Where Are They Now - Friday, June 15, 2018

Hello fans,

The best part of writing 'Where Are They Now' is discovering more about some of the most beloved and talent stars from the world of entertainment. That was until I had the chance to interview an iconic actor and PulseTV.com customer, Mr. Burton Gilliam. Most of you will remember Mr. Gilliam as Lyle in the Mel Brooks' western comedy Blazing Saddles.

After all of the issues I've done I never thought that I would ever have the unique opportunity to speak with an iconic entertainer that has appeared in so many of classic films and television shows. Mr. Gilliam sent Anisa an email concerning one of products on PulseTV.com and she had the wonderful idea of asking him if he wouldn't mind being interviewed by yours truly. I've never interviewed anyone in my life. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous. But Mr. Gilliam was such a pleasure to speak with, sharing so much about his career, his life, and so many great behind the scenes stories about classic films and shows that so many people love.

I wanted to share some of this experience with you. So today's star of 'Where Are They Now' is the wonderfully talented, Mr. Burton Gilliam.

Sometimes all you have to do is take a chance. That's how actor Burton Gilliam got his start in the motion picture business.

After seeing an ad in a newspaper for a casting call in Dallas, Burton decided to give acting a shot. After his audition for director Peter Bogdanovich, in addition to thunderous applause, Burton was cast in the 1973 film 'Paper Moon,' as Floyd the desk clerk.

'Paper Moon' went on the be a tremendous success and Tatum O'Neal, at the age of 10, won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Burton enjoyed his experienced, but didn't think anything would come of it... that was until one Mr. Mel Brooks saw a rough cut of 'Paper Moon' and personally called Burton to offer him the role of Lyle in the legendary comedy, 'Blazing Saddles.' Mr. Gilliam told me that he hung up on Mel Brooks the first time, as we all would. On the second call, Brooks told him not to hang up and then offered the role to Burton, which he accepted and the rest as they say...is history.

During his time on 'Blazing Saddles,' Mr. Gilliam told me that the first three takes were always a laugh riot; it was hard to keep a straight face. You can't keep a straight face watching it, filming must have been the ultimate test of self-control. Then, take four was all business.

While filming the soon to be classic comedy, Mr. Gilliam said he was having a difficult time directing scripted racial slurs at his fellow actors, especially to his co-star Cleavon Little. After several takes, Cleavon Little took him off to the side and told him it was okay because these weren't his words. They were acting. Everyone was on the same page and saw the humor and what the movie was truly about.

We talk about so many of his experiences in the movies and on television (Fletch, Back to the Future III, Evening Shade) and even lending his voice to video games like Redneck Rampage. It seems like Burton has done it all... and actually he has.

He told me that if he had it to do all over again he wish that he would have had the foresight to learn the entertainment business earlier than he had, but he has no regrets. At 79, he still wants to do more television, movies, video games, but if the entertainment business went belly-up he would be satisfied with the career that he's had for over 45 years. He loves to entertain! It certainly shows in his work and it was undeniable when I spoke with him. It was such a thrill. He even said one of his lines from Fletch, "You know, he's got that look." One of my personal favorites. It was amazing!

With all of our email correspondence Mr. Gilliam would put "Keep smilin'" at the end of every message. When I asked him about that he said that "Keep smilin'" became his motto, both on and off the set, once his acting career took off. Whenever you see Mr. Gilliam in a movie, on television, in commercials, he's always smiling. His distinct smile and voice became his tools of the trade and made Mr. Burton Gilliam one of the most recognizable and enduring actors ever.

Mr. Gilliam, thank you for your time, talent, and sincerity.

Take care,
Steve

Questions? Comments? Email Steve

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--DEAD OR ALIVE?--
See if you know if the following celebrities have had a visit from the "Grim Reaper":

Marla Gibbs: Starred in the TV series "227", was Florence in the series "The Jeffersons"

Dennis Hopper: Actor/director, he appeared in "Blue Velvet", "Speed", "Hoosiers" and many other movies, and directed, co-wrote and starred in the movie "Easy Rider"

Ted Lange: Played Isaac, the bartender, on the TV series "The Love Boat" and Junior on the series "That's My Mama"

(Answer at the bottom)



Burton Gilliam
Learn More About Burton Gilliam on Celebrity Nooz

BIRTH DATE: August 9, 1938 in Dallas, Texas, USA

BIRTH NAME: Burton Gilliam

CLAIM TO FAME: Burton Gilliam is an American actor most famous for his appearances in Blazing Saddles, Paper Moon, Honeymoon in Vegas, Fletch and much more.

