This book was everything I wanted it to be: the story of William Daniels and an inside view of which roles he enjoyed and took pride in. I learned more from this book than I probably ever would have on my own time and now I have a handful of movies and shows to add to my "to watch" list. I appreciate William Daniels' honesty and humanity in this book, and I'm glad I took the time to read it.
"Whatever success I've had in my life - and I've had considerable success - has come to me almost accidentally. ... I'm left with the feeling that none of my success was really due to me.
"When I'm sent a script to consider, I only see its problems, not its strengths. I have almost always had to be talked into a role, even when the project turned out to be tremendously successful. I've been known to go to the wrong theater to audition for a role I subsequently got - and played for years. Once, while auditioning for a musical, I forgot the lyrics of a song I'd sung for months on Broadway; they hired me anyway. I insisted on having no billing on a series I thought was silly, and that series (Knight Rider) ran for years and even after all this time I still get fan mail.
"I went 'ass backwards' into just about everything - and what a lucky guy I've been."
"Many of us without name recognition make a fine living, put our kids through college, and, if we're lucky, enjoy long careers precisely because we can play many different kinds of roles. ... As a character actor I became a start, but a very small one, and I saw time and again how the big stars - the leading men - surrounded by sycophants, lost their sense of reality and then lost everything..."
"When you think about it, it's a huge compliment for an actor to be remembered for a role he played. It means that ... I helped create a character, a person utterly different from myself, yet someone real enough to lodge in someone's memory."
"Sometimes kids can suffer without even knowing they are suffering."
As I'm reading the chapters about his parents it's all so sad. His mother was this overbearing pageant mom basically and his dad was just a very depressed man. There's a scene in Boy Meets World, Season One, Episode Three "Father Knows Less" where Mr. Feeny explains how his dad wouldn't let him stay up to hear Truman announce the end of the war, not for any good reason, but because education was important. And I always remember that scene resonating with me and I wonder if it's because some of the sadness about it was somewhat truthful to how his dad probably was as a person.
"I know, at this point, I must sound like some kind of idiot. Did it never occur to me to tell my mother I didn't want to do this? The kindest thing I can say on my own behalf is that I was a young man who, from a very early age, was taught to take directions from a mother I must have loved or feared very much. Probably both. This was the pattern of my life throughout my childhood, in the army, and even in college: following someone else's instructions or suggestions without instigating anything myself. I noticed that I was able to break the pattern when I finally learned to say no, and that became a life-long pattern in and of itself."
"'Life with Father' ... was a snapshot of a family in the 1890s headed by a father whose impossible standards create humorous situations with all of the other characters in the show. It was the first sitcom, if you will. And America loved it."
"Then it struck me, right there on Fifth Avenue, the hypocrisy of confessing to something that was so lovely and innocent. It was absurd. [sex with his girlfriend]
"And for me that was the end of Catholicism, with its idea of original sin."
"There is no greater satisfaction for an actor than performing before a live audience, to cope with an audience from the beginning of a performance to the end. First they may be coughing, rustling in their seats, flipping pages in their programs, and wondering if the play is going to be worth the price of the tickets. And then you slowly but surely command their attention with your stage presence, your focus, and your conviction. Finally it is so quiet you know you have their full attention. You can let your acting impulses take over and carry you wherever they will, for as far as the audience is concerned you can do no wrong."
"I never played a bricklayer, so 'Life with Father' turned out to be life with a kind of 'father' indeed."
There was a part in the chapter "Go West, Young Man, to Northwestern" where William talks about Bonnie deciding to go to New York and he had to decide to go with her or stay at school on scholarship to complete his Master's degree. He followed Bonnie - again I wonder if the writers of Boy Meets World were inspired by some of William Daniels' stories seeing as how this is basically how the show ended.
I never put the dates together but the fact that William Daniels knew Marilyn Monroe is pretty amazing. And he worked with Audrey Hepburn.
