Jack Stauffer Speaks...
and speaks.. and speaks... and speaks...

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BattlestarGalactica.com sat down and spoke with actor Jack Stauffer (who played "Bojay" in the original Battlestar Galactica series, plus Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer) back in October 1999.

We're extremely proud to feature this talented actor in our series of interviews. Jack has been a vital participant and promoter, alongside Richard Hatch, of a Battlestar Galactica revival. And he's one heck of a terrific guy, too.

 

Born in New York, 12/3/45, 12345. My father was a television advertising executive, back in the days was when the advertising executives where the producers of the shows. He was formally the producer of the March of Time (during World War II). My mother was a radio producer for W.C. Fields. So, I come from a film and showbiz family. I have memories as a young kid of people wandering the apartment, celebrities such as Lucile Ball, Desi Arnez, Rosalind Russell - people like this were always there. We moved to Stamford, Connecticut when I was eight. That's where I grew up.

What did you want to be as a kid?

Always an actor. I've known this since I was at least six. Typical story was one Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house. My sister, who is two years older, was taking ballet, and was performing for the family. I was determined to be part of the show. So, in my Strideright shoes and my prince's outfit, I was coming along after her in Swan Lake. She did one of these graceful jetes and I did one right behind her except I got a little lift from the afterburner. And this room full of relatives stuffed with Thanksgiving dinner practically choked, because you can't laugh at a six year old kid when he's dancing his heart out, and he's just farted. My mother said she almost had apoplexy trying not to laugh at me.

So when did I actually start? I did some stuff as a little kid, but my father tried to keep me out of it.

Did he encourage you or discourage you?

Nah, he discouraged me. Big time. He just knew that the industry was so fraught with peril. My parents both wanted me to have a more stable life. I went to Northwestern as a drama major. My father and I got into battles over it, and he made me change my major to Liberal Arts. He felt that with a rounded Liberal Arts education that I could do something with myself if I fell on my ass as an actor. So I did really well in my drama classes, and got Cs in all my liberal arts classes.

How did you progress? Theatre in high school?

Yeah, the elementary school stuff and high school stuff. I graduated Northwestern in 1968 and moved to New York. I auditioned for All My Children (AMC) and got the part of Chuck Tyler.

Richard and I started AMC at the same time along with Karen Gorney and Susan Lucci. AMC was probably the best experience I've ever had in showbusiness. The show was done "live on tape", so you just couldn't forget your lines. You treated it like a play. Thanks to my theatre background, I actually didn't have much of a problem with it. My biggest gripe was that my character was so bland. I was Chuck "the Scmuck". However, I do have the distinction of being the only male character in Pine Valley who wasn't either married to or slept with Erika Kane. (laughs)

Richard and I developed a bond right from the beginning of AMC. At the time this seemed odd to me because our personalities were so different. He was this laid-back surfer kid from Southern California. I was the preppie from Conn. Richard always used to tell me that I walked around like I had a broom handle up my butt. Anyway, he was the first one to leave AMC for greener pastures. He swears that he wanted to try other roles, but I know for a fact that he was pissed that the producers were always telling him to cut his hair.

How long were you on All My Children?

I was on for four years, and I enjoyed it immensely.

What would you recommend for people who want to break into acting?

I get asked this question a lot, and I have very strong opinions on the subject. Being a professional actor is absolutely nothing like what star-struck young people think it is. Over 95% of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) make less than $10,000 a year from acting. So if you want to make acting your career choice you better be able to make honest and hard choices up front. The first thing you have to do is to go to the place were you are the most truthful with yourself. I always laugh, because my spot was when I was sitting on the toilet. I mean, if you can't be honest with yourself when you're with nature, where else can you?

Now ask yourself - "what is it that makes me want to do this. And how bad do I want it." And then I'd also say, if you really want it, you have to say to yourself, "What are my priorities in life? What do I want out of my life? I want to be an actor, I want to be a star, I want to be in showbusiness, I want the limelight, I want to be a performer. I want this! I need this!" If all these things are incredibly important to you, then follow your dream.

