award annually, Gerald Casale for being such an Ernie Kovacs fan, Jeff Winner for making this event happen, the good folks at the Texas Theater, DJ George Gimarc, all the VideoFest volunteers and everyone who has attended any of the Kovacs Awards through the years.
So Rarified Heir Podcast fans, this is not your typical episode, but we thought you all might want to hear some of what happened that weekend. And here it is.
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Welcome to another bonus edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Today we bring you something a little different. Just for fun. On Saturday September 28th and Sunday the 29th, 2024 the good folks at the VideoFest in Dallas presented Devo’s Gerald Casale with the Ernie Kovacs award. Since the 1997, Bart Weiss and the Video Association of Dallas has given out a (semi) annual Ernie Kovacs award with the help of Edie Adams and since her passing in 2009, her son, Rarified Heir Podcast host Josh Mills. Past recipients include Joel Hodgson, Paul Reubens, Amy Sedaris, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Mike Judge, George Schlatter, Kevin McDonald & Dave Foley of Kids in the Hall, Al Franken, Martin Mull, Michael Nesmith and more.
Thank you to Kyle Riche for recording the event, Bart Weiss and the VideoFest in Dallas Texas for holding an Ernie Kovacs award annually, Gerald Casale for being such an Ernie Kovacs fan, Jeff Winner for making this event happen, the good folks at the Texas Theater, DJ George Gimarc, all the VideoFest volunteers and everyone who has attended any of the Kovacs Awards through the years.
So Rarified Heir Podcast fans, this is not your typical episode, but we thought you all might want to hear some of what happened that weekend. And here it is.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to J.D. Lobue Jr., son of television director & at one time budding sunshine pop musician J.D. Lobue Sr. We reached out to J.D. Jr., after reading an article in a fantastic music magazine called Ugly Things about a band from the 1960s called The Gordian Knot. While reading the article, the name J.D. Lobue came up and host Josh Mills immediately thought, “That MUST be the father of my former little league baseball teammate!” After all, Lobue isn’t Smith, it’s a pretty unique name. With a little bit more research, we discovered our hunch was correct, it was the same person.
As we dug a little further, we realized that not only was Sr. a member of The Gordian Knot, but was also a well-known television director whose credits included multiple credits for iconic American shows like Soul Train, Soap, It’s A Living, Herman’s Head, Dharma and Greg and so many more. There were also credits for shows that didn’t make it like Norman Lear’s All’s Fair, Amanda’s By The Sea, Comedy Zone, You Take The Kids and more. So on this episode, we get into the weeds on what it was like in the booth watching your dad direct Soul Train and how your dad kept it together when things didn’t go right on the set of Soap.
We also discuss meeting the great Madeline Kahn, how he channeled The Bad News Bears Tanner as a member of the Dodgers at Studio City National Little League, iconic TV director Jay Sandrich, the jazz fusion band The Crusaders, sitting in Archie Bunker’s chair on the All in the Family set, playing tennis at Mel Torme’s house and much more. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and everyone has a story. Take a listen.
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Today on Part Two of another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we continue our conversation with guest Peter Ackerman, son of actor Elinor Donahue & television executive Harry Ackerman. We covered a lot of ground on part one but on this episode, we dig deep into things like how insanely loyal Star Trek fans are as we discuss fan conventions and their lasting impact on both celebrities and attending fans. In fact, both Peter and host Josh Mills played the role of dutiful sons, chaperoning and being the ‘money person’ at celebrity conventions their mothers attended. It was a bonding moment.
We also discuss forgotten Los Angeles restaurants, the Los Angeles Rams and how they connect to Bewitched, music videos from Peter Frampton and Aerosmith, the soap opera Days of Our Lives, the film Pretty Woman & Peter’s current career which might surprise you. We jammed a lot into this episode and the last one as well and Peter was a lively and willing participant to discuss his life, growing up the child of a celebrity. In fact, you can read more about it in his new book, Mom, Dad, Me, and Classic TV - Growing Up with Classic Television's Harry Ackerman and Elinor Donahue – out now!
So get ready, here comes part two of our conversation with Peter Ackerman. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and everyone has a story.
