Talk City Presents
Dale Midkiff

Dale Midkiff stars in the TV Western Drama 'The Magnificent Seven,' an ensemble based on the 1960 Steve McQueen feature film of the same name. Midkiff is also known for his portrayal of Elvis Presley, in the four hour mini-series 'Elvis and Me' produced by Priscilla Presley and the still popular science fiction show 'Time Trax.'


CCCMyst: Talk City Presents in association with BoxTop Live (tm) Welcomes You to Tonight's Feature Presentation. Tonight we welcome DALE MIDKIFF. Welcome, Dale!!

DaleMidkiff: Greetings to everyone out there, and I hope you're well, and at least semi-happy!

bethybear: Why did you take on the role of Buck on the Magnificent Seven and how much of him is Dale?

DaleMidkiff: I took on the role of Buck, because, actually, I thought I'd missed all the Western roles, I was in Australia at the time doing Time Trax, and when I heard about this, I knew I had to grab it! I was first offered more of a hero role, but I read the lines for Buck, and he was the funniest character, and I thought I could take him a lot of places, so I really, really wanted to do it! As for Dale being in Buck, yes, there's a bit of Dale in everything I do!

nick: When did you decide you wanted to be an actor? Is it something you've always wanted to do?

DaleMidkiff: Well I never consciously made a choice to be an actor, it's just something I've always done. I started in probably 4th or 5th grade, and before I knew it I was in New York studying to be an actor! I never gave myself something to fall back on. It was just either make it as an actor, or end up in the gutter. And, as you know, I'm in the gutter :-)

damia: Hello Dale.. nice to see you here.... what was your favorite role... and why?

DaleMidkiff: I'd have to say, I guess, Elvis. The reason is obvious. The chance to walk in The King's shoes for three months, was too good to pass up! Also, it was one of the most challenging roles I'd done up till then. It was very satisfying, because I invested so much in the role. I didn't know a lot about the man when I started, but I learned a lot,and I gained a lot of respect for him, and for myself along the way!

tamara: What do you have coming up... any movies or new guest spots?

DaleMidkiff: Not at the moment, I'm just taking a little time, and preparing for another child, and waiting to hear about the Magnificent 7.

kingfan: Dale, weren't you one of the creepy Creed family in Pet Cemetery? What's it like having the author make an appearance in a film you're working on, as Stephen King likes to do?

DaleMidkiff: Yes, I was THE Creepy Creed! King not only made an appearance in the movie, he came to our rehearsals, with motorcycle chains hanging off his wallet, drinking can after can of Jolt, which has three times the sugar and four times the caffeine of any soda on the market, and reading aloud from the obituaries!!! He was a really, really nice guy, and very supportive!

jayess: How does it feel to sit in a theater and see yourself on the big screen? Or watch yourself on TV? Goosebumpy? Bashful? Proud? Critical?

DaleMidkiff: All the above :-) It really just depends on what the role was, and how much I enjoyed doing it. And I really love to be surprised. It's not so much seeing myself, as seeing a scene unfold. It can be really exhilarating.

rinakiel: Any "unofficial word" on CBS renewing M7 for the fall?

DaleMidkiff: No. We won't know until May, I think. Tomorrow night is actually our last show for this season, Saturday night, 9PM on CBS. We certainly could use all the help we can get, because I think that the future will be dependent on tomorrow's ratings. So email all your friends, phone all your family, ex-lovers, whatever, and tell them to watch the best show of the modern era The Magnificent Seven!!

cecilbee: Do all actors want to direct some day? Do you? What's the appeal for an actor in taking on the director's folding chair?

DaleMidkiff: I think a lot of actors want to direct, and that's fairly obvious from the number who do. I think the appeal is the control, the hands-on aspect, being able to have a say in every aspect of it. As for me -- no, not yet, maybe never, I think I'm too damn lazy! It's a lot of work directing! But we'll see, I'm not ruling anything out.

msanthrope: How did you get your start in acting? Have you done any work on the stage?

