Biography for
Greg Joseph More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

25 August 1946, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Nickname

Grego
Joe

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

Greg was born on August 25, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, and began acting at age 13 in an adult readers' theater group there. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Theatre from the University of Missouri, taught for a semester on an assistantship through MU, and was nominated for a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship. Upon graduation, he landed a major speaking role in the film Adam at Six A.M. (1970), which was being shot partially in the Kansas City area. In the film -- which starred Michael Douglas and was produced by Steve McQueen's Solar Productions -- Greg played a pharmacist vying with Douglas for the attention of a local girl played by Lee Purcell. Upon the movie's completion, the writers and producers invited Greg to the West Coast and helped launch his acting career. He settled in a small apartment in downtown Hollywood at 1769 North Orange Drive (up the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater and across from where the Kodak Theater now stands) and followed the young actor's course of going on auditions while holding down a series of jobs to make ends meet. He subsequently married and to support his growing family, worked as a reporter for a series of newspapers in Southern California, ranging from The Pasadena Star-News to The San Diego Tribune. He covered every possible type of news story but kept his hand in show business by writing stage, film and TV critiques, reviews on books about show business, and profiling dozens of Hollywood figures including directors Frank Capra, Billy Wilder, Stanley Kramer, Robert Wise and Spike Lee, and actors ranging from Cary Grant, James Stewart and Gregory Peck, to Jim Carrey, Richard Dean Anderson, Keenen Ivory Wayans and John Goodman. He often appeared on radio, TV and at live stage events discussing film and television. In 1990, Greg was offered the job of TV columnist by The Arizona Republic newspaper, accepted, and moved with his family to Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. When his children were grown and embarked on careers of their own, Greg left the newspaper business and again became a full-time professional actor. While Greg performs in films shot in Arizona near his home, he often travels to Los Angeles and other locales where auditions and roles take him. He is a former member of the SAG Arizona Branch Council, the Television Critics Association and the Board of Governors of the Arizona Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World as actor, writer, media critic and advocate.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Greg Joseph/kckidjoseph@msn.com

Spouse

Mary Martha Stahler

(21 July 1973 - present) 3 children

Trivia

His first college acting teacher was Robin Humphrey, one of the New York Actors Studio's first class of 13 students (one of her classmates was Marlon Brando).

His son, John Gregory Joseph, was Sen. John McCain's principal appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1993, graduating near the top of his class in 1997. John became a Navy pilot and fought with distinction in the opening stages of the war in Iraq while stationed aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. John subsequently attended graduate school at Stanford University, earning two Masters degrees, in International Business and Environment. (Greg's older daughter, Jacqueline, earned her Bachelors degree in Political Science and Communications from Northern Arizona University and is an aspiring producer working for PBS in Washington, D.C. His younger daughter, Caroline, recently finished her Bachelors degree in Psychology at Arizona State University. Greg's wife of 36 years, Mary, recently completed her Masters degree in Educational Psychology through Northern Arizona University).

At the age of 14, met then-Sen. John F. Kennedy during a campaign rally in October of 1960 at a shopping center near Greg's home in Kansas City, Missouri. He was so moved by the experience that he named his three children after the Kennedys -- John, Jacqueline, and Caroline.

His classmate at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, seated one desk over, was an excruciatingly shy boy who drew chuckles for his deep red blushing whenever the teacher called on him. The boy: Jack Soden -- now Chief Executive Officer of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.

Greg had been in Hollywood less than an hour when an actor friend invited him to the set of a TV movie in which he was working Wild Women (1970) (TV). Greg was immediately introduced to the star -- his boyhood idol, "Wyatt Earp," aka Hugh O'Brien.

His mother, Marcella, was a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, where she studied with artist Thomas Hart Benton - whose murals adorn The Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri.

His father, Ted Joseph, left Cleveland in 1937 at age 19 and headed for Hollywood to become an actor. But he stopped in Kansas City, Missouri, met Greg's mother, Marcella, married her and stayed there instead, making his livelihood as a jeweler. Greg didn't know the story until he himself headed for Hollywood as a young actor in 1970.