But, if you have other priorities - if you want a family, you want to be loved, you want financial security, you want tenure, you want a lasting relationship, you want to play a role with your children, leave a legasy - the stuff that most of us should want, right? (And it would be very nice if most of us wanted that because that's how we all should live.) If that's important to you, then you should not pursue acting as a career. Because it is an incredibly, necessarily selfish endeavor. You must put your needs ahead of anything else. Once, when I was not doing well, and my wife and I were in financial straits, my wife said to me "Why don't you go out and get a real job!" I looked at her and told her that would mean choosing between her and my career, and she would definitely not like my answer. Bless her heart, she never threw that at me again.

It's like professional athletes. Boris Becker was once interviewed after he retired and asked why he didn't take the wild card at Wimbledon. Andre Agasi at that point was in the depths of his own swoon, and Boris Becker said it very simply: if you want to be a champion at Wimbledon, everything else comes second. Then he brought up the fact that Andre Agassi had married Brooke Shields and was trying to juggle two things and his tennis went down the dumper. Boris did not get married till after he quit.

Pete Samaras changes girlfriends every few months. Every year you see him at Wimbledon with a gorgeous new girlfriend. A girlfriend doesn't just want to be an ornament. She wants you to pay attention to her all the time. Pete is the best tennis player in the world. To stay number one, he has to be singularly focused - tennis, tennis, tennis. So These girls go away after a while.

So if you want to be an actor, make sure you can live with the consequences of your decision. Then go out and learn your craft. Do theatre, take classes, act in student films, commercials, anything in order to gain experience. Becoming a good actor does not happen by osmosis. You have to work at it. And , if you don't want to take the risk, it doesn't mean you have to give up acting. You can do it as a hobby. There are community theatres everywhere. Get involved with a few.

I understand you've directed a little theatre...

Oh yeah. I love to direct theatre. The only trouble is when the show opens, I find myself in the back of the theater hopping from one foot to the other, wishing I were up on stage. Directing allows you to take all your creativity and then throw it out there to other people. It's really fun to take a vision and give it to an actor and watch the actor bring your vision to life. But it's very frustrating when they don't get it.

Unfortunately, the convention circuit has curtailed my theatre participation both as an actor and director. To do a play requires several months between rehearsals and a month or two month run. Since theatre is notoriously low paying, I can't afford to give up conventions. Besides, I have committed to Richard to do everything I can to help with the revival. My being out there talking about it keeps it on the fans minds.

When did you move to Los Angeles?

After I left AMC I moved with my first wife to the West Coast to work in Hollywood. I turned down a very nice offer from AMC to renew my contract, but I was a fool in love. My very first project in on the West Coast was in the very first afternoon movie of the week, with June Lockhart of all people. One of the very first jobs I did in California was with Anne's mother and DeForrest Kelley.

How was that?

DeForrest and I became very good friends. He's just super, super nice.

What came next?

After nine months of working out here, I got a call from All My Children asking me to come back. And I had to tell them I couldn't, as I was doing a lot of spots on episodic television. Back then, TV shows weren't like they are now. There were a lot of guest stars each week. It was a lot different from the ensemble casts that dominate TV today.

I remember doing The Streets of San Francisco in 1974. I got killed in the episode. And that set off my career with Quinn Martin, a big TV producer. I did every show of his and got killed off in every one.

But you came back again in the same shows?

Oh, yeah. I'd come back as a different character each time. When I did Streets when Richard was on, I was killed off again.

In 1976, I got hired to do a pilot for Columbia. It was the only time where I got offered two pilots at the same time. Columbia wanted me to do a show called The Steamers, which was basically what The Third Watch is today. It starred Ben Masters and me. At the same time, I was offered another pilot. I read the script and it was a no brainer. It was the worst script I had ever read. Plus, I had a loyalty to Columbia. I called the other producers and very politely said "no." I mean, who would want to watch a one-hour show about two California Highway Patrol officers riding around L.A. on motorcycles? I figured no one would watch it.

So, Larry Wilcox became Captain. Jon Baker instead of you.

Yep. Who knew? (CHiPs) So, I did a few more pilots that never made it on the schedule.

And then came the call for Battlestar Galactica?...

