Tony Mantor's : Almost Live..... Nashville - Don Most: Happy Day's Ralph Malph to Director and Jazz Singer

Episode Date: October 16, 2024

What happens when a teenage musician swaps the Catskill nightclubs for the glitzy sets of Hollywood? Don Most, beloved for his role as Ralph Malph on "Happy Days," shares his enthralling journey from an aspiring singer in New York to a celebrated actor in Los Angeles. This episode of "Almost Live Nashville" captures his transition from music to acting, inspired by the vibrant filmmaking scene of the late 60s, and the unexpected turn that led him to stay in LA and pursue a full-time acting career. Ever wondered what it was like behind the scenes of one of TV's most iconic shows? Don gives us an insider’s look at some unforgettable moments from "Happy Days," like when a key character destroys Fonzie's motorcycle, and the camaraderie among the cast and crew. He reminisces about John Lennon's surprise visit and Robin Williams' legendary guest appearance, which catapulted Williams to stardom. Don also opens up about his decision to leave "Happy Days" after seven seasons and the concerns about typecasting that influenced his choice. But Don's story doesn't end with acting. This episode dives into his successful pivot to directing and rediscovering his musical roots. From his first films "The Last Best Sunday" and "New Law" to releasing jazz CDs like "Demos Mostly Swinging" and "New York High," Don shares the creative processes that fueled his projects. Plus, hear about the serendipitous moment he met his wife on set and his adventures directing theater in the early '90s. Join us for an engaging conversation that showcases Don Most's multifaceted career and passions.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My career in the entertainment industry has enabled me to work with a diverse range of talent. Through my years of experience, I've recognized two essential aspects. Industry professionals, whether famous stars, or behind-the-scenes staff, have fascinating stories to tell. Secondly, audiences are eager to listen to these stories, which offer a glimpse into their lives and the evolution of their life stories. This podcast aims to share these narratives, providing information. information on how they evolve into their chosen career. We will delve into their journey to stardom, discuss their struggles and successes, and hear from people who help them achieve their

goals. Get ready for intriguing behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the fascinating world of entertainment. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Almost Live Nashville. Today, we have the distinct pleasure of hosting Dawn Most, the actor that brought life to Ralph Mouth on Happy Days. He will talk about his journey from the show to his varied adventures in film, theater, and his love for music, offering a unique glimpse into his life beyond the beloved sitcom. So, thanks for coming on. Oh, sure. My pleasure. When you was about 14, 15 years old, I believe that your first love was actually music. Yeah. Yeah, I was focused more in music back then. Growing up in Brooklyn, England. At the age of 13, I started going to this school in Manhattan. It was for kids and

teenagers, for singing, dancing, acting, that sort of thing. And I was in that school for probably a year and a half, something like that. And when then I got picked, because the guy who ran it, he was an old vaudevillian performer in Charlie Lowe. So he had a studio with his wife, Kasha, she taught the tap dancing, which I had to take. It wasn't very good. But then he would handpick some of the best students or whatever you want to call it and created like a review, you know, like a nightclub act called the Broadway showoffs. Because his studio is on Broadway, 1650 Broadway. I remember. So I was picked to be in this review. And then he had an agent that would book the show up in a, there was a big resort area upstate New York called the Catskow Mountains.

Oh yeah, great place. Some of your listeners will know, some won't. The movie Dirty Dancing was set in the Catscoe Mountains and Walk on the Moon. It was another movie that was set there. They had a whole bunch of hotels and they would get some big name entertainment in their heyday. Yeah, I remember those places. They were great. The summer that I was turning 15, I spent the summer up there and performed in a bunch of nightclubs open those hotels while seven long. So yeah, that was sort of my first real professional job. And I thought the music is where I was mainly focused on. So how long after that did you turn to acting? Probably about a year later. I really switched gears and I started getting laser focused on the acting side. And I put the music aside for a while.

Just to circumstances, I think it was being exposed to, you know, there was a very fervent time for filmmaking then in the late 60s. Some great, you know, independent type movies that were being made that I became really a fan and hooked on going to see all these great films. You know, Dustin Hoffman, Midnight Cowboy, and Jack Nicholson, I became a huge fan seeing him in Easy Rider and Five Easy Pee. and then, you know, Bob Donovich's films, last picture show. It was just a great time, and that's when I went to a different school in New York for strictly acting, and that's when I really sort of changed the course. So what led you to make the move from New York where there was several things going on to L.A.? Well, there were a lot of things going on, but, you know, back then, okay, so

when I went out to L.A., it was originally just for the summer. after my junior year in college, that was my plan. What happened was when I did switch gears, I was able to get a manager through that acting school, and she sent me out, got me with agents, and I went out on a lot of, I did a lot of commercials four years from the time I was 16 until I was 20.