DaleMidkiff: Yes, I got my start in the Big Mango, New York City, way back when, in 1982. I actually started in elementary school, and high school. In college I got very disillusioned with it all. In high school we had a grand time, everyone had fun. But in college everyone was very cliquish and aloof, and everything I abhor. So I gave it up for a few years, but after college I re-considered and went to New York, and played Off Off Broadway. My last play there was called The Wager. I worked on that play with Rob Morrow, some of whom you might know. That was my last taste of the theater. The first film I landed was called "Streetwalker"‚. It was a Roger Corman film, and I played a white pimp in an all black world, named Duke. Duke killed five people in one night and beat up his girls, but other than that, he was a damn fine guy! :-) Melissa Leo, Greg Girman, Antonio Fargas were in this very low-budget movie, just to name a few.

finian: How knowledgeable are you about the internet and world wide web? Are you aware of the fan pages that are dedicated to you?

DaleMidkiff: Only because of my wife. She has gotten very interested in the internet and the computer, and she's amazed at all the web pages, and she prints them out and shows them to me. I'm not as computer-literate as my wife! My wife printed out a lot of the web pages and sent them to the producer of M7, John Watson, who was unaware of all the interest out there!

terris: Could you tell us what your hardest role was? The easiest?

DaleMidkiff: Hardest role was a movie of the week I did with Elizabeth Montgomery, a true story called Sins of the Mother, about this man named Kevin Coe, in Spokane, I think, who apparently raped between 40 and 60 women. He had a mother fixation. I got involved thinking it would be interesting, but it turned out to be the most difficult and sickening role I had to portray. The easiest -- that would be Buck Wilmington, of the Magnificent Seven fame. It's only easy because I love doing it!

scififan: Dale, are your children old enough where they recognize you on TV, and ask questions about your roles?

DaleMidkiff: My son is, he's six. He probably watches each M7 show 20 or 30 times. My wife thinks its unhealthy, but I tell her it's just a phase. :-) So when he asks questions, I tell him. I don't let him watch any of the more violent or grimmer roles I have played. My daughter is too young -- she just goes "Daddy!!"

bullet: Were you a fan of Steve McQueen, and how did you feel when you learned that you would star in the Series bearing the same name as the Infamous Movie?

DaleMidkiff: Very, very much a fan. A huge fan. I loved his simplicity. He portrayed one of the true Americans, and I was ecstatic to be part of something that he had put his trademark name on.

lovepotionno9: Dale, I loved that little quirky movie, "Love Potion No9". When you filmed that movie, did you realize that you and Sandra Bullock would be cult figures and go on to the stardom you did?

DaleMidkiff: Well let's get one thing straight. SHE'S a star :-) I'd settle for cult figure, if I were. It's funny, when you meet people at the stage they're at. I was not at all surprised that she became a huge star. I thought she was lovely, and I could see the enormous talent.

phobic: Your 'Time Trax' series a few years ago was ahead of some of the current sci-fi shows. What do you think of the current crop of scary/thoughtful "out there" programs?

DaleMidkiff: To tell you the truth, I really don't watch much scifi anymore. Time Trax was one of the first crop of scifi shows, which was all due to Harv Bennett, who was the creator and executive producer of Time Trax.

alyn: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

DaleMidkiff: Oh, you know, normal stuff, letting the kids bounce on my head :-) I love going to movies, nothing gives me more pleasure than sitting in a dark theater with my hand deep in a bag of popcorn I'm a pretty simple guy, really. I tend to stay around the house mostly.

lindass: Dale, how do the guys on Mag7 get along with one another?

DaleMidkiff: Outstandingly! It's unusual for seven men, seven egos, to get along so well. I think it shows in the work, there's a real camaraderie amongst us. In fact, all seven of us are going to someone's house to watch the Academy Awards. Just for that reason alone, I think we should get picked up!!

ezraddict: Should M7 fans take it as a good sign (for renewal of Mag7) that both you and Anthony are chatting online tonight?

DaleMidkiff: Well, if you believe in signs, I suppose that's a good one :-) Also, it's my wedding anniversary on Sunday. So there's another sign!! :-) Tony and I just crack each other up on the set. He's one of the funniest guys I've ever met!

queenmyst1: Are you going to do anymore horror/scifi movies?

