Tag Archives: theater

The Life of Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr.? Sheeee-it.



Interested in acting? Isiah Whitlock Jr. practically gives a mini Master Class when he talks about preparing for one of his more challenging roles.

Fan of The Wire? You know Isiah as the corrupt Senator Clay Davis. In Epi 5 of It’s Quite a Living hear where his famous phrasing of “sheeeeeeeee-it” originated (think Spike Lee!) and how it came to be in that HBO show AND in a bobblehead that you too can actually own!

Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Clay Davis, in The Wire

Hear how Spike Lee first met Isiah and cast him in The 25th Hour… (AND films like BlacKkKlansman AND the current Da Five Bloods and others And watch those films for his trademark saying!) Hear how I first met Isiah in the 80s why he scared the heck out of me…but ultimately taught me about trust.

E.B./Isiah in NLN video and over the years…

Are you a wine lover? Hear what Isiah would pair with latkes. Latkes? YES. Because he’s may be an oenophile, but I’m the potato pancake queen, and that’s what I serve at the Hanukah parties he’s come to at my house over our three decades of friendship.

I had a great time reminiscing and laughing in this podcast episode, while learning more about the life of this prolific film, theater and television actor — and MY first acting teacher at American Conservatory Theater. Isiah has continued to teach me life lessons of staying calm, of staying focused, of having empathy and self-awareness…

But it’s that voice. That stare. That throughline of intellect laced with humor that shine through it all. And usually crack me up even when he’s trying to be serious. (I encourage you to listen to every of the 39 minutes for a good blooper or two that help you really hear the personality behind the persona.)

Oh, and if you want your own bobblehead or to learn more about Isiah visit: http://isiahwhitlockjr.com/  But as you’ll hear in the beginning, he hasn’t updated that site in a while. But you’ll know him when you hear him. 

Love this man. You will too.


The Life of Actress Amy Hill – Epi 3



Amy Hill has been a mom for twenty years in real life, and even longer in her acting life: from Grandma Kim (All American Girl), Mama Tohru (Jackie Chan Adventures),  Ah-Mah Jasmine Lee (The Life and Times of Juniper Lee), Mah Mah (American Dad!) to even being ON the hit comedy, “Mom“. But she’s also had another 150+ acting credits not tied to that title both in live-action and animated films – like Lourdes Chan on Crazy Ex-Girfriend (and its 1.5 million views on its hit promo video), and Sue in 50 First Dates. And it all started, sort of, when she burst on to the scene by winning The Gong Show

But that’s another story. And, yes, it’s one Amy tells in this episode of It’s Quite a Living.

I met Amy in the ’80s when she was already established in the San Francisco acting and voiceover scene I was just breaking into. And some four decades later, on a visit to her home in Hawaii, where she is co-staring as Kumu on the hit reboot of Magnum, P.I., we talked about how she got into acting, her film roles, and what emerged for her in the process of writing her hit one-woman show, Tokyo Bound. Aside from reminiscing about acrylic nails and trying to get an agent, she shares more serious experiences as a Finnish/Japanese American and her experience as a multi-racial actress. We also talk about commitment and making the right choice, like her adoption of her daughter, Penelope.

You’ll love Amy as much as I do when you hear about:

  • Amy’s experience of going to Japan, understanding its culture, her origin, and her mom’s roots
  • Why the name “Tokyo Bound”
  • A love letter from her mom
  • Meditation and commitment 
  • Her big break in Scrooged
  • Coming up with her daughter’s name, Penelope
  • Amy’s “I knew it moments.” 

All the masks are off in this transparent and candid conversation with Amy Hill.

You can find and follow her career here: