Kenny, can you start the racks and razors readers
off with a visual and describe the room where you
are answering these questions?
I'm in my
apartment on the 11th floor overlooking downtown
West Palm Beach at night. The lights look as if
someone had thrown a treasure chest of jewels out
of the heavens. I'm in my big easy chair
surrounded by very comfortable furniture, some of
my favorite paintings, & framed photos &
sculptures. It's a very lived-in and comfortable
living room where I spend most of my evenings as
my big TV is here plus my WebTV--printer--stereos
& dvd, etc. I sometimes fall asleep in this
room on my big comfortable couch & never get
up to go to my bedroom.
Kenny - you have
such a breadth of experience in show biz and
movies and such. What made it the right time to
write your autobiography Kenny Miller:
Surviving Teenage Werewolves, Puppet
People, and Hollywood?
A close
friend of mine & a brilliant writer, Susan
Kennedy, approached me about doing my
autobiography. I was so impressed that she wanted
to do it that I agreed. We worked on it for over
two months--& Susan became ill. Two &
half weeks later she died. I decided then I would
never continue writing the book! About 6 months
later I was asked by MacFarland Publishing about
doing my book & I said "No". As
fate would have it, another good friend of mine,
Donald Vaughan, was in town. He had interviewed
me on several other occasions & I loved his
writing. We discussed the book. About a year
later --after much coaxing on Don's part--I
agreed to do the book with him for MacFarland. It
took about two and a half years (he lived in N.
Carolina & me in Florida). That book is out
of print now. We have an extended & more
detailed book out now published by Bear Manor
Media, called 'Hollywood Inside' and Out---The
Kenny Miller Story -- (with over 120 photos of
stars, stills, & me) Boy, am I ready! Ho! Ho!
What revelation
in the book has brought the biggest response from
your fans?
I guess
being good friends with so many really famous
international- type people, and living so many
different places in the world. It even amazes me
when I think about it. I've really been so lucky.
I thank God for it!
Okay let's start
with 'I Was A Teenage Werewolf' (1957)
in which you play Vic, the life of the party.
What is the main thing you recall from shooting
this now horror classic?
It was an
exciting movie to do as we all worked our butts
off as it had a very low budget (around
$125,000!) & we were always on call. Gene
Fowler, Jr. was a wonderful actor's director,
& Michael was so dedicated in the role as
this was his first film. He gave his all & it
shows. He made it the great success that it
became. Otherwise, I think it would have been
just another horror film. All the cast worked so
hard to make it something better than average.
And it worked! Yvonne, Whit, Cindy, Dawn, &
Tony & every one of the cast & crew
including producer, Herman Cohen, became like a
big family. It was a wonderful feeling that I
will never forget-- or never want to.
In that movie you
sing and dance to "Eeny, Meeny, Miney,
Mo" -- as a singer were you fairly
comfortable doing that on film?
I loved
the song --"Eeeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo'--but in
my mind turned out to be a "disaster"!
Normally when you sing in a film you pre-record
it, and then when you are shooting the scene in
which you sing you do it to a 'playback".
Since we had no budget to pre-record it--I had to
sing the song "live" without any
music!! (Plus the dance with darlin' Cindy)! Then
when they scored the music into the film --they
would also score e the background music for the
song. They had a premiere of the film in
Hollywood & we all went plus the Fox Theatre
was packed. When my song came on I wanted to
crawl under the seat--the music was 2 measures
out of sync with my vocal!! The kids in the
audience loved it & went wild. They didn't
even notice, but I was really embarrassed. Plus a
lot of my acting pals --who were professional
singers-- were in the audience! Nevertheless,
Herman Cohen promised me he would correct it in
the original score. It would have cost so little.
Guess what? To this day--"Eeny Meeny, Miney,
Mo" is OUT of SYNC! He never corrected it.
But I still love the song, but always leave the
theater or convention hall when the song comes
on!
And you still are
making music today -- how do you see your music
as having changed from that ditty down to today?
Yes,
every chance I get. I have a new CD out that a
very talented young man, Solomon Mortamur, did
for me of all the original soundtracks of songs
I've done in Films, TV, & recording. It just
thrills me to have over 13 songs on one CD. I do
perform at various functions & charity events
throughout the country. I sing alot more
ballads-- contemporary music--country &
standards. I recorded in London for
EMI-Stateside. My most successful recording there
was "Restless", which by the way, is my
favorite recording of all.
Going back to the
movie -- do you have a favorite Michael Landon
memory?
Michael
was really into his part. In one scene at the
party I come up behind him & blow a horn in
his ear--he turns & hauls off & knocks me
over the couch. We had a stunt man to choreograph
the stunt--anyway, some how I didn't hit my mark
or Mike didn't hit his, and he really hit me in
the jaw & knocked me ass over elbow. It was a
perfect take, except Mike blurted
out--"Kenny, I'm sorry" & ran to
me--of course, that ruined the take & we had
to do it over many times. It just shows you what
a really caring guy Michael was.
