Still Here Hollywood

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 the opportunity that would change everything. He shares the emotional moment he learned he'd been cast as Bosch and why the role meant far more than professional success.
Titus also takes us behind the scenes of his work with Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, and Frances McDormand, recalls his years on Deadwood and Sons of Anarchy, and reveals how his own family helped shape the character of Harry Bosch.
In an unusually candid conversation, he discusses sobriety, tattoos, childhood tragedy, the complicated relationship with his father, and why he believes closure is a myth.
From Hollywood success to heartbreaking loss, this is Titus Welliver as you've rarely heard him.
Subscribe to Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko for intimate conversations with the stars you know and love.
Support the show and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content at Patreon.com/StillHereHollywood.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Titus Welliver
00:52 The voice and quitting smoking
01:41 Tattoos and sobriety
03:00 The surprising ending of Bosch: Legacy
05:17 The devoted Bosch fan base
09:00 Iconic television characters
10:17 Sons of Anarchy and his mother's reaction
12:01 How much of Titus is in Harry Bosch?
14:52 Michael Connelly's books
16:49 Leading the cast and learning from Mark Harmon
20:00 Patreon and show break
20:50 The story behind the name Titus
22:46 The tragedy and triumph behind Bosch
28:28 A career dry spell and Deadwood
32:37 The challenges of working with David Milch
35:01 Ben Affleck as a director
36:14 A memorable Morgan Freeman moment
40:44 Working with Ben Affleck
42:28 Matt Damon's kindness during a family crisis
46:39 Trauma and the craft of acting
50:14 The origin of "Closure is a myth"
51:11 Learning to live with grief
53:32 Fatherhood and understanding his father
58:19 His children appear on Bosch
1:03:14 Remembering Falcone
1:05:14 Patreon questions and farewell
1:06:08 Closing credits

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn


https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.com
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.com
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: maggie@numbertwelvemarketing.com


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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 and the lasting impact of losing Luke, who was also a close family friend.
He also recounts his horrific 2002 race car accident, revealing that he lost so much blood that his heart stopped, twice, and that he had to relearn how to speak during his recovery.
Jason also opens up about:
Why he started staying home when 90210 fame became overwhelming.
The real story behind Gabrielle Carteris hiding her age.
His complicated encounter with Harvey Weinstein.
What surprised him about legendary producer Aaron Spelling.
The Hollywood friends he had to cut out of his life.
The movie role he desperately wanted but never landed.
His return to television in Private Eyes West Coast on The CW.
From the Peach Pit to life behind the camera, Jason Priestley reflects on an extraordinary career and the people and experiences that shaped him.
This is Still Here Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko.
Subscribe for candid, revealing conversations with the stars you remember and the stories you've never heard.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Jason Priestley
01:29 How Beverly Hills, 90210 changed everything
03:01 When Brandon Walsh became too famous
05:17 Memories of the 90210 years
07:04 How Jason's children discovered his fame
08:11 Gabrielle Carteris and the cast's real ages
09:05 The downside of worldwide fame
11:06 Losing his anonymity
13:39 Remembering Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty
16:10 A message from Still Here Hollywood
16:55 Jason's near-fatal racing accident
19:29 Recovery and life after the crash
22:55 The scars from his accident
25:53 Looking back at his younger self
27:19 Aaron Spelling and the real 90210 set
29:09 Meeting Demi Moore
30:49 Memories of Luke and Shannen's Rolling Stone cover
31:43 Hollywood friendships and jealousy
32:54 Jason's confrontation with Harvey Weinstein
34:10 Private Eyes West Coast and its unexpected return
36:04 Family life on Private Eyes West Coast
38:11 Working and living across North America
39:59 Brandon Walsh versus Matt Shade
42:38 Directing himself on television
44:48 What's next for Jason Priestley
45:40 The Bill & Ted role he wanted
46:36 His last memory of Luke Perry


Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn


https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.com
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.com
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: maggie@numbertwelvemarketing.com


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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
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Christopher Walken impressions
• Jack Nicholson behind the scenes
• Bruce Willis and their friendship
• Rob Reiner
• Aaron Sorkin
• Tom Cruise
• Martin Scorsese
• Barry Levinson
• Poker
• Podcasting before almost anyone else
Kevin also reveals how one casting director told him acting "wasn't for everyone," why he almost passed on The Usual Suspects, and what really happened behind the scenes on some of Hollywood's biggest films.
This is one of Kevin Pollak's funniest and most candid interviews.