DaleMidkiff: Well, the way I look at it is, you do one Elvis, and one horror film per career. So I don't see myself doing one of those again. As for scifi, it all depends. If it was the right movie, the right people, the right role, I wouldn't rule it out.

finian: What has been your favorite episode of The Magnificent Seven?

DaleMidkiff: I liked them all, except for the one that just aired. I liked Nemesis, Working Girls, and I thought The Pilot was outstanding. It just seems that the more you get to know these characters, the more fun it is. I also really like tomorrow night's episode, Prisoner 78.

alyn: I hear Time Trax was filmed in Australia, what did you enjoy the most about Australia, least and is it hard being so darn handsome?

DaleMidkiff: ROFLMAO! What I enjoyed most about Australia was the people. Australians were the greatest group of people I've ever met or worked with. The crew was the hardest-working crew I've ever worked with. They would barbecue, and do all those things that you hear they do, but they would still show up for work! They have the greatest sense of humor, and I really felt I could be myself. We would have guest artists from America, and most of them were great, but sometimes we'd get one with an attitude, and I'd just stand back and let the crew knock them into shape! The thing I liked least was just being so far from home, and just missing America. I missed my friends, and American sports. As for being handsome -- my whole life, I never wanted to rely on my looks. People perceive in you in a certain way because of your looks, and I am not actually represented by the way I look, so I worked very, very hard against that perception. It's only been in the last few years that I have even acknowledged that I *might* be good looking, so I'm a little more comfortable with it now.

dawn: Are there any practical jokers on the set of Mag7? If so, who, and what jokes have been played?

DaleMidkiff: I don't know about *practical* jokes, but the group as a whole are all jokers. Everybody is a comedian, some not so good as others ;-) There it times it seems like instead of 7 tall men riding horses, we've got 7 hairdressers! It gets pretty funny out there!

treylyn: Do you think Saturday night is the best night to show Mag 7?

DaleMidkiff: Well, at first I didn't I wanted a prime time night, but I think CBS really wanted to baby the show, and protect it, and they figured we wouldn't lose too much by having it on Saturday night, as a good place to start, and I think that's turned out to be true. So, as long as the show keeps going, I'm going to say that all that they've done is right! :-)

finian: What is your typical daily filming schedule like?

DaleMidkiff: Well, it varies. If it's a day shoot we start at 5.30 or 6 in the morning. There are 7 of us, so some days we might work more than others. But it's a long day, 10 or 12 hours. We work on 5 different ranches up in Valencia, about 45 minutes north of LA. There's the Disney Ranch, and Melody Ranch, where the main town is. So we move around depending on the scenes to be shot. It varies a lot, depending on the schedule.

oriolefan: what was it like growing up in such a large family?

DaleMidkiff: It was wonderful! Basically it was 6 brothers and one sister, we had great mud football games, we certainly learned how to grab our food fast, and wipe our feet!

cowboyred: I really enjoyed your show 'Time Trax'. How many episodes were made and why was it canceled?

DaleMidkiff: We did 44 episodes, 22 each season, 8 months at a time. Why was it canceled? Pure stupidity on somebody's part! :-) I hear they eventually regretted canceling it because it really was a show that had proved itself. But for me, I was very happy that it ended after 2 years, because I was bone tired. I was working 14 hours a day, for 8 months straight, so far from home. I figured that after two years, the show was a success. If it had been canceled after one year, I would have been disappointed, but after two years, well -- it was a good way to go.

nettle: since your show is quite popular, do you find that you get recognized very often? if so is it hard on your family?

DaleMidkiff: It just depends. When I get recognized, it's usually from a pretty diehard fan, people who have known my work for 14 years. But then, I'm pretty oblivious. Last weekend, I was up at Santa Barbara, walking on the pier, and my wife asked me if I realized how many people recognized me, and I said no! Because unless someone walks up to me, I don't notice. But she said a lot of people were looking and saying "There's that guy! The guy from that show!" Maybe one day they'll get the name right :-)

minniemag7: Dale we loved hearing you sing in B.Songbird will you ever do a role where you sing willingly?