I did like 40 commercials, and a lot of it were national commercials. And I was up for a couple of Broadway plays. I came pretty close. Actually, one of them was the original, Jesus Christ Superstar, and I got through like three different singing auditions, and it was like getting really close, but then I had to get through a dance audition. He didn't make that.

Okay. So I wound up not getting it. But, you know, so, but back then it was mainly a theater in New York. The soap operas were big and commercials. And there were some films every once in a while that would be shooting in New York. You know, there wasn't a lot of television going on, you know, network kind of, time television. There was very little of that. Most of the films were still being done in LA. So I decided after my junior year to go out there for the summer, make some headway,

make some contacts. And then I'd go back to school, finish my senior year. But I'd already have a foothold so that when I graduated, I could get out there and maybe hit the ground running, was the thought. But then what happened was I went out there just for the summer. And I landed at, I was able to get an agent out there because of the agents that I worked with in New York. They referred me to several agents and one of them signed me. And they started sending me out on auditions for like some guest roles on TV shows. And I landed a couple of them very quickly. So it was a tough decision.

But my manager actually at the time said, you should think about taking six months off of school. well, not going back because he got some momentum going, you know. Yeah, that must have been a pretty tough decision to make at that time. Well, actually, I didn't think about it very long. When they said, you should do that, I said, you know, so I just, on a dime, actually, I was supposed to be back at school in a few days from my senior year. You start senior year, and then I didn't go, and I had to change everything. And then I just stayed out and nothing happened short.

Well, I got another part. I did get into the part. And then nothing happened for several months. And I was thinking, oh, I made a mistake. And then that's when the audition for Happy Days came up. And then I was also up for a TV movie, the same exact time that producers and directors really liked me a lot. And my agent said I had a great chance of getting it.

And then after I did a screen test for Happy Days, and then they made an awful for me. And we actually turned it down. It was a Friday night. Turned it down because I was at the time more interested in the TV movie than doing a sitcom, you know, television show. And the movie was, the TV movie was being directed by it. I was a big director at the time. He had directed the original Brian song, which was huge.

And he was going to be directing this. and there was a writer who, the guy who had written this project, had written a movie called The Summer of 42, which was a show my love back then. And so I was more interested in that. So my agent and I talked and we decided to pass on Happy Days. That Friday night, some of my actor friends were saying, what are you crazy?

You know, why did you turn it down and all this? And as luck would have it, my agent played basketball every Saturday at Gary Marshall's house. The guy who created Happy Days and went on to direct a lot of big movies after. They played basketball that day. And he told my agent that the show, he thought, had a really good chance of getting on the air

because it was just to do a pilot. The offer was to do a pilot. And then they had to sell it. And they probably, you know, there were probably 50 to 75 pilots or more made every season and maybe, you know, a handful would get on the air so you don't know. But he told my agent it had a really good chance. He said,

well, give him a better deal. They helped the money. And my agent called me a money and said, I think we should reconsider him. By then I was more open to going along with that. If I'm correct, this is the 50th anniversary of the debut of Happy Days. Yeah, this is the this year we're sort of celebrating the 50th anniversary. Happy Days came on the air, 74. Yeah. Can you imagine that that it's been 50 years ago? I know.

I can't. I can't. It doesn't seem possible. It's 50 years. I mean. Yeah, I know. You know, it's so surreal sometimes. When the show first started, your name was at the end of the show.

And then after a while, it transitioned to the beginning because you became more of a regular, I think. Is that correct? My deal was that in the first season, I was guaranteed 10 out of six. 13 episodes because it was like a mid-season replacement. But then, yeah, I mean, I was more of a peripheral character in the very same way that the Fonsie character played by Henry Winkler was a peripheral character.

As a matter of fact, in the first season, both of our credits came at the end of the show, where the stars were all at the beginning. But then our shows was doing very well right off the bat, And they renewed us for another like 10, 12 episodes to fill out the first season. And then my part started, you know, they were the producers and director were liking what I was doing with the character. And they started writing more and more for me.

And the same thing with Afonzi with Henry. And it did grow. So then we were still in most of the episodes at the first season, but we were more really co-starred and kind of characters. And then by the second season, they moved us up. We were in the front credits and, you know, had bigger spotlight on us. Yeah, that's so good that it happened that way.

