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MARK GODDARD INTERVIEWBy Kat Stein8/27/96
Q: How do you feel about the resurgence of "Lost In Space" -- a new
movie, perhaps a new animated series, a toy line, etc.?
A: First of all, without doubt it's amazing that this is all
happening to "Lost in Space." When we were on the air, most of us
didn't realize that there was an audience out there watching us. They
were young kids - I could go anywhere and no one would recognize me
when the show was on air. I get recognized everywhere now. It's
because of the Sci-Fi Channel running the re-runs coupled with all the
publicity we've done with the conventions. "Lost In Space" is just
out there in the air, and now 10-year-old kids are connecting with it
and loving it.
None of us in the cast ever thought that a movie would have been made
- maybe a TV movie, with the members of the original cast. But of
course so much time had gone by, and they came up with a theatrical
release. I am so pleased when I think that Hurt, Oldman, LeBlanc and
Mimi are part of the "Lost In Space" movie - I get goosebumps.
Especially Hurt - he's my wife's favorite actor. These are extremely
talented actors who are all putting their talents into the "Lost in
Space" movie. I couldn't have left my career as an actor on a better
note than to have done a cameo in the "Lost In Space" movie. Doing
this part is the highlight of my career. What a way to leave the
profession!
A: They sent me the script asking me to play the part of a general.
I have never played the part of an authority figure. This is a
general -- that's an imposing figure, and I've never thought of myself
that way. I was uncomfortable with it, but I worked at it and worked
on the lines. I knew I had a good, guttural voice for the general. I
wanted him to come from the streets, not a high-falutin' general who
had worked his way up. I put a 3-inch scar on my chin, although I
don't know that anyone will notice. Then I got a military haircut,
and they grayed my hair. They hadn't seen me - when I walked on the
set with the outfit and the haircut, Stephen Hopkins [the director] and Akiva Goldsman
[writer/producer] said "Ah, that's the general." They couldn't have
been more pleased with my performance, I think. They had a marine on
the set to remind me of posture, etc. There's a certain way you stand
to give yourself authority, which gives you the texture for the part.
I chose that my character hadn't been married, he'd worked his way up
the chain of command. For a small cameo role I gave it a lot of
thought.
A: I would never think of doing that. He was hired to play Don West,
because he has the look and the talent to do that part - it would be
presumptuous of me to give advice. West was a character I created,
and I made personal choices at the time that were mine. He's making
choices for his role. He did tell me he loved the series when he was
young. It's got to be personal to him the way it was personal for me.
If there are any similarities, it's probably because of the way it
was written -- a little cockiness, being a smart-alecky kind of guy
and his relationship with Dr. Smith. But he'll bring it to life his
way -- he's going to be terrific, too! He's got the smile, the inner
strength - I'm excited about seeing him.
A: I make sure that he is the pilot in the Jupiter 2. I have to
persuade Professor Robinson that he's the man for the job. When we
played it, I was the general, and he was Major West -- maybe because
it was so long ago, I was not thinking about him playing my "old"
character. If I had played the part just a few years ago, it might be
strange, but it's been a long time.
A: That's the way it happens in just about everyone's career. I'm
grateful to have had this, even if I felt that some of my work as an
actor was better, like on "The Detectives." It's not as remembered.
And "Lost In Space" is played on television somewhere in the world
*every* day. It's been a cult show, but in our first season we had a
22 rating, today Seinfeld, a hit show gets a 15. "Lost in Space"
actually had a bigger audience than "Star Trek" got at that time.
Their fans got organized then, but "Lost In Space" fans are going to
get organized on April 3 - because we'll see them showing up in all
the theatres.
A: None. The only person who had any control was Jonathan Harris.
He had so much to do, his character was so flamboyant that he was able
to make things happen. My character was fairly one-dimensional, so I
had my relationship with Dr. Smith and with the family. I was
supposed to have a relationship with Judy, but that never happened.
Actors in series didn't have the control that they have today, over
their job or even personal lives. Getting stopped for drunk driving
in those days might mean that your entire career was over then. Not
today. But I brought an inner light, an impatience that we needed to
get home or get going - and sometimes it felt like "let's get the
series over with or make it happen."
A: Just consider the fun that is connected to it. The possibilities,
all the wonderful costumes, you can go anywhere you want, it's
imaginative - and the fans are fun, they are terrific people and they
come from all walks of life. They are very generous - some of the
conventions raise money for charity. They are kind and appreciative.
When I'm signing pictures, I see that they are appreciative that I'm
there. I've talked to astrophysicists to dental hygienists. A lot of
policemen love the show. I'm not a great science fiction fan myself,
but I understand how they feel. I probably feel that way about
Westerns. Like I used to play Cowboys and Indians, they can act out
Will and the Robot. "Star Trek" is of the mind, "Lost In Space" is a
show of feelings - it is not a show to be analyzed, you let yourself
go with it. That's the difference. They are both good.