Chapters
00:00 Kevin Pollak joins Still Here Hollywood
02:12 Starting stand-up comedy at age 10
04:45 The football coach who hated his impression
07:22 How stand-up prepared him for acting
10:42 Dana Carvey's audition advice
12:23 The manager who said he couldn't act
15:09 Quince sponsor break
17:13 Christopher Walken and his famous impression
18:21 Steve's uncomfortable Walken interview
20:31 The impression that almost got Pollak in trouble
24:40 Making Christopher Walken laugh
28:15 The Usual Suspects and its unlikely success
35:14 A Few Good Men changes everything
36:00 Jason Alexander almost gets the role
38:51 Remembering Rob Reiner
42:00 Rob Reiner's kindness to Kathy Bates
44:12 Bruce Willis and his family
46:00 Bruce Willis' unforgettable compliment
48:35 Jack Nicholson makes Tom Cruise laugh
50:27 Steve's encounter with Jack Nicholson
53:03 Hollywood poker games and celebrity friends
57:45 James L. Brooks and his Emmy Awards
01:00:13 Getting older and losing touch with pop culture
01:02:39 The benefits of being a character actor
01:05:52 Kevin Pollak's pioneering video podcast
01:09:50 Closing thoughts


Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn


https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.com
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.com
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: maggie@numbertwelvemarketing.com


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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.
Denise takes us behind the scenes of Room 222, shares memories of Karen Valentine and Michael Constantine, and reveals how Carol O'Connor helped turn her from an actor into a television writer on In the Heat of the Night.
She also opens up about her relationship and marriage to legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers, the unsolved murder of her younger sister, a deeply personal secret about the father who raised her, her decision to walk away from acting, and the writing career that became her passion.
Plus, Denise reveals the current television series that might just convince her to step in front of the cameras again.
It's a remarkable life spanning the Civil Rights Movement, groundbreaking television, Hollywood, love, loss and reinvention.
This is Still Here Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Denise Nicholas joins Still Here Hollywood
01:18 Acting wasn't remotely part of the plan
02:48 Joining the Civil Rights Movement
03:04 Fearing for her life in Mississippi
04:01 Her mother stops speaking to her
05:13 What America gets wrong about the Civil Rights era
06:09 Bombs, gunfire and Fannie Lou Hamer
07:25 From Civil Rights activist to Room 222
10:42 Racism behind the scenes in Hollywood
13:50 A police officer puts a gun to Denise's head
15:10 The truth about Lloyd Haynes
15:21 Remembering Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine
17:31 Old-school Hollywood behind the scenes
19:31 Carol O'Connor turns Denise into a writer
21:25 What happened after Room 222
24:17 Turning down demeaning Hollywood roles
25:28 Race and opportunity in Hollywood
27:49 What Carol O'Connor was really like
29:45 The murder of Denise's sister
31:33 How Denise met Bill Withers
32:35 What Bill Withers was really like
35:00 Why marriage was difficult for Denise
36:03 Her massive celebrity wedding to Jim Hill
37:06 Becoming an author
40:19 Why she called her memoir Finding Home
40:51 Why Denise walked away from acting
42:49 Freshwater Road and owning her words
44:17 The family secret she carried for decades
47:18 The role that could bring Denise back
49:25 What gives her hope
49:53 A surprise message from Tai Babilonia
51:57 Looking back at race in America

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn


https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.com
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.com
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: maggie@numbertwelvemarketing.com


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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 Heimlich helped bring the Heimlich maneuver to national television, remembers his late Happy Days co-star Erin Moran, talks about working with Bette Davis and Hollywood legends including Milton Berle and Ethel Merman, and explains how Ron Howard helped inspire his second career as a television director.
Plus, Anson discusses his newest project, Crazy Mama, starring Linda Purl.
It’s an hour of Hollywood history from someone who was there for an astonishing amount of it.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Anson Williams joins Still Here Hollywood
01:00 Growing up in Los Angeles and trying to break into show business
04:00 The disastrous audition that launched his career
07:24 His first real break
09:00 How a sit-in at a talent agency changed everything
12:00 His first acting job, directed by Steven Spielberg
14:22 Would social media have changed his career?
17:05 Happy Days becomes his big break
17:26 The real story of the original Happy Days pilot
19:37 Why the Happy Days cast became so close
21:03 What made Garry Marshall special
22:11 How Anson turned Potsie into a second career
25:46 How Happy Days helped spread the Heimlich maneuver
30:34 Who made Anson laugh hardest on Happy Days?
33:23 John Lennon secretly visits the Happy Days set
35:43 What changed after Ron Howard left
37:19 Working with Bette Davis
41:47 Remembering Marion Ross
42:43 Becoming a television director
45:35 Growing up around Hollywood legends
49:38 Working with Ethel Merman
50:28 Remembering Erin Moran
52:19 The most important lesson he learned as a director
53:37 Learning to direct science fiction
56:03 Crazy Mama and Linda Purl
1:01:07 Anson Williams looks ahead

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn


https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.com
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.com
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: maggie@numbertwelvemarketing.com


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.