So with all the shows that you did, what stands out as one of the top view that you all always remember when you think about the show? And it's a tough one because there were, you know, so many episodes that really felt great, one that was the first episode where my character was the integral part of the story. This took place in the third season,

about the first or second episode. And it was the one where somebody had absolutely destroyed Fonzie's motorcycle. He was out to get the guy who had done it. And it turned out that it was me that I accidentally backed into it, and then I panicked, and I didn't know if it had gotten caught in my fender or something, and I went forward and back and forth, and, you know, it just got worse and worse. We never really saw that, but we found out. It was a really well-written script.

It was very funny, and it was, you know, one that highlighted my character. That one always had a strong impact for me and in my memory. But there were a bunch of other episodes. So the thing that really stands out for me is the relationships that we had, you know, we really became tight, all of us and were a family, and it was the collaborative effort and all of the discussions that we would have sometimes in between filming. Those are the things that really stand out for me. Yeah.

So you had so many special guests on the show during your time? Yes, yeah. I know you've mentioned John Lennon was on. Who else comes to mind when you think about your special guests on the show? Yeah, well, John Lennon was as a guest star. he came and just totally unannounced, came down to the set with a sudden Julian, who was like nine at the time,

just wanted to visit him. You know, they, I guess they were watching the show, and he wanted Julian, and maybe get a chance to see us and meet us. So that was pretty wild. But in terms of guest stars, you know, we had some really interesting guest stars, but of course, the one that stands out

is Robin Williams, who launched on our show. Yeah, I remember those shows with him. And then became, you know, had his own show, Morton Mindy that spun off from that episode. All of us remember that so vividly because when he came on to the set, it was like, whoa, where did this guy come from? You know, it was like he was from another planet, you know, because nobody had ever seen the kind of quick, spontaneous things he was coming up with in terms of lines and his, the body

language and sounds and everything he was doing. And we felt, all of us felt that it was maybe one of the weakest scripts that had come across our, you know, our table. We thought, God, this is, this script, this isn't going to work, you know, but then with Robin and it, it totally got transformed and where the network, there was such buzz going on about him that a lot of the network People came to the show, the Friday night where we shot in front of an audience. After the weekend, we come in on Monday or Tuesday, and we find out, oh, Ron's got his own show now. You know, I mean, it was that quick. Yeah.

It was like, he's got his own show. What? Yeah, that was really amazing. So you stayed with the show, what, six or was it seven years? It was seven seasons. Oh, okay, seven seasons. Seven seasons, but it was like six years because we did that midseason and the first full season, kind of than one year. But yeah, it was seven seasons. The show ran 11.

Everyone always said that hindsight is 2020. So looking back, do you have any regrets on leaving the show early? Or do you believe that that was definitely the right move for you to make at that time? Oh, that's a, that's a tough one, tough one, because at the time I felt there were a lot of reasons, combination of reasons. First, I knew I was going to, you know, a ready facing getting tight, being type. because that's very much more prevalent than when there were only like three networks on and there was no cable. There was no internet streaming or anything. So, you know, we had 50, 60 million people watching us on a Tuesday night when we were number one. Yeah. You know, you'd get more associated with a role than people with today when there's so much, you know, so many options to look at.

Sure. But so I knew that that was, I was facing that. And, I also felt that the scripts, the quality of where it was going after, you know, six, seven seasons. So it was this, I did seven. It's hard to keep a show, you know, growing and getting better and fresh. And I felt it was kind of going downhill and direction that didn't feel right. So a combination of that and like I said, wanting. And I wasn't very much like the character I played. Right.

You know, I was just playing Roland, and here, you know, I didn't want to be so locked down into only playing that kind of character. And it was very strong feelings that I had about wanting to do all different kinds of roles. So at the time, I felt it was the right move. Yeah, in retrospect, I don't know. I still think it was, but there were some tough times after that trying to break away. It was difficult. And I knew it would be hard, but I don't. I don't know if I knew it would be quite as hard as it was, but I kept plugging away, chipping away at it, and gradually I got a role that was different, and then it was like people saw me a little bit. Oh, wow, I played like a, you know, a psychiatrist in some show.

