| I recently had the great privilege to sit with one of | | | | seasons. The Love Boat lasted 9 plus seasons. The |
| my favorite television and screen stars for an | | | | Mary Tyler Moore Show - 7 seasons. What was it |
| interview. Gavin MacLeod has had a diverse and | | | | about these shows that carried such tremendous |
| interesting acting career that began in the late 1950s. | | | | audience appeal? |
| As we spoke, I was both impressed and awed at his | | | | GAVIN: They had great writers, great stories, had |
| genuine personality, gentle spirit and professional | | | | interesting characters, the chemistry of the cast |
| manner. | | | | members all came together. The biggest factor might |
| Born Allan George See on February 28, 1930, New | | | | have been that the shows were put on TV at the |
| York native Gavin MacLeod fulfilled a tour in the Air | | | | right time at night to attract large audiences. The |
| Force before returning to New York, changing his | | | | Love Boat had two pilots that failed. Then they bring |
| name and working at Radio City Music Hall. After | | | | me in and the series takes off! |
| breaking into the business in 1958 with his role in I | | | | ROY: In addition to an impressive list of movie |
| Want To Live!, MacLeod went on to star with some | | | | credits, you have left an indelible mark on audiences |
| of Hollywood's most noted and respected stars. | | | | with memorable characters and appearances in some |
| Topping the list were Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Bing | | | | of television's classic shows like McHale's Navy, The |
| Crosby and Mary Tyler Moore. | | | | Untouchables, Perry Mason, Dr. Kildare, The Munsters, |
| During the mid-80s, MacLeod and his then ex-wife | | | | Gomer Pyle, The Andy Griffith Show, The Man From |
| Patti, remarried and became evangelical Christians. | | | | UNCLE, Hogan's Heroes, The Rat Patrol, Combat, It |
| They have been serving as hosts on the Trinity | | | | Takes A Thief, The Big Valley and the Twilight Zone |
| Broadcasting Network for about 14 years. Follow me | | | | to name a few. Obviously, typecasting was not a |
| as I take a walk down Memory Lane with Mr. | | | | problem for you. What was the secret to your |
| MacLeod. | | | | appeal? |
| ROY: Hawaii Five-0 is my all-time favorite TV show. | | | | GAVIN: Efficiency. I knew my lines. I was always |
| In the series you played a big, tough crime boss. The | | | | ready. I took chances... almost never turned down |
| character's look and personality was unlike most roles | | | | work. On The Big Valley I was thrown from a horse! |
| audiences equate you with today... The Love Boat, | | | | I remember being so sore. Being bald got me jobs, |
| The Mary Tyler Moore Show and more. The | | | | too. Probably my greatest asset! I lost my hair at 18 |
| connection between my profession in the travel | | | | years old. I would go to casting calls with my |
| industry, specializing in cruises, and my personal | | | | hairpiece in a box in case they wanted someone with |
| pastime was the catalyst for my desire to interview | | | | hair. |
| you. Had you spent much time in Hawaii prior to the | | | | ROY: This year marks the 30th anniversary of The |
| show? What was it like living and working there? | | | | Love Boat and today you are Princess Cruises' most |
| GAVIN: No, I flew over and had to wait for my hotel | | | | recognizable spokesman. From this special vantage |
| suite to be made ready. Ricardo Montalban was the | | | | point, how are today's Princess ships different from |
| first guest star and they hadn't finished shooting. I | | | | the cruise ships of the 70s? How has the passenger |
| played a tough drug dealer named Big Chicken. When | | | | cruise experience evolved? |
| they cast me for the part, I told my agent, "This | | | | GAVIN: The ships are so much bigger! The choices |
| does not describe me. They want someone six-foot | | | | are so many compared to what we had back then. |
| four, thin, with a goatee." And I said, "I'm wrong. I | | | | Twenty-four hour dining, movies under the stars, |
| mean, I'm only five-foot ten and a half and dumpy | | | | gyms, computer rooms, the shows. The ports have |
| with no hair." | | | | gotten so huge and crowded with so much shopping. |
| We shot in the first film studio built on the island. The | | | | Not only in town but right at the docks. |
| show was titled, They Painted Daisies On His Coffin. | | | | ROY: You cruised around the world. Do you have a |
| They wrote the character in a later show that first | | | | few favorite destinations you can share with us? |
| season called The Box. It was filmed in a real prison. | | | | GAVIN: Alaska is so beautiful! Tahiti has the most |
| ROY: Actors who worked with Jack Lord called him a | | | | beautiful water. I love the national parks in our |
| perfectionist. I read that when he started directing | | | | country: they are breathtaking. The most beautiful |
| the show in the latter years, he would shoot up to | | | | spot I have ever seen was Lake Como, Italy. We |
| 30 takes until he was happy with the scene. What | | | | were in Venice and took a car to Milan then drove up |
| was your experience like working with him as an | | | | to the town. Such breathtaking beauty and the best |
| actor? Would you say the description applies? Did | | | | Italian food I have ever eaten! |
| you ever work with him after the show? | | | | ROY: You and your family reside in Southern |
| GAVIN: I heard from many actors that he was hard | | | | California but you grew up in Westchester County |
| to work with. We got along great! I worked with | | | | New York and attended Ithaca College right in the |
| Jack in a B movie with Betsy Palmer who was a | | | | heart of the snow belt. Our company is based in |
| guest years later on The Love Boat and in The True | | | | Yonkers. I have to ask: do you miss the snow? What |
| Story of Lynn Stuart back in 1957. I was very lucky. | | | | do you miss most about New York and do you get |
| The other cast members were jealous that I got to | | | | back here to visit or work very often? |
| eat lunch with Jack in his private, air-conditioned | | | | GAVIN: I do miss the snow and sleet. As a kid I was |
| trailer. Jack mentioned making a movie together in | | | | very anxious for a snowstorm so I could go out and |
| Spain that never happened. He got so busy with the | | | | shovel and make some money. I have an apartment |
| series. It happens in show business... you keep | | | | in New York City and try and visit and go to plays a |
| moving on. | | | | lot. I have seen Jersey Boys three times already. I |
| ROY: You look great! Extremely fit and healthy. What | | | | was in Rochester doing a shoot for a new movie this |
| was your secret to getting in shape after | | | | past August. I was interviewed recently on Good |
| Hawaii-Five-0 and how do you maintain your healthy | | | | Morning America, so I have to say I miss New York. |
| physical condition today? | | | | ROY: Thank you so much for your time and hope to |
| GAVIN: I had a heart attack and I want to live! My | | | | meet you one day at an industry function. On the |
| family has big genes... strong stock. I exercise every | | | | Crown Princess last year, they had to stop the line |
| morning. The best is yet to come! | | | | because there was an hour and a half wait to take a |
| ROY: You have been associated with some of our | | | | picture with you. You still draw so many fans that |
| generation's longest-running television shows. Hawaii | | | | keep The Love Boat very much alive! |
| Five-0 is one of the longest-running police series - 12 | | | | |