NICKNAMES: Bubba

FAMILY LIFE: Burton now resides with wife, Susan, in Allen, Texas. They have 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

INFO: Was a Golden Gloves boxer '59-'67; competed in 217 fights.

Before pursing acting, Gilliam was a fireman for 14 years.

Was assigned to Engine Co. 39 at the time of his resignation in 1972 from the Dallas Fire Department.

He was a Golden Gloves referee in Dallas, Texas, before he was an actor.

Professional boxing referee and judge in the State of California.

Lived in Hollywood from 1973-1996.

TRIVIA: Met Madeline Kahn for the first time while making the film Paper Moon. She predicted that the two of them would work together again. Within three months, both of them had been cast in Blazing Saddles.

After seeing a rough cut of Paper Moon, director Mel Brooks called Gilliam personally to offer him the role of Lyle in Blazing Saddles.

Burton Gilliam has the distinction of being the first person in cinematic history to break wind in a feature film. See Blazing Saddles' campfire/beans scene if you haven't already.

In 1986 comedy Fletch, Chevy Chase invited Gilliam to lunch to go over the their scene together, the scene when the character of Fletch inspects an airplane. Gilliam said that the entire scene was improvised, except for the very first and last line, which were said as scripted. (One of the best scenes in the movie.)

During his time on the sitcom Evening Shade, Gilliam became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thanks to his friends and co-stars Burt Reynolds and Charles Durning.

Granddaughter HOLLIE VISE won the gold medal at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, 2004 (Uneven Bars). She's in the Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Dated future 'Wonder Woman' Lynda Carter for 6-months.

WHERE IS HE NOW: Gilliam currently resides Allen, Texas. He spends the majority of his time on the golf course and making 50 television commercials, for auto dealers and the like, a year.

CREDITS:

2018 The Lucky Man...Pawn Broker's Dad

2013-2016 Bail Out (TV Series)...Bubba Jack Jones
- I am Lorenzo Lamas (2016) ... Bubba Jack Jones
- Heist or Hit (2014) ... Bubba Jack Jones
- You Shootin' at Me? (2013) ... Bubba Jack Jones

2014 The Wisdom to Know the Difference...Jesse

2013 Off Her Meds (TV Series)...Dr. Duke

2012 The Painted Woman (Short)...Jim

2012 Return to Vengeance...Leonard

2010 The Good Guys (TV Series)...Locksmith
- Dan on the Run (2010) ... Locksmith

2010 Breaking the Press

2009 Fire from Below...Bubba

2007 Retribution Road (Video)...Allie

2007 Cake: A Wedding Story...Judge

2006 Inspector Mom (TV Movie)...Ralph Zender

2006 Killing Down...Turner

2005 City of Justice (TV Series)
- Family Values (2005)

2005 Drop Dead Sexy...Big Tex

2004 The Fanglys (Video)...Sheriff Pete

2003 Shtickmen...Ray Sellers

2003 88 Hits...Victor Bordeaux

2003 Sweet Hideaway...Det. Dick Johnson

2002 An Eye for Detail...Professor William Seymore

2002 Mi Amigo...Older Pal Grisham

2001 The Journeyman...Silas Bishop

1999 Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series)...Frank
- The Lynn Sisters

1999 Sliders (TV Series)...Stage Driver
- Way Out West

1999 Soccer Dog: The Movie...The Mail Man

1998 Redneck Rampage Rides Again (Video Game)...Leonard (voice)

1997 The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series)...Mecanic Race Announcer
- The Love Bug

1997 Redneck Rampage (Video Game)...Leonard (voice)

1995 Wild Bill...Bartender

1995 Weird Science (TV Series)...Snake
- The Legend of Red Brick Wallace

1995 Born to Be Wild...Dwayne

1995 Victim of Desire...Lynch

1990-1994 Evening Shade (TV Series)...Virgil
- The Odder Couple (1994) ... Virgil
- Wood Climbs to New Heights (1994) ... Virgil
- Mr. Newton Goes to Hot Springs (1994) ... Virgil
- The Fabulous Frazier Girls (1994) ... Virgil
- Paint the Town Nude (1994) ... Virgil
Show all 60 episodes