It's crazy that his wife carried a baby a month longer than she should have and lost him at a doctor's judgement
"My good friend Gene Wilder stepped in and acted as my 'surrogate' to help Bonnie bring Robert home." - So casually mentioned.
[On adoption] "Those bumbles can, I'm told and believe, with proper care and love, turn into very nice people." -Edward Albee, who was himself adopted.
Look into the movies: A Thousand Clowns, Two For The Road, The Presidents Analyst, and 1776.
I wasn't expecting there to be pictures in this book, but boy am I glad there are! He's hardly recognizable, if the caption wasn't there I'd doubt myself haha (there's more pics in the book than I posted). But I also just had to say how amused I am that young William Daniels looks pretty similar to Will Friedle when he played Eric!
I was thinking about when I was a boy just a little younger than you are.
There was a war going on.
It's hard to picture you as a boy.
Did your parents call you Mr.
Feeny? I used to ask my mother why I could only have butter on my toast two mornings a week and she said, "Because of the war in Europe.
" And I wondered why there was never enough candy and she told me, "Because of the war in Europe.
" oh, and I longed for a pair of sneakers.
But I couldn't have any.
Those Europe guys stole 'em? No, no.
The rubber had to be diverted to the war effort.
There was a version of a sneaker available but it was made out of recycled tires and left black marks on the gym floor.
Hey, you took gym? They made me.
Anyway, I prayed every night for an end to the war in Europe.
Not from any altruistic desire for world peace.
Just a boy's selfish wish for buttered toast and sneakers.
Then I heard that Mr.
Truman was going on the radio that night to announce the end of the war.
And I went home and asked my father if I could stay up with him to hear the president.
Do you know what he said? I'm guessing it's either yes or no but we both know how well I do on multiple choice.
He said "Tomorrow's a school day.
"l don't want you up with me.
" So you're saying your dad really knew the value of education.
No, I'm saying my father didn't want me hanging around with him and his drinking buddies.
As a result, the next day at school I was rested and fresh and ready to learn.
I see your point, Mr.
Feeny.
No, I don't think you really do, Cory.
What do you suppose I learned in school that day? I know this has got to be a biggie Iike the Magna Carta or something.
I have no idea what you learned that day.
Neither do l.
You see, Mr.
Matthews education is not about obscure facts and little test scores.
Education is about the overall effect of years of slow absorption concepts, philosophies approaches to problem-solving.
The whole process is so grand and all-encompassing that it really can't be threatened by the occasional late-night no-hitter.
It is important that a boy spend time with his father.
Buthow do you know that? Your dad didn't let you stay up with him.
That's precisely Why I do know.
ALAN: Cory! over here, Dad having a drink with Mr.
Feeny.
It's just apple juice.
How's the store? oh, the store is fine.
Just a small grease fire at the rotisserie.
Tomorrow we'll run a special on blackened chicken.
-Alan.
-George.
Better come in, kiddo.
About time for bed.
Sure, Dad.
Umare we ever gonna study that European sneaker war? I think you'll get to it sometime in the course of your education.
Good, 'cause it sounded really interesting.
oh, it was.
Well, good night, Mr.
Feeny.
Good night, Mr.
Matthews.
Ahem.
I, uh just want you to know I'm gonna have him in bed every night when he's supposed to be.
Well, I want you to know that if I did have a son and the opportunity presented itself to wake him up to watch a baseball game or to listen to the president on the radio or for absolutely no reason at all Well good night, Alan.
Read more: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=boy-meets-world&episode=s01e03
So, how come you're sitting outside in the dark? I was thinking about when I was a boy just a little younger than you are.
There was a war going on.
It's hard to picture you as a boy.
Did your parents call you Mr.
Feeny? I used to ask my mother why I could only have butter on my toast two mornings a week and she said, "Because of the war in Europe.
" And I wondered why there was never enough candy and she told me, "Because of the war in Europe.
" oh, and I longed for a pair of sneakers.
But I couldn't have any.
Those Europe guys stole 'em? No, no.