That following
year you made several films but I must hear about
what it was like to be directed by one of the
cinematic Gods - Orson Welles' in 'A
Touch of Evil'.
Working
with the great Orson Welles was one of my
greatest experiences in film. I was signed to be
the head of the mostly Latino gang. I was signed
2 weeks prior as he wanted me to have curly hair.
I spent days with Bud Westmore getting a
permanent & getting it right. He also wanted
me to have a DA - "duck's ass". I
became goods friend with Orson & he was
wonderful to work with. Yes he was temperamental
at times, but genius is allowed that. I went with
him & our Assistant Director, Chico Day, one
day down to East LA in a limo to find real life
gang members for the film. That was a wild
experience--&, thankfully, Chico spoke
Spanish. When the "gang" worked, they
had to have extra security on the set! One thing
that would really make him furious was an actor
not knowing his or her lines or not doing
"your homework" as he called it. You
can bet your ass that I always knew mine!!
Also that year
you made a big impression as Stan, one of the
tiny tiny teenagers in the horror/sci fi movie 'Attack
of the Puppet People' (1958). Was
working all day alongside all the giant objects -
phone, doorknob, etc. fun?
There are
so many exciting memories about working with Bert
Gordon & that wonderful gentle man, John
Agar, in "Puppet People" None of us
were allowed to see the set until it was
completely finished. What a mind-blower it was
when we finally did! Bert is a total
perfectionist & every set & prop was
built to exact scale for us when we were 12
inches high. Not only is Bert a great director,
but also technically he is brilliant. The props
& sets still work today--& remember back
then everything was real--no animation. It was
done from scratch. Unfortunately, I didn't get to
work with John Hoyt, although I got to know him
& truly respect him as the great actor he
was, but all the scenes he did with us when we
were the little puppet people, he did in front of
a black screen. Climbing the thick rubber
"string " to the keyhole was sheer
torture as I had to climb over 30 feet to the top
of the sound stage--I couldn't use my arms the
next day--same thing happened to John when he had
to climb up the phone cord from the floor to the
top of the 'desk". The only funny thing
about climbing up to the keyhole was that\line my
pants were so tight that half way up they started
to split!! We weren't using sound & since my
rear was too the camera--I kept yelling to
Bert--"My pants are splitting! My damn pants
are splitting! He said, "Keep going--it
looks great! Have you got on under shorts?? When
I assured him that I did--he yelled, Keep
going!" And like a fool--I did!!!
Do you have
another predominant memory of shooting that film?
As I
said--- so many fun & funny memories from
doing that film. My girlfriend in the film,
Marlene Willis, was a darling & a great
singer--originally we both were going to sing in
the film, but we all agreed that would slow down
the action of the film. Anyhow, Bert decided that
Marlene would sing a song to me. When I heard it
I couldn't believe it--the song was called
something like 'You're my Living Doll &
Marlene was going to sing it to me! I asked Bert
to let me out of it. I was too embarrassed to
have her singing those words to me. He said--No
way. We did have fun with it, but I have never
been so embarrassed on camera in my life. Just
the thought of her calling me a "living
doll" was somehow more than I could bear.
Ugh!
And of course I
have to hear about your favorite memory as Milo
Talbot in the bikinis and bongos beach flick 'Surf
Party' (1964).
I loved
doing one of the lead roles in "Surf
Party". It was also another chance to work
with one of my favorite Producer/Directors, Maury
Dexter. I also was able to convince 20th to use
one of my favorite gals & a fantastic singer,
Jackie De Shannon, as my girl in the film. We
really had a ball making it. We also used some of
the greatest pro surfers as stunt doubles in the
actual surfing. Mine was a real look-alike, Sammy
Fain, son of the famous songwriter, Sammy Fain.
Along with our co-star, Bobby Vinton, Jackie
& I got to sing. My song, "Pearly
Shells", was on the sound track album, &
did so well that 20th Century Fox released it as
a single. Jackie's song was really fun for her
too, "Glory Wave"! Epic Records
wouldn't release Bobby to do the original
soundtrack album, so I got to sing the song he
sings in the film, "If I Were An
Artist." As rumor had it--I did NOT actually
break my shoulder while filming surfing scenes at
Malibu Pier! (Only in the script.)
Anyway, back to
the dark side. Your next foray into horror was 20
years coming. Tell me about your leading role as
Daniel in 'Blood Stalkers' in
1978. How did that role come about?
"The
Night Daniel Died' was written for me by Robert
W. Morgan, & was shot in the Florida
Everglades where we all were almost devoured by
mosquitoes & deer flies. It was a location
made in hell, plus over one hundred degrees
scorching heat! When it was sold to TV they
decided to change the name to
"Bloodstalkers" as they the felt it
would appeal more to the horror fans (?) for VHS
& DVD. Bob Morgan also ended up directing it.