I remember seeing and being very impressed with the original three hour movie for television. It was, in fact, the highest rated movie of its time. Interestingly, I didn't follow the show regularly when it went to series. Some of the episodes were way below the quality of the original. Besides, and I hate to admit this, I am not a true-blue sci-fi fan. It's awful because when I started on the convention circuit I had no idea who anyone was. (laughs) Now I know them all, but the only show I follow religiously is The X-Files. Great writing.

Anyway, when I arrived on the set of Battlestar, it was a lot of fun. Anne and I started together and our characters were together so we spent a lot of time together. Of course I knew Richard. I remember I used to play chess with Herb. I was mad for Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia). I had the biggest crush on her.

What happened?

Anne knew I was hot for Laurette and I was divorced at the time. So Anne played matchmaker. Laurette and I actually went out a couple of times, but I don't think she was ever as taken with me. I took Laurette to a party and introduced her to John McCook who was a big soap opera star. He and I had worked together for a year on "The Young and the Restless". To make a long story short - he stole her. Well, I thought he did anyway. And 21 years later they're still married and have three kids.

We all had a good time on Battlestar. We filmed all the exteriors for "Living Legend" up at Cal State Northridge... Ah, the famous black suits.

Did you learn to parachute for the episode?

As I remember, they used the army parachute team for the master. And then they cut us in. They hauled us up on a crane to make it look like we were dropping down. I remember because that was the worst, the worst. Leather was in, back in 1978 and those black suits were made of leather. But, they were all cut for women, with a very high rise in them. I remember getting hauled up on the crane and those black suit cut off the circulation, especially down through the legs and the crotch.

So we would be hanging up 50 feet really psyched up - acting up a storm you know - and then some guy would say, "Hey, Charlie! Let's move this light over there - there's a shadow over there - Let's do this - move that there - ." Meanwhile, we're dangling and I can't feel anything below my waist. I remember coming down the first time to the ground and saying my line in a very high-pitched voice.

And the guns were fun. They were flash strobes, so you only got one shot. With our high-tech space show you got ONE shot per gun. So you really had to make sure you got it and the light thing flashed. And they never worked right. Never. Maybe it's because Richard dropped 'em all the time, I don't know. He's notorious for dropping his gun.

The show took forever to shoot. That was one of the reasons for its demise. It was hoplessly over budget every week. We were literally shooting 18-hour days. That was the hard thing. They changed the crews but they didn't change the actors. I remember when we shot the gun fight at Gamoray. Bojay gets shot, and they carry him back to the landing area to transport him back to the Galactica. There was this sequence where Apollo's holding Bojay waiting for the transport to come get them. Richard had all this dialogue. I look like I'm passed out in the scene. Well, I was! It was 3:00 in the morning. I didn't have anything more to say so I was sound asleep. We were all exhausted.

It was shot night-for-night?

Shooting at night is the most fun. And, of course, there were crowds of college kids all around - many coeds. I remember all the girls screaming outside. I thought they were all hot for Dirk and Richard. Well, although there were a lot of Galactica fans there, many of these girls were All My Children fans and remembered Richard and me from that.

So, all the college girls knew who you were.

Yeah, they watched us in high school and junior high and remembered us. Tremendous amount of recognition. It was really funny, because at first I was afraid that Dirk might get his nose out of joint because I was getting recognized. I hadn't really talked to him much at that point. He seemed very reserved around me. It wasn't till later after I got to know him that I realized that he is just quiet. He was the antithesis of the character he played. I always thought he was mad at me. He was just quiet. He's actually a terrifically nice guy.

How did you get along with him at the recent convention?

Oh, we had a great time! In fact, it was kind of funny because Dirk couldn't have been more gracious. When he and Richard are together, you kind of got to defer to them. I remember one time we were all sitting on a panel and Dirk leaned down (we were at opposite ends of the table) and asked of me, "haven't you got a story about that somewhere?" And he kind of fed me an opportunity to get in which I thought was really nice of him, seeing as that I was the low man on the totem poll at the convention. Dirk's a good actor. We're all good actors. It's just that they think that if you're over 50, you should be put out to pasture.

What was it like working with Lloyd Bridges?

