Veteran director Dennis Dugan joins John Frank Levey to share how embracing life's unexpected turns and maintaining a playful spirit shaped his remarkable journey from actor to billion-dollar comedy director.

Through candid stories spanning his early theater days to directing Adam Sandler films, Dugan reveals how every seeming setback opened new doors. His conversation with Levey explores the delicate balance between taking creative risks and building lasting industry relationships.

In this episode:

• How getting kicked out of college led Dugan to the Goodman Theater and ultimately Los Angeles
• The fascinating story behind landing Problem Child by literally standing on a studio executive's coffee table during his pitch
• His unconventional approach to playing Captain Freedom on Hill Street Blues and why staying in character between scenes elevated the performance
• The full-circle moment of Adam Sandler hiring him to direct Happy Gilmore because Dugan had championed him years earlier
• Why he's returning to his acting roots after directing films that grossed nearly $2 billion
• The power of creating your own opportunities, including writing and performing a one-act play to showcase his acting for agents
• His philosophy that "if you wait, you'll be a waiter" and why artists need to make things happen

A masterclass in turning setbacks into opportunities and maintaining creative passion across a five-decade career in Hollywood.

TV shows and movies discussed in this conversation:

• Hill Street Blues (TV)
• Moonlighting (TV)
• Hunter (TV)
• MAS*H (TV)
• The Mod Squad (TV)
• The Waltons (TV)
• Problem Child (Film)
• Happy Gilmore (Film)
• Big Daddy (Film)
• I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (Film)
• You Don't Mess with the Zohan (Film)
• Grown Ups 1 & 2 (Films)
• Just Go with It (Film)
• Jack and Jill (Film)
• Estonia, You Fall (stage play)
• The House of Blue Leaves (stage play)
• Richie Brockleman (TV)

Connect:

• To connect with John Frank Levey, please visit his website: https://www.johnfranklevey.com/ or connect on IG: @john_frank_levey_
• To order a signed copy of John's memoir, "Right for the Role": https://www.johnfranklevey.com/book
  
  

Acknowledgments:

Photographer Eusebio Hernandez specializes in "hero shots" — his own artistic spin on headshots. He helped John Frank Levey, who typically hates having his picture taken, feel comfortable enough to get a great shot for his memoir "Right for the Role." Learn more at www.heroshots.la.

The Right for the Role podcast would not have been possible without the generous support of PBS Management, Karen Cease, and the estate of Peg Sweesy.

Many thanks to my producers, Jerod Morris and Trudi Roth of It's the TruStory (https://www.itsthetrustory.com)

Actor Sasha Alexander joins host John Frank Levey for a candid conversation about balancing a successful acting career with family life and the pursuit of creative fulfillment.

Drawing from her extensive experience across shows like "Dawson’s Creek," "NCIS," and "Rizzoli & Isles," Alexander shares honest insights about the challenges of maintaining authenticity both on and off-screen. The discussion weaves through her European upbringing, approach to complex roles, and recent journey of prioritizing family while navigating industry changes.

In this episode:

• How Alexander’s Serbian-Italian heritage and European exposure shaped her artistic sensibilities and acting approach
• The contrasting experiences of working on procedural shows versus character-driven series, and the unique challenges each presents
• A fascinating discussion about intimacy coordinators in Hollywood and their impact on directing and acting
• The reality of “having it all” as a working parent in the entertainment industry, and why timing matters more than we think
• Personal reflections on choosing to step back from major roles to be present for her children’s formative years
• What it means to maintain creative fulfillment while navigating the ebbs and flows of an acting career
• A thoughtful exploration of artistic integrity, personal growth, and finding peace with life’s natural seasons.

TV shows discussed in this conversation:

• Dawson’s Creek
• NCIS
• Rizzoli & Isles
• Shameless
• Presidio Med

Connect:

• To connect with Sasha Alexander, find her on Instagram: @sashaalexander
• To connect with John Frank Levey, please visit his website: https://www.johnfranklevey.com/ or connect on IG: @john_frank_levey_
• To order a signed copy of John’s memoir, "Right for the Role": https://www.johnfranklevey.com/book

Acknowledgments

Photographer Eusebio Hernandez specializes in “hero shots” — his own artistic spin on headshots. He helped John Frank Levey, who typically hates having his picture taken, feel comfortable enough to get a great shot for his memoir "Right for the Role." Learn more at www.heroshots.la.

The Right for the Role podcast would not have been possible without the generous support of PBS Management, Karen Cease, and the estate of Peg Sweesy.

Many thanks to my producers, Jerod Morris and Trudi Roth of It’s the TruStory (https://www.itsthetrustory.com)

Three-time Emmy-nominated actor, director, and author Eriq La Salle joins legendary casting director John Frank Levey for a candid conversation about breaking barriers and creating lasting change in Hollywood.

This wide-ranging discussion explores La Salle's remarkable journey from a young theater student in Hartford to becoming one of television's highest-paid African American actors. Through personal stories and thoughtful reflection, La Salle and Levey examine how race, representation, and the pursuit of creative control have shaped their careers and the entertainment industry.

Key moments from the episode:

• How a failed Michelle Pfeiffer film project sparked La Salle's transformation from actor to director
• The fascinating behind-the-scenes story of how La Salle almost didn't get cast in ER over a $10,000 dispute
• Why La Salle's impromptu trip to Spain with George Clooney and Noah Wyle became crucial to ER's success
• The complex negotiations and advocacy required to ensure authentic representation of Black relationships on ER
• The unexpected way Coming to America director John Landis changed La Salle's approach to working with actors
• How La Salle maintains a decades-long friendship with fellow actor Michael Beach despite career competition
• What writing a five-book thriller series has taught La Salle about creating deeper, more nuanced stories

This conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone pursuing a creative career, particularly those facing systemic barriers. La Salle's strategic approach to building a multi-faceted career – from acting to directing to writing novels – demonstrates how to maintain both artistic integrity and professional longevity in an often challenging industry.

Resources mentioned:

• Laws of Depravity (Book by Eriq La Salle)
• Laws of Wrath (Book by Eriq La Salle)
• Laws of Annihilation (Book by Eriq La Salle)
• Coming to America (Film)
• ER (Television series)
• Under Suspicion (Television series)
• Chicago PD (Television series)
• The Twilight Zone (Television series)
• A Raisin in the Sun (Play by Lorraine Hansberry)

To connect with Eriq La Salle:

• Website: iameriqlasalle.com
• IG: @eriqlasalle
• Facebook: Eriq La Salle
• X: @EriqLaSalle23
• TikTok: @eriqlasalleauthor

To connect with John Frank Levey, please visit his website: https://www.johnfranklevey.com/

To order a signed copy of John’s memoir, Right for the Role: https://www.johnfranklevey.com/book

Acknowledgments

Photographer Eusebio Hernandez specializes in “hero shots” — his own artistic spin on headshots. He helped John Frank Levey, who typically hates having his picture taken, feel comfortable enough to get a great shot for his memoir "Right for the Role." Learn more at www.heroshots.la.

The Right for the Role podcast would not have been possible without the generous support of PBS Management, Karen Cease, and the estate of Peg Sweesy.

Many thanks to my producers, Jerod Morris and Trudi Roth of It’s the TruStory (https://www.itsthetrustory.com)