DaleMidkiff: LOL! I'm not that great a singer, to begin with. I do pretty good in the shower, but when it comes to singing in public, my throat tends to constrict. So, well, it just depends, if the right role came along, I'm sure I would prepare myself according. Hell, I might even be good at it!

^buttercup: did he already know how to ride a horse before he started the show

DaleMidkiff: Yes. Not very well! But good enough so I haven't fallen off yet!

finian: What would you like to see happen to your character in the future -- what type of storyline?

DaleMidkiff: Well, the thing with Buck is, I think he can go anywhere. I would just like whatever happens to Buck to come out of left field, because I want his reactions to be unexpected. I'm pretty much open to anything, as long as it rings true. I'd like to explore his history. I'd also like to see Buck shave off his mustache for a woman, only to find out that the woman has lost interest! :-) Only so I can get my face back! :-)

rinakiel: What reference points (other characters or people) did you use to create the wonderful character of "Buck Wilmington"?

DaleMidkiff: Well, I kinda drew from a number of subjects, two being my Uncle Al and my Uncle Roland, they're from the eastern shore of Maryland, and the kind of men who can build a house with their bare hands, which is certainly something *I* couldn't do. Also, a couple of goofs I've met along the way, people who are footloose and fancy free. Buck doesn't take things too seriously, unless he really has to!

genesis: What kind of music do you like?

DaleMidkiff: I like a little bit of everything. I was actually on the college radio station for four years. Back then it was just serious rock and roll, but now, since I've had children, I don't listen to new music as much as I used to. I guess it's a sign of age! But I like a wide variety, and I use music a lot when I work, playing a particular piece to propel me into a scene. I love music for that!

ezguest31: How was it working so close with Priscilla Presley on the movie Elvis and Me?

DaleMidkiff: It's been a few years .. we did that 9 years ago. She had final say on who was going to portray her husband, and thankfully she picked me! She certainly gave me some insight, and told me things that I promised I'd never say, which helped/ But after the first few weeks, she wasn't on the set that much. I don't know why, maybe it was too close to home for her.

nettle: who was your all time favorite co-star?

DaleMidkiff: Fred Gwynne. The late Fred Gwynne. I worked with him on Pet Cemetery, and he passed away a few years ago. It was a tough shoot, we weren't getting much support from anyone, so Fred and I kind of bonded and stuck together. I remember one time we were on a porch rocking, and Fred said to me "Do you realize, that at any given moment, only 2 or 3 percent of our union is working!" That really put things into perspective for me. Every night I'd be over at his place with him and his wife eating dinner, we were very close, and it was very sad when we lost him.

reddraco: What would your dream role be?

DaleMidkiff: You know, I get asked that question and really, I have no idea! I really don't! I pretty much like the surprise. I like the thought that sometime in the future, strangers will come into my life, and together we'll make something magical. That's really all I look forward to. So for me to say what my dream role would be, is almost putting it too much in a box.

minniemag7: Did you like any of the old western heroes like Roy or Gene or Tom Mix?

DaleMidkiff: They were a little before my time ;-) Actually, I lived across from Tom Mix's cabin up in Laurel Canyon for a time. But my grandfather was a huge John Wayne fan, which I grew up with more than anything. So I think it would be The Duke!

miladytrax: where do you see yourself personally and professionally in 20 years?

DaleMidkiff: Alive. LOL. That's a start! I have no idea! I just want to be healthy and happy, employed and creative. I want my children to be happy and healthy. I just want what everyone wants, a good life!

lyndale: Dale, any suggestions on how to help you out with Mag7? We've sent letters, emails...?

DaleMidkiff: Watch the show tomorrow night! Contact everyone you know, and see if you can find anyone with one of those Neilsen boxes. Check on CBS's web site, and email them. They read and count those emails! So please, watch it, and contact CBS!

KatCCC: As the spotlight dims, our show comes to an end tonight. We Thank You our Great Audience and a very special Thank You to our Guest Dale Midkiff! We look forward to seeing you back here again soon.

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