Lloyd and Lorne Green were the ultimate role models - consummate professionals. They set the standard of excellence on the set. I remember watching Lloyd and Lorne Green go through pages of dialogue and stuff and never miss a beat. Ever. Just solid professional work. I can tell you it made the rest of us work harder. There was no way I was going to screw up a line around them. I loved working with Lloyd. I had known him from celebrity tennis matches. Just an incredibly nice man. Never missed a line.

So, where would you like to see Bojay go, if the series had continued?

I think that the whole thing was that Bojay came in to create controversy within the Galactica fleet. By that time it had degenerated down to them against the Cylons. There was nothing going on internally that had conflict. It was Baltar standing up there making pronouncements, the Cylons saying, "By your command", and the same stuff every week.

Bojay was supposed to stir the pot. The fact that he was supposed to get killed was supposed to end that. I think Glen (Larson) saw the potential for this whole thing to have factions within the Galactica and it would have given a real edge to Apollo because he would have then been threatened for command, as opposed to just being in command. And that's what I always thought Bojay was supposed to be for.

Do you think that Bojay would have had a stronger lead in the second season, if there had been one?

Well, you know that when the Pegasus took off, you saw it take off and you never saw what happened to it. The Pegasus was always going to come back, that was my impression. Commander Cain was fighting with Adama and I could see things like mutiny, this and that, then Sheeba would have to have chosen? there was all sorts of stuff you could have done with it... We never got there.

What are your favorite memories of the show?

I loved working outdoors, but I hated waiting around. That's the one thing about doing showbiz. Especially doing a film; you look at an action movie and they see it's great. They don't realize how much of that is done in the editing room. And how looooooong you just sit around. But we were around people that we liked.

How were the Viper cockpit scenes shot?

That was Universal's crack hydraulics. It was a mock-up cockpit, basically a box that you were in with four fat guys and 4x4s that they moved you around with.

What about the control panel?

All that stuff was done at one time. That was always the same hand from the original movie. That's why Anne's got a great story: when she reaches down to shoot the thing, and they do the insert, it's a man's hand. Again, the show was never meant to go to series. All the space effects and everything were the same stuff that was used from the movie. That's all there was. The show was rushed into production. That's why you see the same explosions, the same pictures over and over again.

Do you keep in touch with the other actors, beside Richard?

Over the years, most of my friends were not in show business, although I did have several actor friends aside from BSG. Other than that, I would say that most of my friends were not in the industry.

So, at the 20th Yahren reunion that had been the first time you had seen a lot of these guys.

I hadn't seen some of those people at all since the show.

I saw a QuickTime video clip from the reunion of you talking with Terry Carter and it looked like you hadn't seen him since the show.

Yeah, I hadn't seen Terry since the show. They shot Terry's stuff for the trailer the night of the 20 Yahren reunion. That's why he's only got his face in there. Richard threw him up against a blue screen and took his picture. Basically, so he could put him in the trailer.

He did that with John Colicos, too, right?

But yeah, John at least had some dialogues and we laid some effects in behind them.

I remember, it was funny because when I saw Dirk for the first time (I saw him at a small convention), he and I were standing next to each other and neither of us knew who the other one was. Dirk looked at me and said, "Well, I haven't seen you in a long time." And I looked at him and said, "Well, I haven't seen you in a long time." He went and sat behind his table and I went and sat behind my table and we looked at each other and went, "Oh, shit!" I hadn't recognized him. Where do you see the future of the trailer going? What is the ideal situation?

There are many scenarios and many possibilities. I would love to make a series of features a la Star Trek or even a series of two hour TV movies. I would welcome a weekly show. I just want to be a part of it. Richard has pursued his vision for many years, and there is no better time than right now to reestablish BSG. Not a remake but a continuation of the original concept twenty yahrens later. The Star Trek spin-offs are winding down and the Babylon 5 series has concluded. Right now there is no quality space orientated show on TV in my opinion.

Personally, having read the script and having been part of the shooting process and spent a lot of time with Richard, I think that what he's done is wonderful. He's kept the concept of the show. I have always said that

Glen's original concept was wonderful. It's the search for origin. There were many philosophical and religeous overtones. I love the idea that the show was never supposed to provide an answer. That's why the Egyptian motif, you know, the Sphinx, the pyramids, the riddle of the pyramids and stuff. The show never attempted to decide or explain where these things came from. But the one thing you come to realize if you read any kind of religious or scientific literature is: all religions are basically the same. It's just called by different names, whether you're Allah or Buddha or Mohammed or Jehovah or God.