The rubber had to be diverted to the war effort.
There was a version of a sneaker available but it was made out of recycled tires and left black marks on the gym floor.
Hey, you took gym? They made me.
Anyway, I prayed every night for an end to the war in Europe.
Not from any altruistic desire for world peace.
Just a boy's selfish wish for buttered toast and sneakers.
Then I heard that Mr.
Truman was going on the radio that night to announce the end of the war.
And I went home and asked my father if I could stay up with him to hear the president.
Do you know what he said? I'm guessing it's either yes or no but we both know how well I do on multiple choice.
He said "Tomorrow's a school day.
"l don't want you up with me.
" So you're saying your dad really knew the value of education.
No, I'm saying my father didn't want me hanging around with him and his drinking buddies.
As a result, the next day at school I was rested and fresh and ready to learn.
I see your point, Mr.
Feeny.
No, I don't think you really do, Cory.
What do you suppose I learned in school that day? I know this has got to be a biggie Iike the Magna Carta or something.
I have no idea what you learned that day.
Neither do l.
You see, Mr.
Matthews education is not about obscure facts and little test scores.
Education is about the overall effect of years of slow absorption concepts, philosophies approaches to problem-solving.
The whole process is so grand and all-encompassing that it really can't be threatened by the occasional late-night no-hitter.
It is important that a boy spend time with his father.
Buthow do you know that? Your dad didn't let you stay up with him.
That's precisely Why I do know.
ALAN: Cory! over here, Dad having a drink with Mr.
Feeny.
It's just apple juice.
How's the store? oh, the store is fine.
Just a small grease fire at the rotisserie.
Tomorrow we'll run a special on blackened chicken.
-Alan.
-George.
Better come in, kiddo.
About time for bed.
Sure, Dad.
Umare we ever gonna study that European sneaker war? I think you'll get to it sometime in the course of your education.
Good, 'cause it sounded really interesting.
oh, it was.
Well, good night, Mr.
Feeny.
Good night, Mr.
Matthews.
Ahem.
I, uh just want you to know I'm gonna have him in bed every night when he's supposed to be.
Well, I want you to know that if I did have a son and the opportunity presented itself to wake him up to watch a baseball game or to listen to the president on the radio or for absolutely no reason at all Well good night, Alan.
Read more: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=boy-meets-world&episode=s01e03 I was thinking about when I was a boy just a little younger than you are.
There was a war going on.
It's hard to picture you as a boy.
Did your parents call you Mr.
Feeny? I used to ask my mother why I could only have butter on my toast two mornings a week and she said, "Because of the war in Europe.
" And I wondered why there was never enough candy and she told me, "Because of the war in Europe.
" oh, and I longed for a pair of sneakers.
But I couldn't have any.
Those Europe guys stole 'em? No, no.
The rubber had to be diverted to the war effort.
There was a version of a sneaker available but it was made out of recycled tires and left black marks on the gym floor.
Hey, you took gym? They made me.
Anyway, I prayed every night for an end to the war in Europe.
Not from any altruistic desire for world peace.
Just a boy's selfish wish for buttered toast and sneakers.
Then I heard that Mr.
Truman was going on the radio that night to announce the end of the war.
And I went home and asked my father if I could stay up with him to hear the president.
Do you know what he said? I'm guessing it's either yes or no but we both know how well I do on multiple choice.
He said "Tomorrow's a school day.
"l don't want you up with me.
" So you're saying your dad really knew the value of education.
No, I'm saying my father didn't want me hanging around with him and his drinking buddies.
As a result, the next day at school I was rested and fresh and ready to learn.
I see your point, Mr.
Feeny.
No, I don't think you really do, Cory.
What do you suppose I learned in school that day? I know this has got to be a biggie Iike the Magna Carta or something.
I have no idea what you learned that day.
Neither do l.
You see, Mr.
Matthews education is not about obscure facts and little test scores.
Education is about the overall effect of years of slow absorption concepts, philosophies approaches to problem-solving.
