9021 on 1 with Mark Kiely

let's talk to him, let's find out. Let's do it. What what up? Mark? Oh my gosh, how have you not aged? Look at you? That didn't reverse You look even younger than when you were on the show. Yeah, that'd be nice if it was, but thank you. Yeah, you look exactly the same. You guys, this is crazy. You are are you um calling us from Bermuda where you're sitting in front of a beautiful blue sky backdrop. Yeah. So I live like three minutes from the beach on

the East coast and I'm there all the time. But for some reason this year, my my wife and are kidding around, so we took a picture of the beach. We're always going to let me say beautiful. That's where we got. So we put it up on the wall. We could change change the winter kind of thing. Here. It looks good, looks great. Yeah you are you're are you out of the business. You're living in what is it? Massachusetts? Now I'm living in Rhoe Island right next to it.

Um around two fourteen, fifteen sixteen, somewhere and there I did my last film with Robert duval Um. Basically, I I kind of stopped. I still get some calls. I'll probably go back in a little bit. My youngest is gonna graduate from college this year. Um, but really last fifteen years. I no one does this. But I turned to a professional swim coach and I owned swim teams and and uh very very well, you know, kids from eight years old up to eighteen and then in college.

So for we put a lot of kids in Division one swimming sports was my thing. That that sport was um and it was a great way for me to be with my boys, you guys and moms, you know, and that was a choice to spend more time with them. As you guys know, Man, you get a job which is awesome, but then you're gone and most of much that was traveled and they were little, and I did my wife and three boys. Man, I wanted to be around. Um. So that's the altruistic nice thing, and I was happy

to do it. So I found that being a swim coach brings everything together, you know, um, psychologically, when you're training kids and teaching them, it's it's it's all the skills we use in acting, right, you know that psychological stuff of how to motivate those kids and understand. Um. It was great. It was great. So we're just wrapping up this year two. I'm going to stop that, um and and we'll see what you'll be a retired swim coach now going back to acting. I love it. Yeah,

I might. I mean there's still that option. Um. And it's a different approach. But you girls know it's like, well we do that art, it's a it's seven, right, I mean, you're thinking that you're living it, you're doing it. Um. And I first took some time away. I was a little concerned about that, and I said, you know, why go live life, be with the kids, do the thing. And it's it's been really terrific. Um, so we'll see it.

Sounds amazing and so admirable that you gave up, you know what, what you thought you wanted or needed in that moment, and and we're there for your wife and your kids. It's really lovely. It changes though, you guys too, write I mean your mom's You've made different choices here and there. Right. Yeah, but you first into West Beverly in season three, episode seven. Yeah, that's when we started,

I think what Jeff Melman was directing. Um, we did not realize that you were originally cast as Rick Dean Kane's character. Right, How do I didn't know that? How did that go? What happened there? Wait? I can't even see it now, Like you're you can't be Rick, you have to be Gil. It's well, it's so long ago. But um, you know, Tore your dad was great to me. You know, I'm sure you're here all the time, but

he was great to me. And going in and uh man, you know, meeting Paul and meeting meeting Darren, eating those those guys and girls and Charles Rose and his wife. Um, that was on the table and then this part came up and the only controversy was at the early stages of it. When Chris Fronk Cato wrote it, you know he was going to be guilty of that. Gil was going to be, you know, the real deal guilty of that. And and me as an actor and a person, you know, this is the world, right. So when I just come

off of what did I Do? I did law and honor, and I played a really bad dude, right And on the streets of New York walking back to my apartment, people would say things to me, like, you know, you're an awful man. I can't believe you know, It's like, dude, it's TV. So I was just so tory and I know what happens. But Jenny actually never has seen it, so she doesn't really know. So she's just seen your first episode. I don't know what you're talking about about

you that. It doesn't sound like it was good right now. So funny, that's so funny, But that's so interesting. So originally you were creepy. The character was creepy. I knew it. The writers were starting to figure that out, and and me as an actor, I was just concerned because you know, sometimes in reality they put that on you, right, who wants to play that, um, um, and and your dad was cool enough to or that kind of I said, I don't want to do it that way. I don't

want to do it. And I was too young to even think that saying nose wrong. But they talked about it and then and then they rewrote it so that I'm well, Jenny Closers, I'm innocently accused incorrectly. Boy, I'm still fascinated. So wait you go in you auditioned for the role of Rick Um to play opposite Brenda, and you got the part, like they offered you the part and then said, oh no, just kidding or what how did that work out? Um? They so Dean came came

in two afterwards. Um. And it was one of this has happened a few times in my career too, where they're they're shuffling going, okay, what do we want to do here? And um, and Dean's storyline wasn't gonna stay as long um, and they thought there was a potential that the storyline would carry through for a longer time

for the writers. I believe that was the decision. I don't know, you know, that's what we talked here and they're about um and then they kept rolling that guy out that, you know, rolling Gill into that that unique place where you guys know you were young and you you you were starting out and you were representing that.

