“A couple of years ago, I went to see a production of Wicked in San Francisco with a friend of mine, one that Patty Duke was in, and he said, "Do you want to meet her?" And I said, "Yeah!" And I went backstage, and she walked out of her dressing room, looked at me, and said, "I know you." And I went, "Well, uh, yeah, I was in My Sweet Charlie." And she said, "Yeah! You were the guy in the car on the road!" And I was. It was amazing.” KnowsWantYearsWellsSaidGuyRoomsCarMinesSweetCoupleYears AgoYeahProductionsWickedDressingsSan FranciscoCharlieDukesDressing Rooms Author:Brent Spiner
“I actually had some funny dialogue [ in Stardust Memories], a little piece, and we shot all day in this big ballroom. Gordon Willis was the director of photography, and at the end of the day, Gordon turned to Woody Allen and said, "We cannot accomplish all of this in this space. It's impossible." And we'd been rehearsing and trying to shoot this thing all day. So Woody said, "Okay, let's do something else." He looked at me and said, "Come back tomorrow, I'll put you in something else." And he did.” TryingLittlesSaidEndsBigsMemoriesSpacePiecesImpossibleTomorrowDirectorsPhotographyShotsOkayAccomplishDialogueThe End Of The DayWoodyStardustBallroomRehearsingAnd At The End Of The Day Author:Brent Spiner
“When I get to work with people I admire, it's such a bonus, so it was an easy sell when I got this phone call asking, 'Will you do this thing with David Strathairn?'" Also, they didn't ask me to audition, which is another bonus. But they said, "All your scenes will be with David," and I said, "I'm there!"” PeopleSaidAsksEasySceneAskingSellsPhonesAdmireAsk MeAuditionsThey SaidPhone CallsBonus Author:Brent Spiner
“[Trey Parker and Matt Stone]called me one Saturday morning and said, "Can you do an impression of Conan O'Brien?" And I said, "I don't know." Because that was really... He hadn't been on the air that long, and to be honest, I hadn't watched much of him at that point. So I went to Santa Monica to their studio and said, "Well, what does he sound like?" They said, "Well, just try it one time. Read the copy." And I read the copy one time, and they went, "Okay, that's fine. Thanks a lot, that'll do. That's perfect."” KnowsTryingWellsLongDoeSaidSoundPerfectMorningAirHonestFineStonesOkayStudiosImpressionThanksBeing HonestCopiesOne TimeThey SaidSaturdaySantaMonicaConanSaturday MorningSanta MonicaConan O Brien Author:Brent Spiner
“I have to say, though, that somebody pointed out to me on YouTube that Conan O'Brien was being interviewed, and he was talking about how, oddly enough, he went to see that movie [South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut ] in Hawaii with his girlfriend or wife or whoever, and he didn't even realize his character was in it. But there he was, and he said, "This voice comes out of me, and I'm thinking, 'That's not me! Who is that? That doesn't even sound like me!'” ThinkingSaidEnoughCharacterSoundVoiceRealizingTalkingWifeBiggerSouthLike MeGirlfriendParksHawaiiYoutubeConanConan O Brien Author:Brent Spiner
“John Logan was kind of wrapping up - "Well, thanks for coming in..." - and I thought, "Oh, God, this is over and I'm out of here, and I really don't want to leave."So I said, "Can I ask you a question?" He said, "Sure." "What movie do you think you've seen more than any other movie?" And he said, "Wow, let me think about that. I guess probably The Searchers." And I said, "Well, oddly, that's the movie I've seen more than any other movie." And I wasn't just BS-ing. It's true. It's my favorite movie.” ThinkingWantWellsKindSaidAsksLet MeMy FavoriteThanksWowWrappingSearchersWrapping Up Author:Brent Spiner
“We [with John Logan] started talking about The Searchers, and then he went on to tell me a story about when he first met John Wayne, and he said, "Hey, you be me and I'll be Wayne," and I said, "No, let me be Wayne!" Anyway, it was a very pleasant conversation, it was clear to him that I was a big movie fan, and by the time I got home, there was a phone call, asking if I'd mind doing one scene in the movie [The Aviator].” IfsMindFirstsSaidStoriesHomeBigsTalkingClearFansMetsSceneConversationLet MeAskingPhonesHeyPleasantPhone CallsWayneHey YouBig MovieAviatorSearchers Author:Brent Spiner