His parents named him after their favorite actor, Gregory Peck -- whom Greg wound up profiling for The San Diego Tribune at the star's Los Angeles home in 1984 (it became the first of several interviews). They learned they had even more in common: Greg's best man (Greg Moore) was the nephew of actor Roy Roberts -- who played the anti-Semitic hotel manager who turned away Peck's character, a writer posing as Jewish -- in the 1947 film Gentleman's Agreement (1947).

Taught Speech and Drama at The Barstow School, a private school in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1969-70 on an assistantship through the University of Missouri. Among his students: the granddaughter of Joyce Hall, patriarch of the Hallmark card empire.

When Greg was living in Hollywood, his best friend was engaged to one of Dean Martin's Golddiggers, a group of young dancers and actresses who appeared on the singer's classic series. Since Greg had a piano, his friend asked if the Golddiggers could rehearse in his apartment occasionally. Greg said yes - and they did.

Greg's mentor as a TV critic was Howard Rosenberg, the influential Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic of The Los Angeles Times. Greg's parents lived across the street from Rosenberg's family in Kansas City, Mo., but the two did not become acquainted until they were working as writers in Southern California. They met through a Kansas City neighbor who was visiting both separately on a vacation to the West Coast.

As a struggling young actor in Hollywood, he took a variety of odd jobs to make ends meet. He ushered at the Hollywood Pacific Theater on Hollywood Boulevard - tearing the tickets of, among others, Mary Tyler Moore and a very young Melanie Griffith and her mother, Tippi Hedren. As a clothing salesman at the Robinson's department store in downtown Los Angeles, he sold Bela Lugosi Jr. a suit (with the help of fellow salesman Bruce Brown, the brother of actor Robert Lansing).

In 1971, Elinor Karpf, who co-wrote "Adam at 6 A.M." - Greg's first feature, in which he played a young pharmacist - asked him to audition for a two-hour series pilot starring Sally Field, "Marriage: Year One," for the role of a young doctor and best friend of the Field character's husband.

Conducted one of the last newspaper interviews with Cary Grant.

His maternal grandparents, Allan W. and Lillian Nelson, were married 72 years.

As an out-of-work actor writing to make ends meet, he went to MGM to profile legendary casting director Joyce Selznick -- the niece of Gone with the Wind (1939) producer David O. Selznick. She told him to stick with writing -- he was too shy to be an actor.

His late father-in-law, agricultural chemist Dr. Leonard Stahler, was the head of marketing and research for Borax, and served on the company's panel that hired Ronald Reagan to replace the Old Ranger as host of the series "Death Valley Days" (1952). Dr. Stahler also managed orange groves for Borax on land where Disneyland now stands.

Actor Richard Dean Anderson's grandmother was a long-time family friend and attended Greg's wedding.

As a young actor in Hollywood, was mentored by character actor Ed Call, a fellow Kansas Citian he met during the filming of "Adam at 6 A.M.".

At The San Diego Tribune, worked with Robert Blair Kaiser - journalist and author of "RFK Must Die" about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and the first newsman to interview RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan in prison (for Life magazine).

Became friends with actor/stunt man Chuck Hicks ("Dirty Harry," "Dick Tracy"), who asked him to write brochures for colleges about different aspects of getting into the movie business.

Greg's best childhood friend, Joseph Waeckerle, became a doctor and was hailed as the hero of the Hyatt Regency hotel disaster in Kansas City, Mo., in 1981 - the greatest hotel disaster in U.S. history.

Interviewed Bob Hope a number of times between 1973 and the comedian's death, and was invited to take a trip overseas with him when Hope entertained the troops.

Met and profiled Sally Forrest, star of the first movie he ever saw - 1950's "Mystery Street" - 30 years later when she was starring in a San Diego stage show.

Met Johnny Carson during his Las Vegas act, and became his unwitting foil for the show.

An editor asked Greg whom he would most like to interview for a story, and he answered the heroes of his baby-boom generation. And so he did: Fess Parker (Davy Crocket), Robert Young (Jim Anderson of "Father Knows Best"), Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver of "Leave It to Beaver") and baseball great Willie Mays.