And I had to come in as one of those teachers that could, um be on the borderline, young enough to cause a little problem, um, young enough to to not have too many of the stoic teacher stuff, yet still a teacher, still in charge, still trying to impact and I think correctly making mistakes because he was a fairly new teacher. Yes, so did you play him like overly friendly with a hint of creepy or did you really try not to because he when you first watch,

you're like, oh, is this gonna get weird? Yeah? So so that's like a Red Herring, right, So you know a TV and film especially Red Herring is for me in that part. It's too lay in a little of those possibilities, right and um really initially too in their first four or five episodes, I kind of played everything a little too slow, but but slower, you know, hoping, hoping that sometimes that little hand shot would add that

which way is he gonna go? And when you look at television today and you look back then to Um or you look at Episodics. You're trying to figure out, you know, who done it right, and you're four different people, so you're trying to leave the life intentionally correct, but make some shading of like or maybe well, I just I don't know what happens, but I did definitely get creepy vibes from you, so way to lay it in there. How old were you when you played gil Myers when

you were cast? I don't know, Um, I should know that, shouldn't I? I guess, uh right, yeah, Google, that's I guess I was thirty maybe, So you're practically the same age. You're playing a teacher to kids that are actually closer to your age in real life exactly. That's why we came in with the beard, you know, to help that. That was it. The beard was a choice, okay, because

it was you was a scruffy teacher. I was like, what, Yeah, the beard was intentional to help with that, you know, um um, And some of the behavior laid in to delineate that because it was easy, um to not pay attention to that. And then you know, I wasn't supposed to be one of you guys. I wasn't supposed to be your age. I was supposed to be just a

little bit above, just a little older. Wait, so you're you played this apparently bad guy, teacher, bad guy, okay, whatever it is, but that has that transferred over into your real life being, you know, an educator and teacher. UM. Well does anybody ever be like, uh, I don't know about this guy? So so I was like post nine eleven UM. Our kids were really young. I think they were three, four and one, and that's when we had

made the decision like to come back here. And while I was here, I was trappling for the first four years doing jobs and I said I can't do that. I want to release stick UM. And so in the interim before some coaching, I was like, what do I do?

And I had a guy, a friend of mine, who was a teacher UM and I had the qualifications and schooling, but he suggested I go work for this UM basically a school system that dealt with behaviorally challenge kids on all levels, to the to the unfunctional and to the

high function. And so for a year and a half I worked intermittently four or five times a week for this UM school district that did that, and I did it because one I was kind of a concerned about that that that particular demographic is hard to teach, right, um uh. And I learned a lot because it was

uncomfortable at first, and then I met great teachers. Um. It was an amazing experience to learn how to communicate and how to put at ease and how to educate um, children of different levels that had different disabilities, whether they're emotional, mental. So I did do some of that, um, but then I turned it into the coaching because I really that

pure part. And because of that that teaching on my team's I would always mainstream some kids that were uh uh, you know, had some challenges and let them see that they're capable of doing what what the sport was. That's so cool. I love it. So when you came onto our show, it was already hit. It was season three. Um, what did you think. We're like, oh my gosh, this is going in on this show. This is big people, and like people must have recognized you all the time.

Do they still recognize you? Yeah? They do from that show kil Myers. You know that, right, because um, it was pretty a wild time coming off from New York with a lot of work in New York and coming out there, and that was I just got in l A and and that was a big show, right, and you guys were it. You were setting the trend, people paying attention to, people into it, and um it did. It gave me a lot of presents, and it gave me other work, but most importantly, it gave me like

more television experience. Uh, I remember the first day, so you're gonna see the episode's funny you didn't. But the first day I worked, I had to enter the classroom to see Brenda and to see Jason and Andrea because it was And I did it like three or four times, and they kept cutting. No one's saying anything. I'm like so, so like the fifth or six times they keep cutting it, I'm like that sending me back to one. I'm like, man,

this didn't happen. What's going on. So one of the producers came out with a casting director and said, hey, are you Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know why they keep cutting. They're like, you're stepping on Jason's line. Every time I came in, Jason said something and I stepped on them but knowing would tell me until then. So it was really funny. So I was always more to learn at that stage because I, you know, been on daytime and I had done h the episodes

I could. In New York at that time, there weren't many that was going order. There's a couple others coming in. There was not a lot of work at that time in television in New York City. Did uh, they didn't tell you were stepping on Jason Swein, But did they perhaps tell you not to look us in the eyes? I'm just curious now now they didn't do that. They didn't,

you know, they'd precursor anything to that. But I was just amazed that how you guys were handling everything, because when when I came on, the show was really spiking prior to me coming on and watching that and seeing you guys have to handle a lot. And I don't know if you talk about that or look back at it.

