PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21 : Emmy Winners and real-life husband and wife William Daniels ... [+]
In Part 1 of our interview series with Emmy Award-winning actor William Daniels, 95, we discussed the 1960s seven-time Oscar-nominated classic, “The Graduate,” in which he played Ben Braddock’s (Dustin Hoffman) uptight father. Here, we talk about Daniels’ favorite role, his presidency of Screen Actors Guild, his Emmy for “St. Elsewhere,” and more. Following are edited excerpts from a longer conversation. On the phone with Daniels was his actress wife, Bonnie Bartlett, also an Emmy-winner.
Jim Clash: You were president of the Screen Actors Guild [SAG] from 1999-2001. As an actor, what challenges did that present? I’m thinking it may have been a pretty demanding job.
William Daniels: Well, yes it was. I was going back and forth to New York from California. There’s a schism between Hollywood and New York in the union. They have different interests, and have difficulties getting along - nasty, nasty, nasty. One person had to be fired because he tried to favor Netflix in a contract. The power struggle really hurts both parties. However, it all worked out rather well for me. We got a very nice contract for commercials. Those actors were not being paid properly at the time.
Clash: You won an Emmy for the television series “St. Elsewhere” in 1986, as did your wife, Bonnie - same night, same series. That must have been special.
Daniels: They send a limo to take you to the awards show, which was in Pasadena at that point. We got maybe a half-mile down the road, and it broke down. I walked home. I didn’t want to go, anyway. Bonnie had this gown on and couldn’t walk along the freeway. The driver managed to take her back. Then they brought a new car. By that time, I had gotten out of my monkey suit and was watching [John] McEnroe play tennis on television. Bonnie really laid into me, saying, “I got all dressed up, and by God we’re going to this.” So we got into the new car and arrived at the awards ceremony late. Our seats were in the middle of a row, so I was passing people’s legs, saying, “Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.” We sat down and I heard, “William Daniels!” I thought, “Oh my God, I won this thing. What am I going to say?” I didn’t expect it. I got up and told the audience what had happened with the limo, and it got a bunch of laughs. That was fine, I had something to say. They probably thought I was making it up [laughs].
CIRCA 1972: Actors Howard Da Silva and William Daniels on set of the movie "1776", circa 1972. ... [+]
Clash: I particularly liked your performance in, “The Graduate.” But you’ve played so many characters over the years. What’s your favorite, if you have one?
Daniels: I don’t really have a favorite. Well, maybe, let me think. Okay, my favorite role was in [the musical], “1776,” playing John Adams. It was the most demanding. I had like, eight musical numbers, and never left the stage. I liked that challenge. I like to make the audience listen carefully.
Clash: You and Bonnie have been married for seven decades. In Hollywood, or anywhere else for that matter, that’s a long time. What’s your secret?
Daniels: A lack of imagination [laughs]. No, we’re a solid couple, you know. We love each other. We’ve never been jealous about the other’s work, or success. Rather, we take pride in each other’s accomplishments. Respect, and communication, are the important things. If it’s all about one person, no, but if it’s about two people, a family, making decisions, it works.
