Show Notes
On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros welcomes actress, author, and speaker Lydia Cornell, beloved by millions as Sara Rush, the lovable daughter of Ted Knight's Henry Rush on the hit ABC sitcom “Too Close for Comfort.” More than 45 years after its debut, Lydia reflects on the series that launched her career and made her a television icon.
Lydia opens up about becoming one of TV's biggest sex symbols during the early 1980s. She reveals how ABC required her to pose for a bikini poster, why Ted Knight was uncomfortable with the publicity surrounding her, and how difficult it was to be taken seriously as an educated woman while playing a bubbly teenager.
She also shares one of the most unbelievable stories of her career while filming a movie in the Greek Isles alongside James Earl Jones and José Ferrer. Pressured into performing an unexpected topless scene without union representation, Lydia recounts the clever and courageous steps she took to protect herself and ensure the footage never made it to the screen.
The conversation then turns to Lydia's childhood in Texas and Scarsdale, New York, and her love of Disney classics. She reflects on being the great-granddaughter of “Uncle Tom's Cabin” author Harriet Beecher Stowe, and explains how watching her father perform as a concert violinist sparked her dream of becoming an actress.
Before finding fame, she worked at Colorado's legendary Caribou Ranch recording studio, where she crossed paths with several music legends. She also recounts sneaking onto the Paramount Studios lot, landing a job after an unexpected encounter with Jack Webb, and the chance meeting with legendary casting director Joyce Selznick that ultimately led to her unforgettable audition—and career-changing role—on “Too Close for Comfort.”
LYDIA CORNELL
Lydia Cornell is an actress, comedian, writer, producer, and speaker best known for her starring role as Sara Rush, the lovable daughter of Ted Knight on the hit sitcom Too Close for Comfort. Born Lydia Korniloff in El Paso, Texas, she comes from an artistic family. Her parents were both accomplished concert violinists, and she is the great-granddaughter of Uncle Tom's Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe.
After growing up in Texas & Scarsdale, New York, Lydia attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied business, drama, English, Russian, Spanish, and anthropology. While in college, she worked at the legendary Caribou Ranch Recording Studio, crossing paths with music legends including Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Chicago, & The Beach Boys. She moved to LA in 1978, working for Jack Webb Productions before landing her first film role opposite Lee Majors in Steel and appearing in The Love Boat & the cult thriller Blood Tide.
Lydia's breakthrough came in 1980 when she was cast in Too Close for Comfort, a role that made her one of television's most recognizable comedic actresses of the decade. She went on to guest star in hit series, including Charlie's Angels, Knight Rider, The Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, T.J. Hooker, Hotel, Fantasy Island, Quantum Leap, The Drew Carey Show, and HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She has also appeared on popular game shows such as Battle of the Network Stars, Super Password, and The Match Game–Hollywood Squares Hour.
Beyond acting, Lydia has built an impressive career as a stand-up comedian, producer, novelist, and screenwriter. She produced the feature film Venus Conspiracy and has remained an outspoken advocate for sobriety and recovery.
Lydia Cornell’s Official Website – https://www.lydiacornell.com
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