Um your age um coming in, the pressures and and all new actors to actors that are getting work in the beginning, there's a duality of of of a learning curve and a balance and then you guys, you know, even though I was the same Maye, you had a different pressure, um and I can only imagine that that that whole for at least the first three years had to be an adjustment for you in your own personal lives working as actors there. What did you think of

these guys? We're both like, yeah, what do you think of the cast? When you because you were there for thirteen episodes, that's a lot. Did you mostly work with just Jason and Andrea or you know, in the beginning was mostly Jason Andrea and I got some stuff and feeling and rendering you guys a little bit interactions. We've had those crossovers, um um. But you know, it was a really good experience because everybody was really welcoming to me. Um And I also think because you guys are you

know right away you're working right. So when I started Withandrea, she welcomed the opportunity to rehearse, She welcomed the opportunity explore that, um and sometimes and Jason and Dillon too. They were really cool and open, which is nice because when you sometimes come onto shows, the guys can get a little tight until they relax, and these guys weren't. They were really really cool. It's nice here. The funny thing I remember, though, is that it was like a

Monday morning. I came in and we were waiting hours and almost a late afternoon, because I think you too, character you were like in Vegas, right, and you had a great weekend and you all missed the plane I got Are you kidding? And they're all complaining and whining because you guys weren't in town. Don't remember this at all? Do you don't you remember that? Okay, something is vaguely coming back that perhaps Shannon and I were in Cabo San Lucas and missed our flight. Hey, it wasn't me

at all. Maybe this it wasn't this instance. But I didn't even remember this story at all until you brought that up. And I don't know if the timeline works out, but it could. Was I eighteen at this point, Oh my god, what year was this? Oh gosh? Graduate Okay, okay, we were in Cabo San Lucas and we did we missed our flight, and that was a call. I was like, oh god, I was. I was terrified, and Shannon's like I got it, I got it, like, don't worry. So

I remember her calling and being like, yeah, we're not. Yeah, yeah, I thought that was pretty funny. But other than that, it was you know, oh my god, yes it was. It was a great little tuck towy studio. You know, it was a cool little place. It really was. Um, did you know they filmed porn right next door? No, but I'm not surprised. I know every block and in

that area. You know, do you remember the fans reaction to Gil Myers at the time, and like maybe throughout the duration of your appearances, like did we like you did we? I don't remember? She says we She means the fans because she's me and my people. Yeah, I mean I think they did. I think in the early part it was controversial. But then I think that a lot of the reactions I would get, or that I could come be made aware of or or see what

was Gil was liked. Um was like and you know, uh, if we were on location and at the school or whatever, and there might be a lot of fans on the day on an in screaming at the fence, you know, but you know, I'd get a few shout outs, but not like we get a lot of attention of the boys. Oh and Gil, Yeah, we have a question obviously. I mean, thirteen episodes is huge, Like fans always must have remembered you.

Um any of your students on your swim team, were their moms like are they come to the shom meet and they're like, are you kidding me? There's Gil Myers. So so I don't know anybody else that's transitions from acting professional. Never heard of that. Um, So it was kind of like being outed. You know what I'd do is I didn't. I was never comfortable promoting that anyways. So I'm working my kids and all the people and doing my thing and showing them I know what I'm doing.

But yeah, it used to be kind of I think, I think he's you know, and then someone would you know, Google, and then it would be you know, all over and so more and more and more and more until the kids started to you know, the young girls and boys all I've seen coaching, and I was like, well, I didn't want them to look at a lot because a lot of the movies, I play a lot of bad guys,

you know, I play a lot of on desirable. So I wasn't really looking for twelve and unders to go and watch those, you know, not a good idea yeah, and the moms. The moms are the moms were attentive, but Ellen was cool. My life, God bless Ellen. Yeah, really, man, you know how that is. It's just, oh my gosh. So you're you're about to hang up your swim trunks. See funny I said that. God, And what's next for you? What's what's on the horizon. Well, that's what's different. You know.