He was college friends with actor Everett McGill ("Twin Peaks," "Licence to Kill") and they were in several plays together.

As a young reporter for The Pasadena (Calif.) Star-News in 1973, Greg conducted a three-month investigative series on illegal funeral home practices. In the 2007 film, "Jake's Corner," he plays a mortician.

Recipient of a famous Dr. Seuss "Cat Note" - a personalized Cat in the Hat drawing in thank-you note form from Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel.

Greg's wife, Mary, grew up in Hollywood and was close childhood friends with Melinda Marx, younger daughter of Groucho, and the late William "Billy" Lancaster, son of Burt and creator of "The Bad News Bears".

Has played piano since the age of 7.

His brother-in-law, Dr. John F. Stahler, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in San Jose, Calif., was a member of the first M*A*S*H unit in Vietnam.

Numerous op-ed letters he's written on subjects ranging from politics to entertainment and the media have been published in national periodicals including USA Today, TIME, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, TV Guide and Screen Actor (the Screen Actors Guild magazine).

Wrote a piano piece, "I Have Learned to Say" as a possible theme for the sequel of the movie _Charly_ -- a 1968 picture that had been an Oscar-winner for its star, Cliff Robertson, whom Greg profiled and knew. But the sequel never got made.

As a young actor-writer, sent a letter to Oscar-winning screenwriter Sterling Siliphant ("In the Heat of the Night") seeking career advice and received a detailed, encouraging note in response.

Profiled Mario Lopez while the "Dancing with the Stars" standout was attending Chula Vista High School near San Diego and lectured his class.

Very first wedding gift was from composer Frederick Loewe -- Loewe's second night tickets to "Gigi" at the Los Angeles Music Center.

Was the first print journalist inside CNN's Atlanta headquarters at the start of the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Was part of San Diego Evening Tribune staff that won 1979 Pulitzer Prize for general local reporting of commercial airliner crash in San Diego.

As judge at the San Diego Improv in the late 1980s, helped give Bill Engvall his first stand-up comedy competition triumph. In 2008, acted opposite Engvall in the comedy short, "Cowboy Dreams".

His first newspaper boss in California, Harold Hubbard, had been editor of The Hollywood Citizen-News during the film industry's golden age.

Is a Disneyland freak.

Reviewed a number of major stage productions in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Took a screenwriting class from actress Maureen O'Hara's brother, producer Charles B. Fitzsimmons, who became a mentor and friend.

As TV columnist, was offered a cameo on the soap "One Life to Live" - but his editor made him turn down the role.

Profiled TV's very first network news anchor, Douglas Edwards (and later, also interviewed his successor, Walter Cronkite).

Got his first newspaper job in California through actor Robert Lansing's father.

As young reporter for The Kansas City Star in 1966, covered what was billed as the last Texas trail drive" and met Western star Chill Wills.

His late father was a jeweler whose customers included Ethel Merman and Jerry Lewis.

Once lived in downtown Hollywood (1769 N. Orange Drive), across from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and where the Kodak Theatre now stands.

Is a friend of writer-producer Beth Polson, also a former reporter at The San Diego Tribune.

Broke the story of the drug-overdose death of "Family Affairs" star Anissa Jones (Buffy) in Oceanside, Calif., in 1976 while working as reporter for The San Diego Tribune.

Bought the red dress worn by Vera Ellen in "White Christmas" from a collector for his wife - but she made him return it.

An avid baseball fan, got to sit in the dugout with Steve Garvey while profiling the all-star first baseman, then with the San Diego Padres.

Originally read for a part opposite Gordon Jump in "Adam at 6 A.M." _ and profiled the late Maytag-repairmen actor a decade later as a newsman.

Interviewed Howard Koch, who wrote the script for Orson Welles' infamous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, on the 50th anniversary of the program in 1988.

Attended Frank Sinatra's much-ballyhooed "farewell performance" at Los Angeles Music Center in June 1971 with $500 ticket from Gregory Peck. (Sinatra unretired a year later.).