1994 The Getaway...Gollie

1992 Honeymoon in Vegas...Roy Bacon, Elvis Impersonator

1992 Quake (Video)...Willie

1991 The Terror Within II...Dewitt (as Burton 'Bubba' Gilliam)

1990 Back to the Future Part III...Colt Gun Salesman

1990 Out of This World (TV Series)
- Cowboy Kyle, Man of Granite

1988 Red River (TV Movie)...Buster

1987 The Under Achievers...Red

1987 Mama's Family (TV Series)...Bud
- Workman's Holiday

1987 Houston Knights (TV Series)
- Single in Heaven (1987)

1986 Convicted (TV Movie)...Lieutenant Nance

1986 North and South, Book II (TV Mini-Series)...Cpl. Strock

1986 Dream West (TV Mini-Series)...Martineau
- Episode #1.2 (1986) ... Martineau
- Dream West (1986) ... Martineau

1986 Uphill All the Way...Corporal

1985 Fletch...Bud

1985 Hail to the Chief (TV Series)...Clovis Montgomery
- Episode #1.6
- Episode #1.5
- Episode #1.4

1984 The Master (TV Series)...Deputy Landen
- Juggernaut

1983 The Fall Guy (TV Series)...Sheriff
- Baker's Dozen

1983 The A-Team (TV Series)...Sheriff Jeff Lewis
- A Nice Place to Visit

1983 Gun Shy (TV Series)...Jeremiah Jones
- What Do You Mean 'We' Amigo?

1983 Knight Rider (TV Series)...Trucker Gene
- Knight Moves

1982 Foxfire Light...Deke

1979-1982 The Dukes of Hazzard (TV Series)...Heep / Tom Colt
- The Sound of Music - Hazzard Style (1982) ... Heep
- Double Sting (1979) ... Tom Colt

1981 Best of the West (TV Series)...Ringo
- The Calico Kid Returns

1981 The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite (TV Movie)...Hoover Hess III

1981 Thirsty Workers (TV Series) (voice)

1980 Flo (TV Series)...J.J. Castleberry
- A Castleberry Thanksgiving: Part 2
- A Castleberry Thanksgiving: Part 1

1980 The Georgia Peaches (TV Movie)...Delbert Huggins

1980 The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (TV Movie)...Hoover Hess

1980 Where the Ladies Go (TV Movie)...Stotts

1980 The $5.20 an Hour Dream (TV Movie)...Turnvil

1979 B.J. and the Bear (TV Series)...Lacy
- Fly a Wild Horse

1979 Young Maverick (TV Series)...Barbary Kid
- Clancy

1979 The Jericho Mile (TV Movie)...Jimmy-Jack

1979 Soap (TV Series)...Buck
- Episode #2.17
- Episode #2.16

1976-1979 How the West Was Won (TV Series)...Woodley / Cory Nealson
- The Gunfighter (1979) ... Cory Nealson
- Interlude (1978) ... Woodley
- Mormon Story (1978) ... Woodley
- Buffalo Story (1978) ... Woodley
- Pilot (1976) ... Woodley

1978 Lawman Without a Gun (TV Movie)...Rev. Farrell

1978 Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (TV Movie)...Half-Moon Muldoon

1978 The Beasts Are on the Streets (TV Movie)...Al Loring

1976-1978 Alice (TV Series)...Buford Baker / Jimmie Joe Castleberry
- Love Me, Love My Horse (1978) ... Jimmie Joe Castleberry
- Mel's Happy Burger (1977) ... Buford Baker
- Vera's Mortician (1976) ... Buford Baker

1977 Bunco (TV Movie)...Cashier

1977 Telefon...Gas Station Attendant

1977 Another Man, Another Chance...Sheriff Murphy

1977 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)...Ulmer
- Pretty Angels All in a Row

1976 Gator...Smiley

1975 The Waltons (TV Series)...J.D. Paulsen
- The Estrangement

1975 The Night That Panicked America (TV Movie)...Tex

1975 Hearts of the West...Lester

1975 Farewell, My Lovely...Cowboy

1975 Home Cookin' (TV Movie)...Jammer

1975 At Long Last Love...Man at Racetrack

1974 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot...Welder

1974 Remember When (TV Movie)...Zack

1974 Blazing Saddles...Lyle

1973 Cannon (TV Series)...Deputy
- Perfect Alibi

1973 Love, American Style (TV Series)...Jasper (segment "Love and the Hoodwinked Honey")
- Love and the Cozy Comrades/Love and the Flunky/Love and the Hoodwinked Honey/Love and the Secret Spouse

1973 Paper Moon...Floyd (Desk Clerk)

To see Then & Now pictures of Burton Gilliam, visit: Celebrity Nooz

*
--Answers to DEAD OR ALIVE--
Marla Gibbs - ALIVE
Born: 06/14/1931

Dennis Hopper - DEAD
Born: 05/17/1936 Died: 05/29/2010

Ted Lange - ALIVE
Born: 01/05/1947

*
WHO PASSED ON THIS WEEK...
6/14
Stanislav Govorukhin, 82, Russian film director, screenwriter and politician.
Mongi Kooli (fr), 88, Tunisian politician.
Ettore Romoli, 80, Italian politician, Senator (1994-1996) and Deputy (2001-2006).