We took it to the Cannes Film Festival where it
was sold in many international markets, plus I
had a ball going on tour to many capital cities
where the film was sold for promotion. Celea Ann
Cole played my darlin' wife & Toni Crabtree
&Jerry Albert played the other couple whose
folks had left him an old resort in the
Everglades which we find out later is haunted---
or at least, they make us believe it is! As from
the original title-- you know that my character
is going to Die... And boy, do I ever!! My best
friend, my miniature schnauzer, Krissy, also
stars in the film as Jerry & Toni's dog,
& was more of a ham than the rest of us! She
even gets screen credit as Kristina von
Mueller--- plus she dies a horrible death too!!!
So you've dealt
with several psychos -- an evil hypnotherapist in
'I Was a Teenage Werewolf', an
evil puppet master in 'Attack of the
Puppet People', and with 'Blood
Stalkers' an evil band of backwoods
predators, and God knows what in 'Surf
Party'. Is there anything in real life
that puts you over the edge and makes you go
crazy/psycho?
There are very
few things that make me "psycho". One
is when people don't tell me the truth--not
"little white lies', but something that is
important. I also really resent when someone
treats me like a "second hand citizen."
I go ballistic when someone thinks they are right
& I know I'm right! (Ha!) Only kidding.
In 2005 you made 'It
Came From Traflagar' with a whole slew
of horror/sci-fi folk -Butch Patrick, Brinke
Stevens, Linnea Quigley, Gunnar Hansen, Jim
O'Rear, Edwin Neal, etc. With a cast like that I
gotta ask -- was that movie born at a horror
convention? How did your involvement in the
project come about?
You're
right on, Owen. I met the writer/director of
"It Came From Trafalgar" at a horror
convention in Ft. Lauderdale. He asked if I would
do a 'cameo' in his film. I said if only it were
cleared thru Screen Actors Guild--he eventually
got permission & I went to Indiana for the
shoot. I'll do anything to help out any up &
coming talented people in the business -- as long
as it doesn't jeopardize me with my union. The
director Solomon Mortamur is a very talented and
dedicated young man, & it was great fun
working with him--even though it was colder than
a witches' tit in the cornfields we shot my
scene!! I worked with a darling, talented young
lady in the scene, Brooke Gross. This is her
first film. I didn't work with any of the other
cast members in the film, although I know or have
met most of them at conventions. I never saw any
of the script except for my part--so haven't a
clue what it's about -- except that it's a
psycho, suspense, horror. sci-fi, thriller, etc.
Solomon also took the original sound tracks,
recordings, tapes, albums & remixed the songs
I have sang in my films & TV shows &
remixed them into a very exciting CD that I am
very proud of--(we re-recorded "Eeney,
Meeny, Miney, Mo" from "I Was A Teenage
Werewolf"--&, at least, it is in sync!!
Hooray!) In regards to the film, Solomon did say
he wished he had met me earlier before the main
part of the film had been shot--as he would have
used me in a lead role--(If I had chosen to do
so, of course!)
Speaking of - you
are also a big horror/sci-fi/autograph
conventioneer --- what is that experience like
from "the other side of the table"?
Most of
the time I really love it! It's a great high for
me to meet friends & talk with them. Plus I'm
so thrilled that they're so interested in the
work I've done or am still doing.
What is the most
common question you are asked and in your long
career has there been a most unusual request you
would care to share?
What was
it like to work with James Dean? What was Michael
Landon really like? Was Orson Welles a nice guy?
What about John Agar? Burt Reynolds? Anthony
Quinn? The most common question is usually about
the super stars I have worked with & what
they were really like. I think the most unusual
request is about my co-workers sexual
preference--as if I would tell them anyway. I
don't feel that is any of their business--even if
I know the answer!! (And, boy, do I!!)
I want to hear
all about your new movie 'Blue'
- can you give me a quick description and how you
fit into the scheme of things?
"Blue"
is a script sent to me from Heaven. It is truly
one of the best scripts I've read & is
written by J.Brian King, & to think I'm
starring in it as Johnny Lee Walker just blows my
mind. We've had some problems. Hurricane Wilma
destroyed our set in the Florida Everglades--so
we're on 'temporary hold" till next month.
It's being produced by Sun King Studios of Miami,
Fl. (For more info please go to my website http://celebrities-home.com/kennymiller.htm & click up
the "Blue" poster of me and it will
link you to the details of the script, etc.)
Are there any
other projects pending or in the offing that you
would care to mention or plug for www.racksandrazors.com readers?
Yes,
yes--my new book out by Bear Manor Media--
Hollywood Inside & Out--The Kenny Miller
Story: my new CD for sale at conventions or both
on my website: my upcoming conventions &
autograph shows listed on my website; and of
course, going to see "Blue' when it's
finally released in theaters. (Again check out http://celebrities-home.com/kennymiller.htm )
What scares you
in real life?
I love
good horror movies, & have so many
favorites--one that immediately comes to mind is
"Black Sabbath". I love a lot of the
old Hammer films. In real life--mostly I'm scared
of total darkness! My eyes aren't that good to
begin with. I panic when I can't see what is near
me or feel something is coming toward me that I
can't make out! I've had a recurring dream that
I'm on the high diving board above a pool and
dive off the board & there is no water in the
pool!! |