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Today on another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Peter Ackerman, son of actress Elinor Donahue and television executive Harry Ackerman. Ironic isn’t it that just recently we have spoken to David Pressman, son of actor Lawrence Pressman who starred with Elinor in the short-lived TV show Mulligan’s Stew on episode #194 and here we are again discussing lost classic TV. No matter, because on this episode we really lock in on some iconic classic television shows which Peter discusses at length. Like what shows you ask? Nothing much really – just shows like I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, Batman, The Monkees, Bewitched and other shows that were part of our childhood.
What’s more, Peter tells us what it was like from both in front of the camera and behind as well. With both parents traversing show business from different careers, Peter gives us a peek into what it was like growing up the child of a celebrity and the child of a Hollywood power broker. A unique story that is.
We loved hearing about Peter’s first kiss – from a fellow child of a celebrity while in grade school as well as the behind-the-scenes story of how and why, “Bewitched” ended. We also learn about how and why his mother left The Andy Griffith Show and much more. In fact, we got the story before his recent book, Mom, Dad, Me, and Classic TV - Growing Up with Classic Television's Harry Ackerman and Elinor Donahue was published earlier this year. So we consider this interview quite a scoop! If it sounds like a fun episode – it was. And this is only part one!
This is the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a listen.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we have another encore edition with guest Ron DeFore, whose father Don DeFore was known to classic TV fans as Thorny on the show The Adventures of Ozzy and Harriet. It’s a nice bookend with the recent interview we did with Sam Nelson, Rick Nelson’s son a few months back talking about that iconic 50s show. What’s more, Ron’s mother was singer Marion Holmes and we hear from Ron about how his parents met as well as her career as well which has a fun bit of trivia in there you won’t want to miss.
Disneyland fans will especially love this episode as we discuss how Don Defore was the only celebrity to have a branded store in Disneyland which happened only because of his friendship with Walt Disney himself. We hear about the Don DeFore Silver Banjo Barbeque, how the recipe came about and where the signage ended up. Disneyana buffs will be in hog heaven on this one….BBQ hog heaven that is.
What’s more we discuss the book Ron wrote about literally growing up in Disneyland which you can still purchase as an autographed copy at (get this) www.growingupindisneyland.com. It’s quite the story about literally growing up in the “Happiest Place on Earth” that we touch on quite a bit on this episode. Along the way we hear stories about President Ronald Reagan, John Lennon, a DJ stint as Captain Disco, the T.V. show The Odd Couple, long lost LA restaurant favorites & much more. So take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.
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Today on another episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are again speaking to David Jolliffe for part two of our conversation that began on last week’s episode. On this episode, we dig a little deeper into some of the stories David told us last week and I ask you, what other podcast gives you first hand stories about the legendary Hollywood Vampires AND Jose Ferrer in the same episode? I’ll give you a moment to think. You are correct, only the Rarified Heir Podcast.
Once more, we connect with David about his actress mother Glorya Lord whose credits include Mannix and The Doris Day Show among others as well as his television exec. father Richard Jolliffe. We also talk to David about his voice-over work on 70s and 80s animation, his trip to the Indianapolis 500 with Emergency!’s Kent McCord, a ridiculous and very funny story about an incident with Bruce Dern, making music with Toto’s Steve Lukather and Shaun Cassidy and a whole lot more. All you need to do now is absolutely nothing but sit back, relax and hear another episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.
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Today on another episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, it’s actually more than just another episode. Why? This is episode number 200 of the podcast. If you had asked us when we started if we had thought we would get to 200 episodes, we might have thought that was impossible. But here we are. We owe a great deal of thanks to all of you, our listeners for hanging in through all these years. We appreciate you, your enthusiasm on social media, your support on Patreon and all your emails and DMs for guest suggestions. You’d be surprised how often that works, so keep the suggestions and the downloads coming as we head to the next milestone.