And then I played this almost like a kiss kind of character, you know, a metal rocker kind of guy and a different episode. And we started just playing, and I played an attorney. And then, you know, so slowly it started to open up when I got some independent films and then a studio film. And then I was doing theater a lot in between to play all different kinds of roles. So it would get better than it would kind of even on. But now in the last four or five years has probably been the best period for me in terms of getting different kinds of films with really interesting roles that are all very different. I think, you know, I attribute that to getting older and, you know, being further and further distanced, obviously, from what I was back in that day in terms of age and the way you look

and all of that. And the time that has passed and the fact that I think that I've done some different kinds of things, so people have seen it. Now, you know, I've gotten roles in the last five years, it went from playing a small town pastor to a polygamist. Literally, we went from a pastor to a polygamist, and then everything in between an attorney defending a wounded vet, and then a career criminal, and then a guy who owned owner of a minor league hockey team, And then I did a Western. And then I did a film where I played a king in like, you know, medieval times. And now just recently I did a film that's coming out in November called Harsen's Island Revenge,

where it's a true story during the prohibition with all the bootlegging going on. This was in Michigan, and they were getting a liquor from Canada. And all these, there were different mobs that were competing for control. and there was a gang called the Purple Gang. And I was a Jewish mob, and I played the head of the Jewish mob. So it was a pretty intense role. So I'm really looking forward to having that come out. I haven't gotten to see it yet, and I'm hearing really good things about it.

So this is what I had in mind. It's taken a little longer than I hope to get into a better stride, but better late than never. Yeah, and I think there's one person happy days that you'll probably remember forever. I think, to my knowledge, she's kind of stuck with you for a long time. Yes, indeed. I'm glad that she showed up on that seventh season before I left. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I met my wife on the show. It was the seventh season. It was an episode. She had a small guest role where she played a model at a photographer's studio. So we met, you know, during the rehearsal. The day she showed up on probably Wednesday. And we started, you know, talking a little

and then Thursday, more so. And then by Friday, when we were shooting the show, I asked her out before shooting the show to go to dinner. And we did and then started dating. And two years later, got married. And here it is 42 years later. Yeah, that's awesome. So, yeah, I have that to thank Happy Days for big time as well.

Yeah, absolutely. And after you left Happy Days, you went from being in front of the camera to doing work behind the camera. Yeah, I knew I would want to want to want, to direct at some point. And this was probably in the early 90s, I said, you know what I, I think what I should do is start out directing some theater and then see how that goes, see how I like it, and then maybe transitioning to film. Because I had an opportunity at one of the small theaters in L.A. to direct a play. So I did. And it went really well. We got really good reviews.

and then I did several more. And then I started looking for some material film scripts that, you know, I could maybe find, see if I can get them somehow off the ground, you know? And I met a writer on a film that I acted in. We got along, we were talking, and then she said, let me send you a few of my scripts because they're made to be, you know, sort of in the low-budget independence scale, but they're really, you know, strong character pieces.

and really could make for a nice film. So I read two of her scripts and loved them. One of them would have been three to five million to make, and I was looking for the first time out to do something, you know, under a million, and it'd be easier to get financing, that sort of thing. I decided to try to and start pushing that script. And then I met a producer, Michael Murphy,

who had produced the original, Dylan Ted's Excellent Adventure and several others. And we got along real well, and he loved the script. And then talking to friends and different people, and we wound up raising enough money to make that first film that I directed. It was called The Last Best Sunday. Really proud of the film. It came out really well.

It got some awards, some festivals, and then it even got picked up for some distribution, and the two lead actors were great. Douglas Spain and Angela Bettis, and we got a great, great review in the variety. And, you know, so it was a great experience. And that led to several years later, we're doing my second show in the film called Nula. We had a great cast. A young Shailene Woodley was 13 at the time, and when Shailene has gone on in there to become pretty big.

We also had to treat Williams in the film, and William May Poth there was in Hedge. down. Curtis Armstrong, leaving out a few other people, but great cast. It premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. I got a bill of for directing in that, which is great. And then we also got some distribution.

People can still see these films. They're on, I think they're on Amazon, To Bee, a bunch of other streamers. And then I have a bunch of other projects that I've been trying to get up around there, you know, in development, so to speak, and hopefully I'll

get some more going because I enjoyed that very much as well. Yeah, that's really good. So now I think I can say that it's gone full circle. You've gone from music to acting back to music again. Yeah. It was about 10 years ago. You know, I had done some, I didn't completely burn my bridges on the singing back then. You know, there were times when I would do it here.