6/13
Myrtle Allen, 94, Irish chef, restaurateur (Ballymaloe House) and hotelier, Michelin star winner, pneumonia.
Reinhard Birkenstock (de), 73, German lawyer.
Arkangel de la Muerte, 52, Mexican professional wrestler (CMLL), heart attack.
Anne Donovan, 56, American Hall of Fame basketball player and coach, Olympic champion (1984, 1988, 2008), heart failure.
D. J. Fontana, 87, American Hall of Fame rock drummer (Elvis Presley).
Ronald I. Meshbesher, 85, American lawyer, Alzheimer's disease.
Erich Meuthen (de), 89, German historian.
Charles Vinci, 85, American weightlifter, Olympic champion (1956, 1960).

6/12
Ram Chander Bainda, 72, Indian politician, member of the Lok Sabha (1996-2004).
Jacob Brand, 63, Russian cardiac surgeon and TV presenter.
Kenny Chan, 68, Malaysian actor, lung infection.
Wayne Dockery, 76, American jazz double bassist.
Helena Dunicz-Niwinska, 102, Polish violinist, translator and author.
Jon Hiseman, 73, English drummer (Colosseum, Colosseum II), brain cancer.
Jaroslaw Kozidrak, 63, Polish guitarist, keyboardist and composer.
Bhaiyyu Maharaj, 50, Indian spiritual guru, suicide by gunshot.
Pandel Savic, 92, Macedonian-born American football player (Ohio State Buckeyes), Alzheimer's disease.
Meinhard Starostik (de), 68, German lawyer.

6/11
Roilo Golez, 71, Filipino politician, Postmaster General and adviser to the National Security Council, heart attack.
Yvette Horner (fr), 95, French accordionist.
Victoria Kalima, 45, Zambian politician, Minister of Gender (since 2016).
Roman Klosowski, 89, Polish actor (Before Twilight).
Rumen Petkov, 70, Bulgarian animator and director (Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory), Palme d'Or winner (1985).
Xavier Rutsa, 42, Indian journalist, heart attack.

6/10
Stan Anderson, 85, English football player (Sunderland, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough) and manager.
Íñigo de Arteaga y Martín (es), 76, Spanish nobleman (Duke of the Infantado).
Douglas J. Bennet, 79, American diplomat and educator, President of Wesleyan University (1995-2007).
Neal E. Boyd, 42, American singer and reality show contestant (America's Got Talent), heart and kidney failure and liver disease.
Dorothy Cotton, 88, American civil rights activist (Southern Christian Leadership Conference).
Pavlos Giannakopoulos, 89, Greek businessman and sport administrator (Panathinaikos A.O.).
Abdullah Haselhoef (nl), 50, Dutch writer, traffic collision.
Ben Hills, 75-76, British-born Australian investigative journalist, cancer.
Ras Kimono, 60, Nigerian reggae musician.
Martin Lolia, 48, Sudanese researcher, heart attack.
Tom McEwen, 81, American drag racer.
Liliana Ross (es), 79, Italian-born Chilean actress.
Christopher Stasheff, 74, American author (The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Starship Troupers, The Enchanter Reborn), Parkinson's disease.

6/9
Martin Birrane, 82, Irish businessman, racing driver and team owner (Lola Cars).
Deborah Cameron, 59, Australian journalist (The Sydney Morning Herald) and radio presenter (ABC Radio Sydney), cancer.
Murray Fromson, 88, American journalist (CBS News) and professor (University of Southern California), Alzheimer's disease.
Lorraine Gordon, 95, American jazz club owner (Village Vanguard), stroke.
George Grubb, 82, British politician, Lord Provost of Edinburgh (2007-2012).
Kenyatta Jones, 39, American football player (New England Patriots, Washington Redskins), cardiac arrest.
Lin Yu-lin, 81, Taiwanese real estate developer.
Shantaram Naik, 72, Indian politician, member of the Rajya Sabha (2005-2017), heart attack.
Igor Ohlupin (ru), 79, Russian actor (Siberiade).
Somaweera Senanayake, 74, Sri Lankan screenwriter, novelist and journalist, heart attack.
Fadil Vokrri, 58, Kosovar football player (Prishtina, SFR national team), president of Football Federation of Kosovo (since 2008), cardiac arrest.
Zhang Junzhao, 65, Chinese film director and screenwriter (One and Eight, The Shining Arc).

