A look back at our only interview with Gavin MacLeod that was a reunion with the original stars of “The Love Boat.”
Video Content: Gavin MacLeod and The Cast of The Love Boat (2014)
In honor of Gavin MacLeod’s passing, SIDEWALKS ENTERTAINMENT takes a look back at our only interview with the actor. In 2014, host Cindy Rhodes interviewed Mr. MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, Ted Lange, Lauren Tewes, and Jill Whelan, the entire original cast of TV’s “The Love Boat.” They talked about the 50th anniversary of Princess Cruises and the new ship, Regal Princess, where they were named godparents.
Mini-Biographies:
Born in Mount Kisco, New York, Gavin MacLeod played the Captain Merrill Stubing on every TV episode of “The Love Boat.” Before that show, he was known for playing Joseph “Happy” Haines on “McHale’s Navy” and Murray Slaughter on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Mr. MacLeod passed way on May 29, 2021. He was 90.
Born in New York City (Brooklyn), Bernie Kopell played Dr. Adam Bricker (“Doc”) in every episode of the series. Along with playing Siegfried in “Get Smart,” he has guest-starred in several classic series, including “The Jack Benny Program,” “The Flying Nun,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Room 222,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “Bewitched.”
Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Fred Grandy played Burl “Gopher” Smith, the Yeoman Purser, on “The Love Boat.” After the show, he later became a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa. Recently, Grandy was a radio host for “The Grandy Group.”
Born in Oakland, CA, Ted Lange was the bartender Isaac Washington, who also appeared on all of the episodes of the TV show. He has appeared in guest starring roles in such series as “227,” “The Cleveland Show”, “Scrubs”, “Drake & Josh,” ”The King of Queens,“ and “Psych.” He’s also known as screenwriter and director. Some of the series he directed included “The Love Boat: The Next Wave,” “Moesha,“ “Dharma & Greg,“ and “Eve.”
Born in Braddock, Pennsylvania, Lauren Tewes played “The Love Boat’s” cruise director Julie McCoy between 1977-1984. She has been appearing in regional theatre near the Seattle area and has done some voice-over work.
Born in Oakland, CA, Jill Whelan played Vicki Stubing, the captain’s daughter between 1979–86. At age 11, she played Nancy Wilks on the comedy-drama series “Friends” and then Lisa Davis in 1980’s “Airplane!” Whelan was also seen on “The Young and The Restless.” Recently, she was a radio host in Philadelphia.
Interview Credits:
Recorded: November 5, 2014
Host / Producer: Cindy Rhodes
Videographer (for Cindy Rhodes): Ray Alvarado
Editor: Richard R. Lee
Special Thanks To: Princess Regal, Premiere TV