I did some musicals, you know, musical theater. And then there were a couple times where I would do. I did some club in L.A. I tried it out, but it was back in the late 70s, early 80s, and that music wasn't really in favor. You know, the jazz standards and American songbook. It was kind of looked like Pass A or something. But, you know, it had a big comeback when people like, you know,

when Natalie Cole did that album dedicated to her dad, Nat, and Diana Crawl started doing all these great, albums with bringing that jazz, the jazz standards. And then of course, Harry Connick. Oh, yeah. He did Harry Met Sally and that the song that had to be you. And then people like Rod Stewart started doing standards. So I said about 10 years ago, I said, if I'm ever going to do the music, which I've always loved, that's that style, that kind of music, I better do it because, you know, I'm not getting younger. And so I was able to mount, put together. a show. I found a musical director and he found us, you know, some great musicians in OLA and I

was able to do a jazz club called Vitello's out there, and it went over great. So it led to me doing some war clubs in L.A. and then clubs in New York at 54 below in New York and the iridium jazz club, cutting re. And then I started getting some shows booked in some theaters around the country. And so, and then it led to me doing my first CD, which was called Demos, Mostly Swinging. And that was with the musical director. I knew out in L.A., who's a trumpet, player, arranger, great arranger of that style of music, just phenomenal. We did that. It's called Mostly Swinging. And it turned out really well, and it introduced more people to what I'm doing, which was great. And then, you know, then it led to a few years later, I guess that's when you

you and I met. Yeah, I think you're right. It was a mutual friend of ours online introduced us. Yes. And then you were coming out to L.A. because Bobby Wilson, I think, because his dad, I guess, was getting a star on the Walk of Fame there. Yes, I produced and managed Bobby at that time, and Jackie Wilson was getting his star on the Walk of Fame. So when I talked and we got together for lunch at, oh, it was that famous restaurant. I forget the name right now, but I'll think of it later. But we had a really good conversation about music. Yeah, it seems like yesterday. I remember you saying, you thought that if we did another CD, if I did another CD,

that you'll, you know, yes, we could still do jazz standards and all that, but not in the big band style. I wanted this time try a more contemporary jazz approach, you know, the way a Diana Crawler, or, you know, I guess a Harry Connick would do. Yeah, I loved your style and your voice, and I thought, that it could do really well that way. Yeah, I think that that's a great idea. That makes sense for the next one.

And then that led to me coming out to Nashville and recording with you and had such a great experience working with you and recording the CD, which is called New York High, which is one of the singles in the original, the only original, all the others were, you know, mainly jazz standards,

or though a couple of 60s, 70s songs sprinkled in, that we sort of had a new take on, which was fun. You know, I've been getting great feedback to that CD, New York High, for sure. Yeah, I really enjoyed doing it, and plus it did well in the U.K. Yeah, very well there. I'm the hurdy chart. It got up to number 10, and it was on in their top 40 for a long time. Yeah, it did well there, and I think it did much better than 10.

I think it hit 5 or 6. I don't know. No, I think it peaked at 10. I think so. Yeah, I could be wrong. But it did well. So I'm looking forward to, you know, introducing it to more and more people and getting it out there in a bigger way. Yeah, me too. So what's on the horizon now? Anything that you can tell us about? Nothing that I'm working on right now, but I do have one I mentioned coming out in November,

Harsen's Island Revenge. A few others I would mention that came out, you know, in the last couple of years that people could see that are streaming. One is called County Line No Fear. I did that with Tom Wolpat. And it's a really fun role that I play in that. Nice. And Far Haven, a Western that I did. And that was some really great cast. And a film called Lost Heart, which was the one I played that local pastor, but it's very different, very different, not your normal local pastor. And as a really fun movie that has a lot of heart. There's some projects I'm talking to some people now about for the future, but they're not definite goes yet.

You know, I read the scripts and I really liked them and said, yeah, I'd be very interested in playing these roles. So I'm just now waiting for them to get it lined up in a, you know, where it's greenlit and ready to go. Yeah, that's good. So we'll see. We'll see. Hopefully soon.

Yes, definitely. So I understand you're coming to. Nashville of a Comic-Con. Oh, yes. Gallatin Comic-Con, October, I think is 26th and 27th. So that'll be a lot of fun because it would be a little reunion of sorts because Henry Winkler and Anne Williams are going to be there with me. We got together for one of these about a month ago in Wisconsin, and it was a blast.

It was so great getting together with them again and hanging out and meeting everybody. So we'll do that again at the Gallatin ComCon in October. Yeah, I definitely have it on my calendar. Oh, great. How far away is that? It's about 25 minutes for me. Oh, good, good.

That's a lot closer than I knew. Yeah, it's not far at all. All right. Well, it'll be great. Yeah, it will. I'm looking forward to it. This has been a great conversation. I really appreciate you coming on.

Oh, yeah. Thank you, Tony, for having me. great to talk to you again and look forward to seeing you in October. Yeah, absolutely. See you then. Thanks for joining us today. We hope you enjoyed the show. This has been a Tony Mantor production. For more information, contact media at plateaumusic.com.