Episode 152 – Douglas Barr Unscripted: “The Fall Guy,” “Designing Women” & Reinventing Life – Part 2
In the conclusion of this revealing two-part conversation, host Tony Miros continues his candid & wide-ranging chat with former ’80s TV heartthrob Douglas Barr, diving deeper into his most beloved roles & his evolution from actor to writer & director. Doug shares the story behind landing the role of Colonel Bill Stillfield, Charlene Frazier’s charming boyfriend (and later husband) on “Designing Women,” thanks in part to his connection with producer Larry Thompson that he met while he was working on “The Fall Guy.” He reflects on how much fun the show was, how quickly he adjusted from single-camera action series to a multi-camera sitcom, and what a dream it was to work with Jean Smart, along with Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Delta Burke, & the rest of the iconic cast.
Doug also offers behind-the-scenes gems, including a fun story involving a luncheon with then-unknown Bill and Hillary Clinton, flying through the air as a trapeze artist on “Circus of the Stars” , and why he was more than ready to fully embrace comedy after years of being told to “tone it down” on “The Fall Guy.” He fondly recalls working with legendary guest stars like Dolly Parton, Alice Ghostley, and Hal Holbrook, and shares why he believes “Designing Women” continues to resonate with audiences decades later.
The conversation then turns to Doug’s successful transition behind the camera. He explains how writing an episode of “The Wizard” helped him join the WGA, open doors as a screenwriter, & ultimately convince producers to trust him as a director. From directing Olympia Dukakis in “Dead Badge” & Patty Duke in “Love Lessons,” and helming multiple Hallmark hits including “The Note,” Doug reflects on the lessons he learned—and the importance of leadership on set. He also shares how life eventually led him away from Hollywood & into Napa Valley, where he spent 22 years running a winery before serving on the board of the Saint Helena Forum, supporting creativity & innovation in his community.
DOUGLAS BARR
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Douglas Barr began his collegiate studies at the University of N Colorado during the turbulent 1960s before transferring to 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 & directing, helming more than 30 films since the mid-1990s. 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 & winemaking, Doug serves on the board of the Saint Helena Forum, an educational nonprofit dedicated to fostering creativity and innovation throughout Napa Valley.
Saint Helena Forum - https://www.shforum.org
The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/
Official Hollywood Obsessed Facebook Page – HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED PODCAST
Follow our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodobsessedpodcast/
Titles VO Talent – Cam Frierson - http://camfrierson.com/voice
Music by QubeSounds from Pixabay
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
