Two-time Emmy nominee Lee Purcell got an early career break when she auditioned for Steve McQueen’s production company, Solar. Selected by McQueen, Lee landed the lead role opposite Michael Douglas in ADAM AT 6AM and was mentored by McQueen. Lee joins producer Rob Word for a career retrospective at The Autry Museum for A WORD ON WESTERNS. Lee’s co-starring role with Richard Thomas in a BONAZA episode was her first western. Lee’s starring roles in two memorable western features include an amazing turn as a young prostitute in Hollywood legend Jack L. Warner’s last feature film, DIRTY LITTLE BILLY, the innovative story of Billy the Kid with Michael J. Pollard as the kid. Lee was surrounded by western icons in KID BLUE, a turn of the century western about a train robber, Dennis Hopper, trying to go straight. Portraying the wife of Warren Oates, her co-stars included Ben Johnson, Ralph Waite, Janice Rule, Peter Boyle, Clifton James, M. Emmett Walsh, and Howard Hesseman. As the female lead in the first of THE GAMBLER series, Lee recalls teaching star Kenny Rogers how to read a script. He was a very fast learner. It was also Lee's first film with longtime friend, Bruce Boxleitner. More recently, Lee co-starred with Jon Voight in the JL Ranch and portrayed “Miss Kitty Russell” in a GUNSMOKE radio show adaptation for her production company, Two Fat Dogs Entertainment, series of virtual shows, “Radio You Can See.”
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Bruce Davison
Bruce Davison shares Burt Lancaster's acting tips ULZANA'S RAID in this episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS PODCAST! Oscar nominated actor Bruce Davison's amazing career has given audiences hundreds of powerful performances. Early roles in films like LAST SUMMER, THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT and WILLARD led him to a starring role with Burt Lancaster in the classic western, ULZANA'S RAID (1972). Bruce remembers embarrassing himself with director Robert Aldrich when he landed the role and being dazzled by, Lancaster and the lineup of top stunt men and women working on the film. Bruce also recalls the very strong alcoholic breath of Richard Boone while shooting a scene with the actor for an episode of Boone’s HEC RAMSEY. More fun adventures followed on and off set. Find out who Bruce ran into while waiting in line for an unemployment check. Join us for this interview with Bruce done in a roomful of fans that included Clu Gulager and Bruce Boxleitner at The Autry Museum, Jan 20, 2016.
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Nehemiah Persoff
102-Year-Old Nehemiah Persoff (1919-2022) WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast Exclusive! Hollywood legends Wayne, Bogart, Brando, Poitier and more taught Nehemiah Persoff about the movie business. Nicky joins Rob and RJ Word for an exclusive Zoom interview recorded November 2021, shortly before the celebrated actor died at the age of 102. Coming from the stage and the Actor’s Studio, Nehemiah, was a fast learner and appeared in 100s of film and TV roles. We feel so fortunate to have done a zoom interview with him. Nehemiah's memories of working with John Wayne in THE COMANCHEROS on acclaimed director Michael Curtiz’ last film are fascinating. It was a thrill to have him share so many stories of his career for his fans to enjoy on our weekly series of conversations with filmmakers. Born in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff (Aug 2, 1919-April 5, 2022) came to America at the age of 10. He was one of the first to join the celebrated Actor’s Studio where he worked with Elia Kazan and met Marlon Brando, later appearing with “Bud” in Kazan’s celebrated ON THE WATERFRONT. Persoff’s first western feature was Delmar Daves’ THE BADLANDERS with Alan Ladd. The actors were quite different from those he had worked with in New York. On Humphrey Bogart’s last movie, THE HARDER THEY FALL, Nicky learned a big lesson in acting. His revealing memories of working with John Wayne as the heavy in THE COMANCHEROS caused him to rethink his approach to his interpretation of the villain. When Edward G. Robinson bailed on Billy Wilder in a key role in the now classic SOME LIKE IT HOT, Nicky replaced him and tells of the support he got from Wilder and the atmosphere on the set which made Persoff furious. Nehemiah was loaded with talent and versatility. His career was amazing; his life filled with love and adventure. Thanks to his cousin, author Jim Rosin, for helping arrange the interview. Nicky may have only been 5'7" tall but he was a GIANT on screen, leaving many powerful performances for generations to savor for years to come. May he Rest in Peace. Nicky was also a celebrated Plein Air artist and published his autobiography, “The Many Faces of Nehemiah,” in 2021. It is available through Amazon here: https://www.shorturl.at/bftPW
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Chris Mulkey
Actor Chris Mulkey remembers BROKEN TRAIL, THE LONG RIDERS & TIMERIDER! Mulkey was warned by BROKEN TRAIL’S director Walter Hill to be very very careful not to hurt Robert Duvall in the fight scene. Chris joined Rob Word to share the experience and reveal who got hurt in this exclusive interview for A WORD ON WESTERNS podcast. BROKEN TRAIL was the third time Chris had worked for Hill and the first with Oscar winning actor Duvall in AMC’s very successful 2-part western. Not to worry, said Mulkey, who ended up getting clipped by Duvall in the climatic skirmish. The 2006 western turned into a multi-award-winning program that helped launch AMC into airing more original programs. Mulkey first worked for director Hill in the classic tale of the James and Younger gang, THE LONG RIDERS in 1980 and later in Hill’s monster hit, 48 HOURS. The veteran actor’s long resume includes nearly 300 films and TV shows, including a stunning portrayal in season two of JUSTIFIED and as an outlaw with L.Q. Jones and Peter Coyote in the cult time travel classic, TIMERIDER: THE ADVENTURES OF LYLE SWANN. Chris averages 6 films a year! When he’s not in front of the camera performing, he’s on stage traveling, singing, and writing songs while fronting the stellar rock band, Chris Mulkey & Deluxe, formerly the house band at the House of Blues. Find out more about this versatile actor and what it’s like being an in-demand performer.
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Gunsmoke
With 635 episodes over 20 seasons, Gunsmoke set television’s high-water mark for dramatic series. Season-one guest Brett Halsey, final-season tough-guy Martin Kove, and writer-producer Jim Byrnes reveal how scripts like Byrnes’s lone-wolf classic “Lobo” kept Dodge City fresh. They swap candid memories of on-set hazards, last-minute rewrites, and what it took to sell a story to TV’s longest-running Western. Versatile stars Jan Shepard and Jacqueline Scott spotlight the show’s standout roles for women, from Shepard’s riveting drunk-cell scene in “Friend” to Scott’s fan-favorite turns in “Abelia” and “Kitty Cornered.” Together they pull back the curtain on lightning-fast rehearsals, hard-charging directors, and a set where authenticity always came first. Press play, enjoy the ride, and follow A Word on Westerns for more untold stories from the frontier of classic TV.
With a special emphasis on the Western genre, A WORD ON WESTERNS is a podcast devoted to preserving and documenting the rich history of film, television, and related media. Hosted by television veteran Rob Word—joined by his son, producer and entertainer RJ Word—this award-winning interview series brings you in-depth conversations with the filmmakers, performers, and creative minds who shaped some of our most cherished screen classics. Many of these engaging discussions originate from the legendary Autry Museum in Los Angeles, California, offering authentic insights and firsthand stories that continue to keep the spirit of the West alive.
Österreich