Anson Williams "Happy Days"

Anson Williams became a television icon as Potsie Weber on Happy Days, but his Hollywood story goes far beyond Arnold’s Drive-In.Anson joins Steve Kmetko for a revealing look back at more than five decades in show business, including how he stumbled into his first acting job with a young Steven Spielberg, what Garry Marshall taught the Happy Days cast about surviving Hollywood, and the extraordinary day John Lennon secretly showed up on the Happy Days set with his son Julian.Anson also tells the remarkable story of how his connection to Dr. Henry Heimlich helped bring the Heimlich maneuver to national television, remembers his late Happy Days co-star Erin Moran, talks about working with Bette Davis and Hollywood legends including Milton Berle and Ethel Merman, and explains how Ron Howard helped inspire his second career as a television director.Plus, Anson discusses his newest project, Crazy Mama, starring Linda Purl.It’s an hour of Hollywood history from someone who was there for an astonishing amount of it.CHAPTERS00:00 Anson Williams joins Still Here Hollywood01:00 Growing up in Los Angeles and trying to break into show business04:00 The disastrous audition that launched his career07:24 His first real break09:00 How a sit-in at a talent agency changed everything12:00 His first acting job, directed by Steven Spielberg14:22 Would social media have changed his career?17:05 Happy Days becomes his big break17:26 The real story of the original Happy Days pilot19:37 Why the Happy Days cast became so close21:03 What made Garry Marshall special22:11 How Anson turned Potsie into a second career25:46 How Happy Days helped spread the Heimlich maneuver30:34 Who made Anson laugh hardest on Happy Days?33:23 John Lennon secretly visits the Happy Days set35:43 What changed after Ron Howard left37:19 Working with Bette Davis41:47 Remembering Marion Ross42:43 Becoming a television director45:35 Growing up around Hollywood legends49:38 Working with Ethel Merman50:28 Remembering Erin Moran52:19 The most important lesson he learned as a director53:37 Learning to direct science fiction56:03 Crazy Mama and Linda Purl1:01:07 Anson Williams looks ahead Show CreditsHost/Producer: Steve KmetkoAll things technical: Justin ZangerleExecutive Producer: Jim LichtensteinMusic by: Brian Sanyshyn https://stillherehollywood.comhttp://patreon.com/stillherehollywoodSuggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.comAdvertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.comPublicist: 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.