The texts are incredibly similar. So why since time immortal have we slaughtered each other in the name of our God? It is one of the saddest elements of human nature.

Anyway, by creating this thing of searching for origin, you can now allow your audience to interpret it any way you want. That's why Galactica 1980 was so stupid. Glen destroyed his own concept. If you find Earth, you now have to declare what your origin is. Right now, you have to make a stand. This is going to piss-off at least half the people. This is the primary reason why in the revival we totally dismiss 1980.

Wasn't Galactica: 1980 an attempt by Glen to keep the show alive?

Maybe that's what the publicity said, but I think Glen saw an opportunity to make money - period amen. Glen said he could do the show cheaply and stay within budget. Hey, this doesn't make Glen a bad person. In any business, if you have an opportunity to make a profit, you take it. Remember the network said the primary reason they cancelled the show was because it was too expensive. In truth there was a lot more involved. The show was actually profitable the first year and was ranked in the top twenty when it was dumped. This is unheard of for first year shows. A little sitcom named Mork and Mindy was kept on the air even though it was lower in the ratings than we were.

And Lorne and Herb were the only ones who came back?

Yes - although I believe Dirk did one episode. Richard turned it down; I was approached initially but was never formally offered the show. I tried to watch it, but found it offensive. Everything that made the BSG creative and extraordinary was gone. This is why I am so excited about BSG: The Second Coming. Richard is totally true to the original mythology. We are going to walk through the looking glass. By keeping the original cast and adding a second generation of Galactica inhabitants born in space, there will be enormous opportunities for plot and character development.

So you see it as a TV series then?

Not necessarily. I could see it as a sequence of films a la Star Trek. I could see it as a sequence of movies for television. I'm thinking that if Richard had his druthers, and I'm pretty sure he's probably said this, if he had his druthers he'd like to do it as 2-hour increments or movies.

Shooting a weekly series is fine, except you're limited by time and money. And you always get that constraint in there. But I think that at this point you take what ever you can get. And there's no new science fiction show on the air. In fact, all the Star Trek stuff is going off, Babylon 5 is off, everything is gone and the stuff that's on the Sci-Fi Channel is horrid.

What about the X-Files?

X-Files is a unique show written by a unique individual. Chris Carter is to sci-fi what David E. Kelley is to drama-comedy. I look at what's on the Sci-Fi Channel and I couldn't get through Sliders. I couldn't watch it. I tried to watch some of the Total Recall series on Showtime. The acting is so bad in it. Even Stargate has badly deteriorated. And Richard Dean Anderson is a good actor!

Do you think it's due partly to the scripts they have to work with?

Why should it be hard to get intelligent scripts. There are a lot of capable writers out there. I loved the original Stargate film and i liked the TV show initially. But - after a while it became tedious and I lost interest. I remember one episode where I thought - wow they have just stolen an old 60's Star Trek episode and tweaked it a little.

Right now there is a window for a really good intelligent science fiction show. And again, Richard's idea is to drive BSG dramatically and with character? And this will now get me on my soap box because we as an audience are insulted by the people who make television. They think if it doesn't go bang, or the t#ts don't jiggle, we can't appreciate it.

People will think if you allow them to. And Chris Carter's proven that. To this day, I watch X-Files all the time. I couldn't possible tell you what it's about, right? But I love it just the same. And I think that what Richard wants to do is drive Galactica dramatically first, and special effects second. Special effects are easy. Do it all on a computer and you have all the special effects you want. You've got to have a story to go with it. And character to go with it. Which is why we want the original cast and a new cast. Because you now have generations and when you have generations you have all the things that conflict in a normal family. Us in our fifties (except the girls, we'll call them in their 40s) and our children born in space. So, now you have the conflict within the fleet itself and the struggle for recognition, and growing up, and as I like to say at the conventions: "If we fought as pilots and we were terrified of the danger that we put ourselves in fighting the Cylons twenty years ago, imagine how we would feel as parents sending our children to do the same thing." Adds a little something doesn't it?

