Show Notes
Adrienne Barbeau joins Steve Kmetko for a candid and entertaining conversation about a career that has spanned Broadway, television, cult films, and animation.
Long before becoming a horror icon, Adrienne Barbeau first gained national attention playing Carol Traynor on the groundbreaking sitcom Maude opposite the legendary Bea Arthur. From there she built a career that moved effortlessly between stage, television, and film, appearing in classics like The Fog, Escape From New York, Creepshow, and Swamp Thing. She also became the unforgettable voice of Catwoman in Batman: The Animated Series, a role that continues to resonate with fans decades later.
In this episode, Adrienne looks back at her early days performing for U.S. troops overseas for just seven dollars a day, her Broadway run in Fiddler on the Roof alongside Bette Midler, and what she learned working with Bea Arthur on one of television’s most influential sitcoms. She shares behind the scenes stories about working with directors like John Carpenter and George Romero, explains how she accidentally became a horror movie legend, and reveals why she never saw herself as the “bombshell” many fans remember from films like Cannonball Run.
Adrienne also talks about aging in Hollywood, why she has avoided cosmetic procedures, the surprising fan encounters that still happen at conventions, and how her children keep her grounded after decades in the spotlight.
It’s a funny, insightful look at a remarkable career that continues to evolve more than sixty years after her first professional job.
This is Still Here Hollywood. I’m Steve Kmetko. Join me with today’s guest, actor Adrienne Barbeau.
00:00 Introduction – Adrienne Barbeau joins Still Here Hollywood 00:48 A Career That Spans Broadway, Television, and Film 02:07 Entertaining U.S. Troops for $7 a Day 03:10 Broadway Years and Fiddler on the Roof with Bette Midler 04:22 Learning the Difference Between Stage and Film Acting 06:07 Adrienne Barbeau on Fame and Success 09:19 A Wild Story About Burt Reynolds and Celebrity Life 10:35 How Maude Impacted Fans in Real Life 13:12 What Adrienne Learned from Bea Arthur 14:53 Life on the Set of Maude 17:30 When Adrienne Realized Maude Was Groundbreaking 19:03 The Behind the Scenes Rhythm of Filming Maude 22:22 Finding Confidence as Carol on Maude 24:04 The Controversial Maude Abortion Episode 27:27 How Adrienne Became a Horror Movie Icon 29:30 Almost Turning Down George Romero’s Creepshow 31:08 When Horror Fans Started Recognizing Her Work 33:04 Adrienne’s New Film Oddities 35:37 Voicing Catwoman in Batman: The Animated Series 37:23 The Acting Advice That Changed Her Career 40:05 The “Bombshell” Label in Hollywood 41:15 The Famous Cannonball Run Costume Story 43:00 Do Actors Have More Freedom Today? 44:47 What Keeps Adrienne Barbeau Grounded 45:11 Adrienne Barbeau on Turning 80 49:30 Her Early Days Working in a New York Nightclub 51:23 Advice Adrienne Would Give Her Younger Self 53:35 Playing Catwoman and Voice Acting Work 54:40 HBO’s Carnivàle and Her Favorite Role 56:30 Closing Thoughts
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