Auditioned for John Houseman's first Juilliard School class.

On 45th anniversary of "Casablanca," interviewed co-star Paul Henreid and surviving writers Howard Koch and Jules Epstein.

Daughter Jacqueline worked as a production assistant on the TV-movie "Secret Santa".

Studied with Alexis Minotis, founder of the Greek National Theatre with wife Katina Paxinou, best supporting actress for "For Whom the Bell Tolls".

To land the role of a country club pianist in a portion of the movie "Jolene" being shot at the Wrigley mansion in Phoenix, auditioned on-set for director Dan Ireland playing a piano broken in by George Gershwin.

Auditioned for, and won, role in "Adam at 6 A.M." at same Excelsior Springs, Mo., hotel where Harry S. Truman spent election night 1948 awaiting word of his historic upset victory over Thomas E. Dewey.

Interviewed President Franklin Roosevelt's son, Elliott, in 1984 at the release of the latter's mystery novel, "Murder and the First Lady".

Covered the 1979 San Diego school shooting that inspired the song "I Don't Like Mondays" by Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats.

His relative's house was blown up in the opening sequence of "Live Free or Die Hard".

Attended high school with the grandson of controversial Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast, who infamously had a hand in the career of future president Harry S. Truman.

Attended the opening of the Truman presidential library in July 1957 and the funeral of Harry S. Truman in December 1972, also at the library in Indpendence, Mo..

Broke the story that Ken Osmond, who played the unctuous Eddie Haskell on "Leave It to Beaver," had become a Los Angeles Police Department cop.

Playwright Neil Simon advised Greg about writing during an 1980s interview, saying to focus on autobiographical material and be "ruthlessly honest" in depicting people he knew.

Personal Quotes

Just about every good acting teacher - the great Stella Adler is one that comes foremost to mind - will tell you that actors worth their salt can't be isolated from the real world. They need to be aware and use that in their performances. I've come to realize that firsthand. As a writer and former journalist, I've always thought that I was "going to acting school," as it were, when I was covering a story or talking to people from every walk of life.

Take the business and your job seriously, but not yourself. Have fun, and make life as enjoyable as possible for everyone around you on the set, from cast to crew to producer to caterer. We need each other.

I've found when you love what you do that even adversity is a form of success. You're still in the game! I love acting, so even when I face so-called rejection, I'm on the team and know I'll get my swings the next time up. Conversely, when you're not doing what you like, every little problem is an irritant, and so-called "success" really doesn't mean all that much because you're on the wrong team in the wrong game.

I had a huge break early in my acting career, when I was 23 or 24, acting opposite Michael Douglas in a movie produced by Steve McQueen, stopped to raise a family, and in between, turned to writing to make a living and interviewed every big star and covered every Hollywood event I could think of. It made me realize that maybe I hadn't been as ready as I thought I was for fame and and things happen for a reason. Now that I'm back, my focus is on being the best person I can be, having fun and working hard at my craft. If it's meant to be, it'll happen. If not, I've had a great life, better than most people in this world can ever dream of. I've won, I've been blessed, no matter what.

When I stopped acting for a while to raise a family, I worked as a writer, interviewing and being around some of the biggest stars in the business. I learned that fame is like a distant, unknown island that lures us. When some reach it, they're prepared and survive. Others - too many - aren't and shouldn't have gone near the water in the first place.

Acting is not a competition to see who can get the most attention. It's a team sport.

Like everybody else, I've had moments in my life like the guy on the operating table who hears his doctor go, "Oops." But then there's the payback: I get to play the doctor.

Acting is like running away with the circus but getting to go home on weekends.

Actors are nobodies trying to be somebodies by borrowing somebody's personality without anybody noticing.

Doing an audition scene with some actresses is like trying to share a potato chip with a shark.

Forgetting things doesn't make me feel old. It's forgetting that I'm forgetting.

These days, I'm offered many "small but important" roles. I think people should know I'm ready for "large but unimportant" parts.

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