Elvis is the best movie actor I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. It was all so easy for him. The camera loved him and so did the world. And so DOES the world!
What do you remember the most about him as a person?
Two sides to the coin. He was a jokester, a prankster and he had his quiet moments of refection. To me he wasn’t at all like his public persona of King. He was a commoner and I meant that in the best possible sense. He never forgot his roots, and he never acted the Star. He was one of us. He had universal appeal. He reminds me of some of my buddies growing up in Atwater (a section of L.A.) the main difference being they went their way, and Elvis went his way.
Did you date any of the co-stars in either of those movies?
No--I was married to my 1st wife during “Spinout” and Clambake.”
Your first role with him was as Lt. Tracy Richards in 1966. What do you remember most about working with him on "Spinout"?
The name Tracy Richards in an inside gag; Dick Tracy backwards, sort of--I’ve worked with a lot of actors who sort of set up armory--you never reach them. Elvis was extremely pliable. All was possible--we made up a lot of stuff on the spot: flick making to the nth degree! What a joy! What an honor!
Do you have any special memories of him during the shooting of "Spinout"?
The last musical number--sort of like a pagan rite. Elvis was our God or high and we were his subjects down on floor level--we belonged to the Church of Elvis.
Give us an example of a classic out-take from the set of "Spinout"?
Brandon De Wilde visited the set. I tried to sing him a funny song about Glenn Ford with Brandon De Wilde’s name in it. He wasn’t listening. He was engrossed by the gyrating bikini--clad gals.
In 1967 you filmed “Clambake” You were fantastic in the role as the unforgetable Tom Wilson/Scott Heywood.
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