A letter from Jamie

I really can not believe that it was fifteen years ago when I first appeared on this stage at the New Theatre in Overland Park, Kansas.  But it was.  And am I ever lucky to have taken that job.  This theatre and city have become a second home for me.  A home filled with friendships with some of the finest actors I have worked with, friendships with some of the nicest people I have met, and friendships with some of the finest staff and crew and theatrical production company I have worked for.

We are all aware of the poor economy we are all experiencing and I want you to know that this management and cast and me personally appreciate your attendance.  Your loyalty and dedication are not taken for granted.  Thank You.

This year I will celebrate my fifty fifth year as a professional actor. My first film was the 1955 MGM movie classic Blackboard Jungle. Since that time I have made countless appearances in numerous live theatre presentations, including road companies, regional theatre, Off-Broadway and Broadway.  I was fortunate to have starred in several television series, filmed many movies for television and the large screen. I have co-starred and worked with performers such as Glenn Ford, William Holden, Sidney Poitier, Max Von Sydow, Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, Shirley MacLaine, Doris Day, Brian Keith, Ernest Borgnine, Van Heflin, and many, many more.  My career privileged me with sharing comedy with some of the world’s greatest comics, Red Skelton, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Danny Kaye, Milton Berle, Art Carney, Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke. I have taken direction from some of the best movie and television directors, George Stevens, Vincente Minnelli, David Miller, Richard Brooks, Robert Butler, Howard Morris, Hy Averback, John Rich, Gene Reynolds and Mervyn LeRoy.

Talk shows and game shows were other venues I appeared in.  Mike Douglas Show, John Davidson Show, Dinah Shore Show, The Tonight Show, Conan O’ Brien Show, Alan Thicke Show, D.L. Hughley Show, Florence Henderson Show, Geraldo Show, Regis and Kathy Lee and many more were among the talk programs.  Game shows include, Super Password, $100,000 Pyramid, $25,000 Pyramid, The Gong Show,”“The Magnificent Marble Machine, Hollywood Squares, The Match Game, Tattletales,” $1.98 Beauty Show, Let’s Make A Deal, You Don’t Say, Family Feud, Win, Lose Or Draw, All Star Secrets, Crosswits, Rhyme or Reason, Show-Offs, Scrabble, To Say The Least, and some I can’t even remember.

I have appeared in many TV shows, many TV movies and several TV series with M*A*S*H being the highlight of them all.  It was on for eleven seasons on CBS and has never been off the air since its introduction in 1973.  It remains the highest rated show in the history of television with America’s population at the time being 200 million and 125 million of them watching the last episode.

With your permission and continued loyalty I would like to keep going. And with your permission I have no plans to retire.