Tom Bosley
Actor
About This Interview
Tom Bosley (1927-2010) was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Beverly Hills, CA. Mr. Bosley recalled his earliest days as an actor, working on NBC’s Hallmark Hall of Fame productions of “Born Yesterday,” “The Good Fairy,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and also of working on the popular Broadway production of “Fiorello!, for which he won a Tony award. Next, he talked about many of his early television credits, including those for That Was The Week That Was, an unsold pilot for Marty, the pilot episode of Marcus Welby, M.D. and the famed episode of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery starring Joan Crawford and directed by Steven Spielberg. Mr. Bosley also discussed his work on the series The Debbie Reynolds Show and The Dean Martin Show. On the topic of his most well-known credit, Mr. Bosley spoke at length about his role as Howard Cunningham on the long-running sitcom Happy Days, and fondly remembered his fellow cast members and creator Garry Marshall. Finally, he recalled working on the mystery drama Murder, She Wrote with star Angela Lansbury, and then on his own series The Father Dowling Mysteries opposite Tracy Nelson. The interview was conducted by Michael Rosen on September 12, 2000
Related To This Video
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
Highlights
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- On his childhood and early influences; attending drama school
- Chapter 2
- On studying at the Actor's Studio in New York in the 1950s; early live television appearances on Hallmark Hall of Fame; winning a Tony award for Fiorello on Broadway; appears in The Right Man on CBS; appears on Car 54 Where Are You?, That Was the Week That Was, Route 66, the pilot of the tv version of Marty; Profiles in Courage, an anthology series on NBC
- Chapter 3
- On appearing as "Tiny Baker" in Marcus Welby, M.D, the ABC pilot for the television medical series; the NBC pilot movie Night Gallery, written by Rod Serling; on his film career including Divorce, American Style; The Debbie Reynolds Show; on Debbie Reynolds
- Chapter 4
- On the transition from live television to videotape; on the made-for-TV-movie A Step Out of Line, on CBS, with Peter Falk, Peter Lawford; on The Dean Martin Show, and special guests; on Perry Cuomo, Andy Williams; on Miracle on 34th Street; on being cast on Happy Days, as Howard Cunningham
- Chapter 5
- On the rising popularity of Happy Days; on Garry Marshall; on the differences between working in television, film, and theater; on the inspiration for "Howard Cunningham"; on the closeness of the cast; on working with Ron Howard, Erin Moran, Henry Winkler
- Chapter 6
- On the cast of Happy Days; Anson Williams, Don Most, Thomas Miller, Scott Baio, Pat Morita; on how the show was shot, a typical workweek; on specific episodes; on shooting the final episodes, on Ron Howard leaving the show
- Chapter 7
- On appearances on Murder, She Wrote, ad Sheriff Amos Tupper; on the Father Dowling Mysteries on NBC and how the series came about
- Chapter 8
- On the legacy of Happy Days; how he'd like to be remembered


Tom RIP he was family to us all, My condolences go out to his family and friends !
So long Mr. C...
RIP Tom Bosley
what a loss, I just read the sad sad news. Best wishes to his family and friends.
Tom was loved by many We love love you Tom!
RIP TOM =( i just found out now so sad..
RIP Tom Bosley 1927-2010
Post new comment