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General Hospital Interviews!
Catching Up with Brad Maule (ex-Tony)
By
Laurie Bedigian
November 23, 2008
(click on pic for larger view)
Brad Maule spent 22 years on “General Hospital” where he played Dr.
Tony Jones. Tony survived tragedy after tragedy including blindness,
divorce, and the death of his daughter, B.J. Fans were saddened on
February 11, 2006 when
Brad and Tony checked out of “General Hospital” during the encephalitis
outbreak story.
Brad quickly became a favorite of mine, so I was hopeful
when I requested an interview with him. It’s been several years since
Brad’s last interview, so I wasn’t sure he’d be interested or available.
Brad was gracious enough to talk with me recently and share some stories
and memories of life on and off “General Hospital.” Brad also shared
some details about his life after “General Hospital.” Here’s what he
had to say:
Tell me a little about growing up on a farm in Texas.
We raised cotton and cattle. In my eyes, I thought we were poor. I
was raised in a white stucco house with a wood stove on one end and a
fireplace on the other, and a tin roof. I always wanted to live in a
brick house in town like all the people I knew did. Later on when I
grew up, I realized I was raised cooler than anybody could ever imagine.
Did you act in high school?
I went to a small school and there were only 11 people in my class.
So, I was the Fine Arts department.
You also sang professionally?
I was a backup singer for Bobby Gentry and Jim Nabors. I worked with
the Serendipity Singers. I was also a backup singer for Don Ho.
Tell me about auditioning for “General Hospital.”
I actually auditioned for the role of Frisco. I tested for the role
of Frisco with John Stamos as the person opposite me. They said, “We
have good news and bad news - you’re not right for this so we’re gonna
make you his brother.” His older, sweeter, kinder brother (laughs). I
didn’t know what I was doing, at all. I’d never watched a soap. I had
acted but my acting was “Charlie’s Angels” and “Three’s Company” – a lot
different than a soap opera. It was a frightening experience for the
first year. They were gonna kill me after the first year, because I just
didn’t fit the sexy soap person mold.
So what happened?
I realized that I had connected with the audience – that they really
cared about me. I learned if you care, and you care deeply, then the
people who watch you will eventually care too.
Tell me about filming BJ’s death (on “General Hospital”).
We did that (scene) at the end of the day without any rehearsal. I
grew up in a house where my brother died; and while my brother was dying,
I couldn’t live at home. All I had to think about was putting my
brother’s heart into another person and try to listen to it.
You spent 17 years on contract and 5 years recurring. Is it true you
asked them to kill you off?
That is true. I had moved to Texas – they were using me less and
less. So I told them, just use me or kill me off.
Have you stayed in contact with anyone from “General Hospital”?
Stuart Damon (Alan) and I speak
occasionally and through him I hear about Leslie (Charleston, Monica), and
Tony Geary (Luke), and Kin Shriner (Scott). I haven’t seen Kin Shriner in
years, but if I had to make a list of the top people I cared about, he would
be in the top 5 or 6. I would have to say that I miss all my “wives" on GH -
Hilary Edson, Lynn Herring, and Jackie Zeman. They were all good
friends of mine, and not many days go by that I don't think about them and
all the good times we had. My children still miss Jackie's sweet kids. I
love the people at “General Hospital.” There are certain people that will
forever be friends of mine whether they know it or not (laughs).
Tell me about “7th Heaven.” What kind of experience was that for
you?
“7th Heaven” was a golden gift. The producer was one of those
blessed souls that liked me and “got” me. I had a wonderful time on
that show. I was there three years. Stephen Collins (Eric Camden) to
this day is one of my heroes. He deserves every single bit of fame he
has and more. I did 16 or 18 episodes of “7th Heaven” as Ashlee
Simpson’s (Cecilia) dad. It actually brought me a whole new audience.
Are your kids interested in acting?
No, I’ve been very successful at that. My kids think that show
business is the work of the devil (laughs). They’re talented. My kids
could be and probably should be (in show business), but they have
different interests in life.
So you teach at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, which is
also your alma mater. Do your students know or care about your time on
“General Hospital”?
When I first came here, I was welcomed as just an oddity. Now it’s a
golden time in my life. The kids all Google me, and they watch
everything that I’ve done.
What classes do you teach?
I teach Acting for the Camera and Beginning and
Advanced
Cinematography. We do a minimum of 8 miniature films in the spring and
one feature film in the summer.
Tell me about your film “All Good Years.” You wrote and directed
it? How long did it take you to write it?
I’ve written my whole life. It took about six weeks to write (“All
Good Years”). They thought it was a good training exercise for me as a
teacher. It’s a feature film. We’re editing and scoring it now – what
we did last summer. Then we start the publicity, and we have a big
two-night opening at the art gallery here in March.
I watched the “All Good Years” trailer. It looks like a sad story.
It’s a pretty sad movie. It’s about a kid that lives in a world of
chaos. But it’s also hysterically funny in parts.
Tell me about the television show you host – “Texas County Line.”
We’re a syndicated show that’s growing quite fast. We film classic
country music at places where people dance. Workingman's places. We go
out and we film the honky tonks – and they’re usually very picturesque.
Older people and younger people like us. The middle world of people
doesn’t really “get” us yet. We film all over Texas, Louisiana, and
Arkansas occasionally. We film concerts and interviews. We have
“classic” moments, and we just take people back in time.
You’ll be doing talk radio soon too?
I start in January as “Maule in the Morning” on the local AM station
for two hours a day.
So you’ve become a regular guy out in the community. Do you ever run
into daytime fans?
Yep, the only time I sign autographs is at
Walmart. My fan base
shops at Walmart, so if I need a fix, I go to Walmart and sign autographs
all day as I walk around and shop for underwear and tires (laughs).
Then life in Texas is all good?
I’m just happy. I love my life. I love what I do, and I live my
dreams out here. I do independent films, I teach, and I fish in the
summer. I can leave my house and be in my boat within five minutes
fishing. This place is undiscovered – it has a gentle spirit. I fell
in love with it. The people are just the sweetest – it’s like living in
Oz before the curtain was pulled back.
Talking with Brad was an honor and a pleasure. I truly enjoyed his
honesty and his sense of humor. He spent quite a bit of time with me
and for that I’m grateful. I hope to bring you more from Brad in the
future.
Laurie
To see a glimpse of the feature-length movie
“All Good Years," which Brad Maule wrote, directed, and co-starred in,
please click here.
Previously named "Billy Stay," "All Good Years" will be released in
March
2009.
Read all of
Laurie Bedigian's
celebrity interviews:
Melissa Archer (ex-Natalie, OLTL)
10/21/12
Sean Kanan (Deacon, Y&R) 11/20/11
Greg Cipes (JT, GH)
9/5/11
Colin Egglesfield (ex Josh, AMC)
9/4/11
Brad Maule (Dr.
Tony Jones, GH) 12/13/09
Tim Gibbs (ex-Kevin, OLTL)
11/7/09
Louise Shaffer
(Rae Woodard, Ryan's Hope) 10/23/09
Tobias Truvillion (Vincent,
OLTL)
8/14/09
Brian Gaskill (Rafe, Port Charles;
ex-Bobby, AMC) 7/24/09
Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, OLTL) 4/12/09
Senta Moses (Winnifred, GH) 2/15/09
Blake Gibbons (Coleman, GH) 12/5/08
Brad Maule (Dr. Tony Jones, GH) 11/23/08
Graham Shiels (Cody, GH) 11/19/08
Bradford Anderson (Spinelli, GH) 4/5/08
Bradford Anderson (Spinelli, GH) 1/11/08
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Page updated 7/23/12
 
  
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