How did you start your acting career?
I started my acting career 1970, after a 4 year stint in the Navy where I was a medical corpsman in Vietnam I studied at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco for three years. Working with Marsha Mason was one of the many highlights of that time. I toured the United States with a Commedia troupe for three years, Opened the Alaska Repertory Theatre, along with a long list of plays and summer stock, which lead to the San Diego Old Globe theatre 1977. I decided at that time, since I was already in San Diego I may as well try my luck in L.A. I got into several plays including a play called Zen Boogie which was a rock musical and a major hit at the cannon theatre. With smash reviews we became the play to see and everybody did. Out of that play I got Theatrical agent, commercial agent, I five year development deal with NBC. and two movies Incredible Shrinking Women and 1941 with Steven Spielberg. Next Popeye, Zorro the Gay Blade, Police Academy - etc...

What led to you checking in as Kyle to the Bates Motel?
I got the role in Psycho III on a request from Tony Perkins, because he remembered me from the commercials for Zen Boogie where I was just sitting in front of the camera and laughing. He requested me for an audition and we actually had one of the longest auditions to this day, that I have ever had. It was about an hour and he explained to me in great detail, how he wanted my character to give contrast to a very suspenseful murder scene. He would use my laughter to counter the tension that he planned to build.

What were your impressions of Anthony Perkins especially since he helmed the picture and acted in it?
He was funny and serious, totally involved and very excited to be directing the movie. He knew exactly what he wanted in order to manipulate the audience. I was shocked about the time he took with me on such a small role. And the only reason I went in for such a small role was I wanted to meet Anthony Perkins, I never really thought I would be interested in the role. I think he knew that and that is why he spent so much time in detailing his plans, and after he convinced me of the importance of the role I signed-up.

Sum up your experience on the set of the film and any recollections you may have
My experience was a great one because it was working with him. Also on the set shooting other scenes was Roberta Maxwell who played my mother in Popeye so we had great fun together walking into the psycho house and scaring each other. Playing in the Bates Motel and just reminiscing about Popeye. Tony was very busy and involved, but he always made time for the actors. Because he was an actor he knew how to talk with us and how to make us feel important to his project. My first scene was daytime outside the Bates Motel and I felt he had (as most actor directors have when directing the selves) split focus and was a little less confident about the shot (there was no video assist) so he was overly conserned about the shots. We laughed and joked and I realised he had a great sense of humor about the Bates character. During the night shooting and while waiting for my scene where I am laughing to contrast the tension I slept in one of the Bates Motel rooms, that was weird. I thought he did a great job directing, he was considerate and helpful.

Really my biggest memory was that for such a little part he sure did want me. To talk with me for so long about the movie and about me, and how much he enjoyed Zen Boogie and he still remembered me. Most my auditions for starring and co-starring roles never ever lasted more than 15 minutes and maybe on occasion a half hour. And on the set to occasionally see a glimmer of Norman directing you in a scene was also very cool.

Did any of your scenes end up on the cutting room floor and how long was the shoot?
All the scenes that I shot stayed intact, I don't remember even one line being cut from what we shot. For me, one day shooting and one night shooting.

Do you remember any funny anecdotes from the set?
I remember Roberta and I were in the Psycho House talking spooky psycho stuff and how norman was so strange and how erie the hollow shell of the psycho house felt like it was haunted by Norman. Tony was looking at some camera angles and overheard us talking and yelled out "Mother are you home". Roberta screamed and I believe that I had to change my shorts. When we both turned Norman Bates was standing in the doorway laughing. Causing a chill to run down my back, my laugh was not as convincing, but we continued to laugh about it for the rest of the day. But to tell you the truth it was eerie.

Did you have reservations about Universal making a second sequel to a classic Hitchcock thriller?
I have reservations about anybody making a sequel to a classic. One of the stars in the original was Hitchcock and nobody can be him so I saw that as the first big problem. Honestly I liked leaving Norman the way they did in the first movie and I felt any new information about Norman might destroy the complete picture that Mr. Hitchcock painted in the original. But I went to see it in Toronto, while we were shooting Police Academy and realy enjoyed it.

What are you up to now?
I have been directing and acting in Russia for some years. Just in the last two months I finished a movie with Lindsey Lohan, called "I know who killed me" A couple of guest spots on Hanna Montana, Boston Legal Etc... and creating a Network series, as well as Directing, acting and editing. I also teach Improv, at places in town like New York Film Academy, Stella Adler's, the Noho Arts Center, and the Noho Actors Studio.

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