The whole process is so grand and all-encompassing that it really can't be threatened by the occasional late-night no-hitter.
It is important that a boy spend time with his father.
Buthow do you know that? Your dad didn't let you stay up with him.
That's precisely Why I do know.
ALAN: Cory! over here, Dad having a drink with Mr.
Feeny.
It's just apple juice.
How's the store? oh, the store is fine.
Just a small grease fire at the rotisserie.
Tomorrow we'll run a special on blackened chicken.
-Alan.
-George.
Better come in, kiddo.
About time for bed.
Sure, Dad.
Umare we ever gonna study that European sneaker war? I think you'll get to it sometime in the course of your education.
Good, 'cause it sounded really interesting.
oh, it was.
Well, good night, Mr.
Feeny.
Good night, Mr.
Matthews.
Ahem.
I, uh just want you to know I'm gonna have him in bed every night when he's supposed to be.
Well, I want you to know that if I did have a son and the opportunity presented itself to wake him up to watch a baseball game or to listen to the president on the radio or for absolutely no reason at all Well good night, Alan.
Read more: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=boy-meets-world&episode=s01e03
So, how come you're sitting outside in the dark? I was thinking about when I was a boy just a little younger than you are.
There was a war going on.
It's hard to picture you as a boy.
Did your parents call you Mr.
Feeny? I used to ask my mother why I could only have butter on my toast two mornings a week and she said, "Because of the war in Europe.
" And I wondered why there was never enough candy and she told me, "Because of the war in Europe.
" oh, and I longed for a pair of sneakers.
But I couldn't have any.
Those Europe guys stole 'em? No, no.
The rubber had to be diverted to the war effort.
There was a version of a sneaker available but it was made out of recycled tires and left black marks on the gym floor.
Hey, you took gym? They made me.
Anyway, I prayed every night for an end to the war in Europe.
Not from any altruistic desire for world peace.
Just a boy's selfish wish for buttered toast and sneakers.
Then I heard that Mr.
Truman was going on the radio that night to announce the end of the war.
And I went home and asked my father if I could stay up with him to hear the president.
Do you know what he said? I'm guessing it's either yes or no but we both know how well I do on multiple choice.
He said "Tomorrow's a school day.
"l don't want you up with me.
" So you're saying your dad really knew the value of education.
No, I'm saying my father didn't want me hanging around with him and his drinking buddies.
As a result, the next day at school I was rested and fresh and ready to learn.
I see your point, Mr.
Feeny.
No, I don't think you really do, Cory.
What do you suppose I learned in school that day? I know this has got to be a biggie Iike the Magna Carta or something.
I have no idea what you learned that day.
Neither do l.
You see, Mr.
Matthews education is not about obscure facts and little test scores.
Education is about the overall effect of years of slow absorption concepts, philosophies approaches to problem-solving.
The whole process is so grand and all-encompassing that it really can't be threatened by the occasional late-night no-hitter.
It is important that a boy spend time with his father.
Buthow do you know that? Your dad didn't let you stay up with him.
That's precisely Why I do know.
ALAN: Cory! over here, Dad having a drink with Mr.
Feeny.
It's just apple juice.
How's the store? oh, the store is fine.
Just a small grease fire at the rotisserie.
Tomorrow we'll run a special on blackened chicken.
-Alan.
-George.
Better come in, kiddo.
About time for bed.
Sure, Dad.
Umare we ever gonna study that European sneaker war? I think you'll get to it sometime in the course of your education.
Good, 'cause it sounded really interesting.
oh, it was.
Well, good night, Mr.
Feeny.
Good night, Mr.
Matthews.
Ahem.
I, uh just want you to know I'm gonna have him in bed every night when he's supposed to be.
Well, I want you to know that if I did have a son and the opportunity presented itself to wake him up to watch a baseball game or to listen to the president on the radio or for absolutely no reason at all Well good night, Alan.
Read more: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=boy-meets-world&episode=s01e03
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