And with that out of the way, we bring you another encore episode, a two-parter in fact, with actor David Jolliffe whose stories about growing up in Hollywood as an actor really boggle the mind. You likely know David from his amazing red afro on Room 222. Or maybe you know David from his countless television commercials, or maybe you know his voice from countless animated shows? Perhaps you know some of his music he made with his actor/musician friends or maybe if you are in the industry, it’s from his advocating for actors as a VP of the Screen Actors Guild & AFTRA. However you know him, you wont forget some of his remarkable tales after listening to this episode. Along the way we learn about growing up as the child of his actress mother Glorya Lord and his father, TV executive Richard Jolliffe.
So buckle your seatbelts for part one of our conversation that touches on everyone from Alice Cooper, Michael Constantine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Bruno Kirby, Billy Mumy & composer Jerry Goildsmith to name just a few. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and this is part one of our interview with David Jolliffe. Everyone has a story.
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Today on another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Jennifer Pentland, daughter to comedian and actress Roseanne Barr. Or just Roseanne. We are not exactly sure in 2024. Regardless, we spoke to Jennifer around the release of her memoir, This Will Be Funny Later which frankly, leaves no stone unturned. It’s full of the good, the band and the ugly of growing up the child of a celebrity. With a mother who was a lightning rod of controversy for tabloids, gossip columnists and the general public all thought Jennifer’s teenage years, Jennifer is brutally honest which is to be commended.
What was most refreshing about talking to Jennifer was that she tells her story with humor with only the mildest hint of resentment or anger about how she grew up. And when you hear her story involving everything from weight issues, self-harm and being institutionalized, it’s a wonder there was anything but rancor discussing these issues. But there isn’t. Jennifer was a remarkable person if for no other reason than the can recall the clear headed and stark reality of why she was institutionalized which had almost nothing to do with why she thought she was there. It’s a fascinating story and really tells you just how strong she is.
We spoke to Jennifer in the midst of a family trip when she pulled over at a rest stop to talk to us and that’s just the kind of person she is. So get ready for a conversation involving personal chefs, Rodney Dangerfield, being a goth kid, cult and water balloons that almost is too much to believe. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.
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Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to actor David Deluise, son of comedian/actors Dom Deluise & Carol Arthur. Ok, sure, we talk about the 80s cable TV classic film Hot Stuff a little bit too much on this episode but it’s one of the few films Dom directed and also featured his wife and family. And like the film, we hear from David that in many ways that film mirrored their life off camera. There was lots of food, laughter and spending time with friends and family when the camera’s weren’t rolling.
We discuss with David many of his father’s friends including Mel Brooks, Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin and more. When you have prominent roles in everything from Blazing Saddles to The Muppet Movie, there is a lot to talk about. Of course we talk about Dom’s other passion: food. Cooking, eating and procuring free food as well. Clearly the man lived to eat and that’s a man after our own hear.
We also talk about David’s acting and directing career on television shows like The Thunderman’s, Lab Rats and more. We also learn how the show Felicity got its name, the family’s favorite restaurants, being too nervous to meet Robert De Niro, dining with Martin Sheen & sending Anthony Hopkins a pizza as an introduction. You know, the typical things most kids grow up doing all over this great land of ours. So sit back, maybe order Chinese food for 50 people as the Deluise’s did and take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Colin Cosell, grandson of legendary broadcaster and American cultural icon, Howard Cosell. Now, if you are born in the United States, you will definitely know Howard Cosell. But for those outside the US, that name night not be as well known. But in the 1970s and 80s, Cosell was at the Zenith of where celebrity, sports and pop culture mixed.
Famous for his “Tell it like it is” manner on air, Howard Cosell was as famous for his calls of the boxing, football, baseball & the Olympics while also being remembered for his voice, his wit and his sometimes prickly manner. He got as much hate mail as he got praise and he was often at the center of controversy for his comments on air as well as his opinions off air. For many of us, Howard Cosell will be remembered as the man who broke the news to America that John Lennon was shot and killed which we watched Monday Night Football. For others he will be remembered for as the butt playful jokes from one of his best friends Muhammad Ali. This was a man who famously parlayed his fame as a sportscaster to television, film and the larger pop culture zeitgeist of the latter half of the 20th Century as you will soon hear.