This is the first time ever I've taken like four months and uh, just hanging out with Ellen, seem do my family stuff and and kind of reflecting on what do I want to do because I've sent off the remainder of my team. I've sent other other teams. They're doing well. I'm in touch with the college kids. But I'm just not sure. You know, I've done photography, I've had a studio of done other things. You're an empty nester, right, that's it. Yeah, and happened although once here and upstairs

it's home for weekend. Never empty empty but yeah, no, it's never. But and that's cool. You know, it totally changes things. It's nice. So I don't have a specific I'm I'm talking to some of the people I know and and and may take some more work and acting. Um, or I may go in a different direction. That's the coolest thing. You can do whatever you want to do. You can if you're if you just chill about it. We have to make a living and that that issue.

But it's just I mean the luxury of having this time and my wife being cool enough to go, hey, you know, do what you gotta do. Um, because swimming is is like acting in the sense that, um, it's seven and you know, there's no weekends, there's no dinners with family, there is that stuff. It worked because my boys were with me, right so so we were together all the time or if I'm gonna wait for the weekend,

they're there. And that gave a really neat parenting opportunity to kind of, uh, you know, teach them to be upstanding young guys. Good for you changing today, you know how hard it is right with the kid. Yeah, yeah, Well, all our fans, your fans are gonna hear and see this, and they're gonna be like, we want you back. So yeah, we might have to call you. As Jenny sees it, fill along. Oh my gosh, I hope you don't mind if you can join us, because I think She's gonna

definitely have more questions as we go. That's fun. That's fun. I mean when I got the call, it is like Psyche, you guys are doing this. It's it's a huge interest. I know. Um, you know Charles is doing his over there and your fan base. It's really unique and incredible and timing wise. Look at the depth of time, you know, And and we go back and influence whatever you see in movies. Now you look back at television right now, you can go back and back and back. Where does

it beginning? A lot of it begins here. Off that's happening. That comes so easy to others. Now, what if you you know, what if you guys decided to make up lind or hairline or head Instagram or that stuff. God, we talked about that, right or or music or and I think it's all different now and um, but you guys get the credit for and we're groundbreaking at the time, you know. Um, if we only knew then what we know now. Yeah, but that's the that's the rub, right,

We never get that. So should we play our game with him? Oh yes, Oh my gosh, will you play a game with us? We torture all of our guests and make them play this horrific game. It's called Kiss Mary, kick to the Curb, Kiss May to the Yeah, yeah, it's just perfect for creepy teacher. Oh my gosh, and you don't go by the actors were not precious. We have no hurt feelings. It's all based on the character. Extra weird because it's gil Meyers. I know, so you know,

is it? Andrea? Kelly Brenda answer with the character Mrs Walsh sense of the creepiness of the games? Whoever? Okay? Favorite character? Well? Who would you kiss? Oh? Favorite? Care? Sorry? Sorry? Sorry, oh right, I'm sorry? Should we play? Should we just ask him those questions? Who would you kiss? Who did I kiss? Or who would I kiss? You have to kiss Mary or kissing the curb? Hold on one of the characters on the show, So who'd you kissing? Okay, no, no, no, okay, listen,

listen Gilbert would you? You'll always be him? Know who would you like? Out of the four like females on the on the characters only Kelly Brenda, Andrea Donna, you get to go back and do it different. You as a viewer, you get to say, like, hey, I would kiss I'd marry and I kicked. I told you it's a terrible, terrible game. It's terrible game because you know, somebody's gonna lose, and somebody's gonna feel you know what,

that's life. They say, Oh my god, cep listen. It's extra weird because it's the teachers saying now, that's so sorry, sport rules. Next question, no, just oh my gosh, you won't play with us. Which one would you have wanted to marry if you were you and not just a viewer? You were just yeah, you were just a guy watching the show fires. You're just a fan of nine O two O? Which character was the most like you're speed. Yeah, everybody's got a different one. By the way, everybody picks

a different one. We've heard it all. You've heard it all. You can pick Mrs Teasley. It's okay, good, I what about Mrs Walsh. That's why I said, Mrs Walsh? All right. I don't know, girls, I'm not doing you know, I just can't do that. It is a little weird for gil Myers. I'm not okay, fine, can m later and

you'll tell us. I'm gonna slide into your d M and ask and never tell this storyline is really fascinating because, as always was so ahead of its time, and there's a real twist to it that become We will have to call Mark because it is quite fascinating and he had to play it how he played it or it would have seemed ridiculous. I can't wait to watch it. Well, you girls are cool enough to ask me on. Thank you Mark so much. We love talking to you and

catching up all right, you take care bye. Thank you Mark so much for coming on. That was so much fun. Gil Meyers in the house. Um, So that's it for this episode. We'll see you next time. We love you.