“[Billy Bob Conroy role] that was a favor. Actually, the lady who cast Night Court asked me to do it, because it was a Friday, and the person who'd been rehearsing it all week got sick and couldn't come to the taping. And she figured I could put it together pretty quickly - it was not all that big a challenge, frankly - and I said, "Of course." I owed her, after all. Gilda Stratton was her name. She was a really, really nice person. So I did it.” PersonsSaidBigsTogetherNightCoursesNamesChallengesRolesNiceWeekSickCourtCastsFavorsBobFridayReally NiceRehearsingNice PersonNight Court Author:Brent Spiner
“I know a guy who writes on the show, it was his episode, and he called and said, "Would you do it?" And I said, "Yeah." There's not really much else to tell, except that I was thrilled to be on The Simpsons, because it's one of the greatest series in the history of television.” KnowsWritingSaidShowsGuyTelevisionYeahSeriesEpisodes Author:Brent Spiner
“I really enjoyed Eddie Bracken. He told me a great story. He did The Odd Couple on Broadway, replacing Art Carney, and he said, "Art Carney did it for six months and I did it for three years, and I don't think anyone I've ever spoken to saw me. They all saw Art Carney."” ThinkingYearsArtSaidStoriesThreeSawsMonthsCoupleSixEnjoyedOddThree YearsBroadwaySix MonthsOdd Couple Author:Brent Spiner
“Gian Luigi Polidoro and his girlfriend had written this script, it was an American comedy, and they decided I was the guy to play the part. I was young, they offered me the lead in the film, and I said, "Sure, I'll do it." And I'm telling you, there is a movie waiting to be made about the making of a movie like that, particularly at that time in New York. I mean, we shot all over the streets of New York without permits. We would literally grab a shot and run. But Rent Control... I think the total cost was $100,000, and to this director's credit, I think it looks like $200,000.” ThinkingLooksMeanMadeSaidPlayRunningFilmYoungGuyWaitingComedyWrittenStreetsNew YorkCostDirectorsShotsDecidedScriptsCreditGirlfriendPermitLead InRent Control Author:Brent Spiner
“I wanted to look right. I remember a review - a very positive one - in The New York Times that said I was so good in the role [Earl Mills] that I "even managed to overcome a terrible red wig." I wanted to write her and tell her about the agony I'd gone through with the perm, but I thought better of it.” WritingLooksSaidWantedRememberRolesGoneNew YorkTerribleRedOvercomingReviewsAgonyNew York TimesMillsWigsVery PositivePerms Author:Brent Spiner
“It wasn't exactly a cattle call. I had an agent, and they were seeing people for the parts, so my agent said, "Here's the script, see if there's anything that speaks to you." And I did, and I called my agent and said, "I think this character Data is kind of interesting," and she said, "Well, okay, I'll get you the appointment with Junie Lowry." I had to read with the casting agent first, 'cause nobody really knew me then. Then after that, I had, I think, six different auditions for the role. And finally it was me [on Star Trek].” PeopleIfsThinkingFirstsWellsKindSaidDifferentCharacterSpeakStarsCausesInterestingRolesSeeingSixOkayScriptsAgentsDataAuditionsCastingAppointmentsCattle Author:Brent Spiner
“Initially I objected to the Data makeup. I said, "Why do I need this makeup? Why can't I just look like me?" In fact, I said to Gene Roddenberry, "Don't you think that by this time in history, they would've figured out how to make skin look like skin?" And he said, "What makes you think that what you have isn't better than skin?" And I went, "Um, okay."” ThinkingNeedsLooksSaidFactsOkaySkinsLike MeDataMakeupGenesMake You Think Author:Brent Spiner
“I think Rick Berman just called me and asked me if I wanted to do the show [Star Trek: Enterprise], and he said they'd write an arc if I'd do it.” IfsThinkingWritingSaidShowsWantedStarsEnterpriseArcs Author:Brent Spiner
“They were nicely written and nicely directed episodes [Star Trek: Enterprise]. I enjoyed working with Scott [Bakula]. So it was good to do, and, as you said, it did serve to enhance the Soong legacy.” SaidStarsWrittenEnjoyedLegacyEnterpriseEpisodes Author:Brent Spiner
“I had no idea I was part of what was going to be a big mega-hit. I thought I was doing a B sci-fi movie [Independence Day]. And, actually, it was Jeff Goldblum who looked at me one day and said, "You know, I think this is going to be really something." And I said, "Well, I hope you're right." And sure enough, it turned out to be.” ThinkingKnowsWellsSaidIdeasEnoughBigsOne DayIndependenceNo IdeaSci FiIndependence DayMegaSci Fi Movie Author:Brent Spiner