Talking to Colin, we get to see another side of Howard, a grandfather who doted on his family and young Colin. We discuss how the family all played board games together, the many dogs they grew up with and how he would see his grandfather every week or two growing up. Howard was a very present grandfather who could also pull some strings and arrange a meeting with a world famous athlete one day and hang with you eating bagels the next. Colin was a jovial guest who told stories about the other Saturday Night Live Starring Howard Coselland how Cosell impacted the late night comedy juggernaut SNL we know today. We talk Monday Night Football with Frank Gifford and ‘Dandy’ Don Meredith as well as the time Jon Bon Jovi came over to talk. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and everyone has a story.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Brad James, son of game show host and television icon, Dennis James. We loved talking to Brad because of all the many connections his dad had to early – and we mean early – television that connected with host Josh Mills own family in early television. Fans of classic television should appreciate this episode as we talk about televisions earliest beginning when there were literally just a few hundred sets in the New York metropolitan area.
From there we discuss all the many game shows Dennis James was a part of including landmark shows like: The New Price is Right, Let’s Make a Deal and Name That Tune as well as obscure shows like Haggis Baggis, Cash and Carry and Name’s The Same. It’s why he was known as the “Dean of Game Shows.” We are just scratching the surface here as James worked on commercials, radio, movies and became a philanthropic juggernaut when he hosted the first-ever telethon for united Cerebral Palsy Associations as emcee that continued well into the 1990s. In fact, after his father passed away in 1997, Brad took over that role as host to help keep his father’s life work alive.
Along the way, we talk golf & Kevin Costner, a skinny kid from New Jersey like James named Sinatra who came up through the ranks together and how his father raised – get this $750 million dollars in his five decades of work for United Cerebral Palsy. There is also a story about Foster Brooks and a gun that entertained us to no end. So please, take a listen to the Rarified Heir Podcast with guest Brad James. Everyone has a story.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to journalist Claudia Cowan who grew up the daughter of actress Barbara Rush and pioneering A-list publicist Warren Cowan. Claudia spoke with us about growing up with a mother co-starred with Paul Newman in The Young Philadelphians and whose father was Paul Newmand’s press agent. It was a difficult task to focus on both her mother and father because they both did so much personally and professionally – including marrying and divorcing – twice.
Along the way we hear about Claudia’s favorite LA restaurants, her mother’s disappointment at not singing a duet with Frank Sinatra in Robin and the Seven Hoods, how her father invented the “Top Ten list,” what it was like being on tour with her mother while she was starring in regional theater in Chicago and how her parents met The Beatles at a garden party the night after their famed Hollywood Bowl performance that her father was publicizing and so much more.
So what is it like to have a father who represented Clint Eastwood, Kirk Douglas, George Burns, Ronald Reagan and others while her mom was starring in movies with Rock Hudson, Dean Martin Marlon Brando, Hope Lange and Ernie Kovacs? You’ll just have to listen to this episode and find out. And let us say this, in honor of her father, when asked, who his favorite client was said “The next one,” let us just say that our favorite episode is the next one, which in this case is THIS one with Claudia Cowan. Another child of a celebrity interviewed by a child of a celebrity. Everyone has a story.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to actor David Pressman and both delving into both of his actor parents, Lawrence Pressman and Lanna Saunders. Like our previous guest, Christopher Murray, David seemed destined to become an actor – not just because of his parents but also because his grandparents and even his great grandfather were actors as well – going all the way back to the Russian/Ukrainian stage before he emigrated to America. We are talking generations!
David spoke to us about his time growing up in Los Angeles with his mother Lanna who appeared on more than 500 episodes of the popular soap opera Days of Our Lives as Marie Horton and his father who is still going strong at age 85. Depending on how old you are, you will know Lawrence’s best from his roles in Nine to Five, Mulligan’s Stew, M*A*S*H, Doogie Howser and so much more. We also talk about both of his parents love of theater and their time on Broadway, working on the stage prior to their move out to Los Angeles when David was seven years old.
Along the way we speak about the such things as the CIA, Robby Benson’s gang film Walk Proud, the difference between overtime and golden time on set, a fear of flying that led to a marriage, partying with Steve Coogan on the set of Tropic Thunder, famous LA restaurants, Jane Fonda’s kindness at a dinner party and much more. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and everyone has a story. Take a listen.