A: This is an answer you would get from Marta, June, Guy, not
necessarily Billy. I would have stayed with the adventures of a
family lost in space. These are the same questions that William Hurt
is having his character try to answer in the movie. Life is about
family and technology. I would have liked it to stay serious - I
could be wrong. Our ratings did drop when it got less serious. If I
were to do a graph, our ratings declined as the shows got sillier. It
*is* a successful show, and perhaps the reason it succeeded are for
both areas - silliness of Dr. Smith and the Robot, and the more
serious adventures. From a personal point of view, I would have liked
it to have stayed serious and have the adventures of a family lost in
space. This isn't to take anything away from Jonathan and the Robot.
I watch his performance today and he still makes me laugh.
A: Not in the show. I don't think I've ever mentioned this before,
but there was some interest between Marta and myself. Let me be clear
-- Marta Kristen and Mark Goddard never had an affair. She's a very
attractive woman, and the both of us had a lot of pressure on us. It
was okay to have a crush on someone but not to get lost in a sexual
thing that could lead to heartbreak.
A: Well, it would have to be one of two people. Demi Moore, she is a
terrific woman and a hell of an actress. My wife would say Al Pacino,
so it's okay for me to say that, I think. Other than that, some
athlete that I could shoot baskets with Larry Bird. Someone to talk
with, have that male bonding, watch sports, etc.
A: Book: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Movie: "Shane"
A: I would program my Robot to do all the little things in life. We
have become slaves to our machines - television, speaker systems, our
cars, things that go wrong. I would have my Robot programmed to take
care of all the mechanical things that can go wrong. Let the machine
take care of the machines, and I'll go spend more time with my family,
or golf.
A: Yes, definitely. But it should be done in a way where we are
continually coming up with new technologies that will help us on
Earth, and bring us together, and make the quality of life better for
all people. Wipe out diseases, do research. That's how we should
explore -- to use all the imagination of man to find out what's out
there, and while he is doing that, find things that help us out on
Earth.
A: No. I would have had a different opinion in 1960, but with the
Hubble telescope and all the other things that are out there, I
believe something would have come through. Today, I really believe we
are unique.
A: For the 1960s, it was probably "Dick Van Dyke Show." Although
maybe that was the 1950s. "Cheers" is my favorite show of all time.
I was on "Beverly Hillbillies," "Gunsmoke" - I did all the shows back
then. In fact, I appeared on a show with Jonathan Harris on it - the
Bill Dana show - even before Lost In Space. Someone gave me a tape of
it in the past year, but in all these years we hadn't remembered. At
least I hadn't.
A: Babylon 5 for the fun of it. Because it would be a tribute to the
Babylon 5 fans I've met over the past few months, and, of course,
Billy [Mumy] is in it.
A: One thing that is almost always said to me is "I grew up with
you." They are meeting me and feel that they actually grew up *with*
me. I was there with them during their play hours and thinking hours.
I was a part of their childhoods. That's one of the most amazing
things.
The questions that I always get are "do I see the other cast members
often," and "why didn't you throw Dr. Smith off the Jupiter?" I get
that all the time.
A: My involvement with young people. I worked at the Headstart
Program in California in 1962, and a lot of other organizations. When
I was in NY working with Liza Minnelli, I worked at the cancer center
Sloan-Kettering as a volunteer recreational therapist. Now I work
with at-risk kids professionally.
Trying to give back a little bit is important. Although there is a
down side -- I've been divorced twice and have four kids, and there
were disappointments. I try to make up for that. Kind of like
William Hurt, who is struggling with guilt about saving mankind while
dealing with a slightly dysfunctional family. When I was on the road,
I took them with me - I wasn't an absent dad.
In my career, I kind of fell into acting. I did seek it, but I was
very lucky. The most satisfying thing for me was getting into the
Actor's Studio and working with Lee Strasberg. That's where I feel
like I did some of my best work, although people will never see it.
A: I only have 8-10 kids in my class. I read the press articles to
them about "Lost in Space" and tell them about it. I'm like their
little internet, I tell them all about it. I want them to experience
that with me. They have gone through all this "Lost In Space" stuff
with me, and we can share that. They like to get pictures of me for
their parents. They know how proud I am of them, and to be honest,
they have a lot more to worry about than my stardom or lack of
stardom. They are trying to make good choices for their own lives,
but this gives them a little fun. They are part of my family.
A: Play tennis a couple of times a week, spend time with my kids. I
have a 97-year-old mother who lives nearby. I have a beautiful home
that my wife and I are furnishing. I travel to conventions. I have a
good life, I've been blessed. I'm 61, and I have good genes (from my
mother).
A: I don't have anything from the television series. I treasure the
videotapes from Columbia House. People give me things at shows - the
Robot from Japan. What I would treasure the most is a little doll
of the general from the movie - and if they don't make it, I'll make
my own and bring it to shows and sign it. [He laughs].
A: The only thing I want to say is that I hope that they enjoy the
movie. Don't be critical, and don't go in with an attitude of "let's
see if they live up to what the series is about." Don't expect to get
the same feelings you got when you watched the series when you were
10-years-old -- that can't happen. Don't be cynical - let your kids
see it and experience it on their own.
I also want the movie to be a success, because if there is a movie
sequel, there is a very good chance I could be in a sequel, according
to [feature film writer/producer] Akiva Goldsman. So, I'm rooting for
the movie like hell.
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