Episode 151 – Douglas Barr Unscripted: "The Fall Guy", "Designing Women" & Reinventing Life – Part 1
In Part 1 of this lively two-part conversation, host Tony Miros sits down with former ’80s TV heartthrob Douglas Barr for a fascinating look at a life defined by reinvention. From athlete to model, television star to writer, director, and winemaker, Barr reflects on the many chapters that shaped his extraordinary journey. He shares stories from growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he was a competitive swimmer and sports enthusiast, as well as his early creative interests, globe-trotting adventures, philosophical studies at The George Washington University, and how a spontaneous trip to Europe unexpectedly launched an international modeling career.
That modeling success ultimately led Barr to acting—despite never having the “acting bug”—inspired by idols like Cary Grant and Roy Rogers, both of whom he later met. After early TV roles, his big break came in 1981 as Howie Munson, the charming, comedic sidekick on ABC’s hit series “The Fall Guy.” Barr opens up about working alongside Lee Majors, who became both mentor and friend, teaching him the unspoken rules of life on set. He fondly recalls the show’s tongue-in-cheek tone, the real stunts (and real injuries), the near-misses, and unforgettable moments working with legendary guests like James Coburn, Eddie Albert, and even astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Barr also reflects honestly on fame—the pressure, the self-absorption required to survive it, and the thick skin needed to last. He shares his gratitude for the fans who have followed his career for decades, his enduring friendships with Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, and even offers thoughts on the recent “Fall Guy” movie starring Ryan Gosling. It’s a revealing, funny, and thoughtful conversation about success, survival, and knowing when it’s time to move on—and you’ll want to hear every minute.
DOUGLAS BARR
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Douglas Barr began his collegiate studies at the University of Northern Colorado during the turbulent 1960s before transferring to The George Washington University, where he experienced the Vietnam War protests firsthand. He graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and soon found himself in New York and London working as a model—an industry he says he “accidentally fell into.” It was during this time that he met his future wife, Clare Kirkconnell.
That modeling career led Barr to acting, and in the early 1980s he relocated to Los Angeles, quickly landing high-profile television roles. He is best known for his five-season run as Howie Munson on the hit action series “The Fall Guy,” alongside Lee Majors, and for his popular recurring role as Colonel Bill Stillfield on “Designing Women,” where he played Charlene Frazier’s boyfriend and later husband. He also starred as Alex Jagger on CBS’s “The Wizard” and made numerous guest appearances on iconic series including “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “Hotel,” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
As his career evolved, Barr shifted his focus to writing and directing, helming more than 30 films since the mid-1990s and working with acclaimed actors such as Louis Gossett Jr., Rosanna Arquette, Bradley Whitford, and Olympia Dukakis. His move behind the camera coincided with a move to Napa Valley, where he and his wife founded Hollywood and Vine Cellars, a boutique winery they ran for many years. Now retired from both filmmaking and winemaking, Doug serves on the board of the Saint Helena Forum, an educational nonprofit dedicated to fostering creativity and innovation throughout Napa Valley.
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Actor / Director / Winemaker
Before Hollywood came calling, Douglas Barr was a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who began his collegiate studies at the University of Northern Colorado. It was the turbulent 1960s, and Barr felt somewhat removed from the cultural and political upheaval sweeping the country. Seeking a more engaged environment, he transferred to The George Washington University, where he experienced firsthand the height of the Vietnam War protests in the nation’s capital.
Barr graduated from GW in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He then spent several years in New York and London working as a model—an industry he says he “accidentally fell into.” It proved to be a fortunate accident, as it was during this time that he met his future wife, Clare Kirkconnell, who was also modeling.
Modeling soon led to acting opportunities, and in the early 1980s Barr relocated to Los Angeles, where he landed starring roles in two television series. He is best known for his five-season run as Howie Munson on the hit action series The Fall Guy, playing the loyal partner to Lee Majors’ Colt Seavers as they took on crime and bad guys week after week. Following that success, Barr starred as Alex Jagger in the short-lived CBS series The Wizard (1986–1987) and later played Charlene Frazier’s hunky boyfriend, Colonel Bill Stillfield, on Designing Women for two seasons, through 1991.
Throughout this period, Barr also made numerous guest appearances on popular series including The Love Boat, Hotel, Fantasy Island, and Murder, She Wrote, along with appearances on more than a dozen … Read More