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Today on another episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we continue our conversation with actor Christopher Murray and delve deeper into some fun and fascinating new stories about his mother actor Hope Lange, father actor Don Murray and step father Director Alan J. Pakula. Christopher talks to us about one of the most interesting connections he and his parents have – Director David Lynch. Hope Lange starred in Blue Velvet and both Christopher and Don played roles on Twin Peaks all in three separate decades. A totally weird Lynchian through line that is perhaps only rivaled by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd.
Moreover we discuss some of the backstage jealousies of making the film Bus Stop which his parents were both cast in – although no one knew they were married. It sheds a light on some of the insecurities and well documented frailties of Marilyn Monroe. We also discuss Sean Connery’s golf game, Scarlett Johansen’s first role in the film Just Cause, how you ingratiate yourself into the good graces of a Scotsman and more.
This leads to a Christopher’s reminisces of his truly remarkable stepfather Alan J. Pakula both at home and at work. From his time on the set of the film Klute where he met Jane Fonda to the trips Alan took he and his sister on to Morocco & Italy we really feel like we are getting a story very few know about. Part two of our conversation with Christopher is filled with beautiful memories and some tragic losses. Thanks for taking us along for the ride Chris. The Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we are talking to actor Christopher Murray, who we find out, was quite literally born into show business. From both his maternal and paternal grandparents as well as both of his parents, Christopher likely couldn’t have escaped a career in front of the camera if he tried. So who are his parents? Well, both are Oscar nominated and his mother is a two-time Emmy award winner. Can you guess? None other than actors Don Murray & Hope Lange.
Between his parents, they have starred in films and TV productions with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Robert Wagner, Charles Laughton, Roddy McDowell, Michelle Lee, Kathleen Turner, Joan Crawford, Glenn Ford, Suzy Parker and more. And if that isn’t enough, his stepfather was a giant of a director, Alan J. Pakula who directed some of the best films of the 70s as well.
Our time with Christopher was more a conversation than an interview and frankly, those are the ones we love best on this podcast. We jumped around a lot but the connections were never more apparent than when we were discussing how it is that Charles Nelson Reilly spent so much time at his house. We delved into just about everything with Christopher to the story of how his parents helped displaced European war refugees from WWII & the Korean War that still functions to this day as well as the fabulous dinner parties his mother gave that were a safe haven for gay Hollywood couples in an era when things like that were very rare.
This conversation that spans the stage, film and television and involves everyone from Hubert H. Humphrey to Eleanor Roosevelt, Sean Connery to Ed Harris & Freddy Kruger to Don Deer. But to hear all of those stories, we had to spread this episode into two parts – there was just too much great stuff to cut out. You’ll have to take a listen to this episode, part one, of the Rarified Heir Podcast to begin this verbal scavenger hunt. Everyone has a story.
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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we are talking to Christopher Lewis, son of entertainer & human juggernaut, the one, the only, Jerry Lewis. Chris was kind enough to reach out to us via a mutual connection at the Library of Congress and was pretty terrific about answering all our questions, big and small about the man known as “The King of Comedy.” The impetus for our chat was Chris’ book Jerry Lewis on Being a Person, a 300+ page book is packed with photos, ruminations, life lessons, antidotes and more. It’s a wonderful look at a complex comedian, director, writer, producer, golfer and philanthropist.
Chris talked to us about his father and was frank about why he looks at his father with “rose colored glasses,” his father’s lust for life and everything in between. Somehow we get to a vast amount of information on “Le Roi du Crazy” as the French called him. Our discussion hits everything from his love of audio and video technology to just how much of the Jerry Lewis archive was delivered to the Library of Congress. We also spoke about culturally significant high points like his guest appearance on Pink Lady and Jeff ans Slapstick (of Another Kind). Along the way we get to talking about The Day the Clown Cried, an true art imitates life Rupert Pupkin stalking situation that had everyone in the family on edge, why handshake deals were so important to Jerry and what comedians made Jerry Lewis laugh. All you have to do is sit back and listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a listen.
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