6/8
Per Ahlmark, 79, Swedish politician and writer, Deputy Prime Minister (1976-1978) and leader of the Liberal People's Party (1975-1978).
Gérard Boulanger, 69, French lawyer and politician, cancer.
Anthony Bourdain, 61, American chef, author and television host (No Reservations, Parts Unknown, The Layover), four-time Emmy winner, suicide by hanging.
Maria Bueno, 78, Brazilian tennis player, Wimbledon winner (1959, 1960, 1964), mouth cancer.
Michael Comer, 43, American football player (UTEP Miners, Arizona Cardinals).
Freddy Eugen, 77, Danish racing cyclist.
Eunice Gayson, 90, British actress (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, The Revenge of Frankenstein).
Danny Kirwan, 68, British Hall of Fame guitarist (Fleetwood Mac, Tramp).
Pat Lally, 92, Scottish politician, Lord Provost of Glasgow (1996-1999).
Liu Yichang, 99, Hong Kong novelist, editor and publisher, a founder of Hong Kong's modern literature.
John McKenzie, 80, Canadian ice hockey player (Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks).
Jutta Nardenbach, 49, German footballer.
Jackson Odell, 20, American actor (The Goldbergs, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, iCarly).
Janko Pleterski, 95, Slovenian historian, politician and diplomat.
Gino Santercole, 77, Italian singer and songwriter, heart attack.
Leo Sarkisian, 97, American musicologist and broadcaster.
Thomas Stuttaford, 87, British doctor and politician, MP (1970-1974).
Kandala Subrahmanyam, 97, Indian politician.

6/7
Rasul Bux Palejo, 88, Pakistani politician, scholar and writer, founder of Awami Tahreek.
David Douglas Duncan, 102, American photojournalist.
Minken Fosheim, 62, Norwegian actress (Karl & Co, Tsatsiki, morsan och polisen) and children's author, pancreatic cancer.
Fu Da-ren, 85, Taiwanese sports broadcaster, assisted suicide.
Geoff Gunney, 84, English rugby league player and coach (Hunslet).
Arie den Hartog, 77, Dutch road bicycle racer.
José Marfil Peralta, 97, Spanish soldier and Holocaust survivor.
Arthur Marshall, 83, Australian politician and tennis player, member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (1993-2005).
Francis Smerecki, 68, French football player (Limoges) and manager (Guingamp, national youth team).
Viktor Tolmachev, 83, Russian airplane designer and engineer (Antonov).
Gena Turgel, 95, Polish author, Holocaust survivor and educator.
Michaele Vollbracht, 71, American fashion designer, esophageal cancer.
Sir Neil Waters, 87, New Zealand chemist and university administrator, vice-chancellor of Massey University (1983-1995).
Stefan Weber, 71, Austrian singer.

6/6
Tinus Bosselaar, 82, Dutch footballer (Sparta, Feyenoord, national team).
Jimmy Gonzalez, 67, American Tejano singer (Mazz), multiple Latin Grammy winner, heart attack.
Teddy Johnson, 98, English singer (Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson).
George N. Leighton, 105, American judge (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois), pneumonia.
Mateja Matevski, 89, Macedonian poet.
David McFadden, 77, Canadian poet and travel writer.
Kira Muratova, 83, Ukrainian film director, screenwriter and actress.
Alan O'Neill, 47, Irish actor (Sons of Anarchy, Rebel Heart, Fair City).
Larry Owen, 63, American baseball player (Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals).
Monique Papon, 83, French politician, Senator (2001-2011) and Deputy (1986-1997) for Loire-Atlantique.
Ralph Santolla, 51, American metal guitarist (Deicide, Obituary, Iced Earth), heart attack.
Red Schoendienst, 95, American Hall of Fame baseball player, manager, and coach (St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Milwaukee Braves).
Mary Wilson, Baroness Wilson of Rievaulx, 102, British poet, Spouse of the Prime Minister (1964-1970, 1974-1976), stroke.
Franz M. Wuketits, 62, Austrian biologist and epistemologist.