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

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

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

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

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

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