Right For The Role with John Frank Levey (John Frank Levey)
Explore every episode of Right For The Role with John Frank Levey
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jan 2025 | Taking Pride in Your Career: Tim Bagley on Learning, Growing, and Staying True to Yourself | 00:54:11 | |
Veteran actor Tim Bagley joins John Frank Levey to discuss his remarkable three-decade career spanning hundreds of roles. From his early days studying with renowned acting coaches to becoming a Groundlings mainstay, Tim shares how his commitment to authenticity and continuous growth has shaped his craft and journey as an openly gay performer in Hollywood. Through candid stories about his experiences on shows like ER, Southland, and Somebody Somewhere, Tim reveals how he approaches each character with empathy and psychological depth – whether playing a flasher, an OCD patient, or a Supreme Court clerk opposite Sally Field. The conversation explores how his background in improv and dedication to ongoing training have enabled him to tackle dramatically diverse roles while staying true to himself. In this episode:
Tim's story exemplifies how embracing authenticity, both personally and professionally, while maintaining a spirit of continuous learning can lead to a rich and enduring career in the arts. TV shows and plays discussed in this conversation:
Connect
Acknowledgments
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 | |||
| 11 Dec 2024 | Control Your Destiny: Eriq La Salle on Breaking Barriers and Building Legacy | 01:05:27 | |
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:
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.
To connect with Eriq La Salle:
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) | |||
| 08 Jan 2025 | Don't Wait, Create: A Hilarious Conversation With Dennis Dugan About Taking Creative Risks Seriously | 00:51:12 | |
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:
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:
Connect:
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) | |||
| 22 Jan 2025 | Leading With Joy: Shanola Hampton on Shining Your Light & Making an Indelible Impact | 00:45:44 | |
The radiant Shanola Hampton joins her longtime friend John Frank Levey to share her remarkable journey from a five-year-old with a dream to becoming the lead of NBC's "Found" after her unforgettable run as Veronica on "Shameless." In this heartfelt conversation, Shanola opens up about how faith, family, and education shaped her path, including a touching story about a minister's prophecy during her childhood that sustained her through years of almost-but-not-quite moments in Hollywood. In this episode:
This conversation is a joyful masterclass in perseverance, authenticity, and the magic that happens when artists create safe spaces to do their best work.
Connect:
Acknowledgments: 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) | |||
| 18 Dec 2024 | Having It All vs. Doing It All: Sasha Alexander on Acting, Parenting, and Finding Balance | 00:49:38 | |
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 TV shows discussed in this conversation:
Connect:
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) | |||
| 05 Feb 2025 | The Roles That Form & Change Us: Noah Wyle on ER, Activism & Longevity in Show Biz | 00:46:05 | |
In this intimate conversation, Noah reflects on how his role as Dr. John Carter evolved from an uncertain medical student to a confident physician, mirroring his own growth as an actor and person. From his early resistance to television work to becoming one of the medium's most enduring presences, Noah discusses how ER's groundbreaking approach to diversity, storytelling, and medical authenticity changed both his career trajectory and emergency medicine itself. He shares moving insights about working alongside acting legends and the powerful mentorship dynamic between his character and Eriq La Salle's Dr. Peter Benton.
Through candid stories and thoughtful reflection, Noah illuminates how finding the roles you're right for – both on-screen and off – can lead to profound personal and professional growth. TV shows discussed in this conversation
Connect
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) | |||
| 05 Dec 2024 | Trailer | 00:03:36 | |
Right For The Role launches on December 11th. Learn what the show is about and hear clips from our first set of interviews in Season 1. | |||