Will Bojay be a lead character in the revival?

The 64 dollar question - First, there are no guarantees in this or any other business. But if you look at many of the actors working in series today, they have a personal relationship with the creators. The days of studio casting are long gone. Steven Bochco, David Kelley - they hire their friends. You take care of your own. Richard and I go way back -- a long way: 1970 and All My Children. He and I sat down together and worked out where we could put Bojay so he won't be in jeopardy. And I don't mean from the Cylons. If this thing goes back on television and they bring back the original cast, we all can't be on the bridge, right? Immediately you have Dirk and Richard and Herb. They were higher up the echelon that I was, status-wise and credit-wise. Add Anne and possibly Laurette. It wouldn't make sense to have us all in the same position of authority. There wouldn't be enough dialogue to go around. The answer to that dilemna is to eliminate a few characters. A tragic accident - killed by the cylons - doesn't matter how, you're just no longer there. I have no desire to see Bojay be the first one buried in space. So Richard and I put our heads together and we tossed it around,expanded on it, and we found a place for Bojay where he's irreplaceable, or at least not easily replaceable, let's put it that way.

Why isn't Bojay more heavily featured in the trailer?

Trust me, I never let Richard live that down. The scenes we filmed were geared to show the relationship between Bojay and Apollo twenty years later. What we shot was character stuff: Bojay's unique feistiness and sense of humor tempered by maturity. Try to do that in a one minute scene. Richard and I both came up with a scenario and wrote the dialogue together. It's a lovely scene. But when you only have four minutes to show the studio and network the big picture, you have to give them the biggest bang for the buck.

I loved the Bojay/Apollo scenes we shot but they weren't essential to the trailer. Richard and I both knew that. So, while I give him grief about having only one close-up in the trailer, he knows I'm not really angry with him. Not really... OK, maybe a little. (laugh)

Is the convention circuit year round for you?

I am amazed at the number of sci-fi conventions world wide. Unfortunately, I'm way down on the celebrity list and simply can't get invited to many... If you can get a Star Trek or Bab 5 series star why bring in a secondary star from a twenty year old show. But I am told I have an axcellent reputation with the fans and promoters so I am hoping to be included in more shows.

How did you get a good reputation?

I make myself available to the fans at all times I am at the con. There are a lot of major stars that show up for an hour, give a panel, sign a few autographs, and flee. They get big appearance fees for this. The fans are the losers here because they never get to talk to their heroes one on one. I don't believe that the fans are happy with one or two big names that they see from a distance, stand in line for hours to get a scribbled non-personalized autograph, and then not see again. Furthermore, the cons spend so much money on these stars that they have nothing left for lesser personalities. And we are the ones that are there for the duration. We are the ones the fans can walk up to take pictures with, talk to for more than ten seconds, etc.

Isn't this what the fans want? I think so. If I am invited to be a media guest, I am available to the fans from the beginning to the end of the con. That's my responsibility. I also enjoy gabbing with the fans. When you are no longer working regularly it's good for the ego to be remembered. In this business your celebrity status is only as good as your last episode. So I would tell every star who agrees to appear at a con to take a little more time and schmooze with the fans. Every series star shouild remember that without the fans they would be selling cars in Cleveland.

What is the Cabaret?

My absolute favorite thing to do!!! It's a forty minute show featuring six songs from musicals I have done loosely wrapped around a good-natured roasting of Richard. Hey, I have to get even for that one lonely close-up in the trailer. Seriously, nobody enjoys the cabaret more than Richard. So many of the fans remember us from BSG and have no idea that we have other talents. My whole background is theatre and musical comedy. I am an entertainer. I love to sing for the fans and make them laugh. When I put the cabaret together I did worry that the fans might not appreciate show tunes. This isn't filking. The response surprised even me. They love it.

All of the songs are recognizable and several are classics. The two most popular are "Reviewing the Situation" from Oliver and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" from My Fair Lady. The cabaret also opens doors to cons because the promoters can use it to help raise money for their charity. But -- and I have said this on the web site -- I rely on the fans to help get me into the cons. If they like my antics they need to write to the promoters and request that I be invited.

Thanks, Jack!

 

 

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