Well, I, too was lucky enough to work each week on MURPHY BROWN for 8 1/2 seasons as an Actor/On camera Office Worker (After having been seen on the show for some time I was finally established as the character Tony in the "To Have And Have Not" episode. Also seen warning MURPHY about the President in the "When One Door Closes" episode).
One of my other duties on the show was as an Actor "Stand-In". A "Stand-in" is a person who fills in for the Actors to help the director set up the four camera shots, and to help fix lighting with the crew. This "Stand-In" time allows the actors to go off set to run lines, eat, get something to drink, or just go back to their dressing rooms to rest. Often during rehearsals an actor would have to remain off stage for make-up, wardrobe fittings, or a news interview. A "Stand-In" would then assume the role of the character he was "Standing In" for and run the scene with the cast. Acting so closely with Candice Bergen was a study in perfection. I would sit on set, watching her polish her scenes for the week, and would marvel at how easy she made it all look. As MURPHY she was brilliant every single week and never gave less then 110% of herself.
I was lucky enough to have the honor to work and become friends with Lily Tomlin during the last two seasons of MUPRHY. Even though she was taking the place of the beloved Grant Shaud (many fans were sorry to see him leave) it only took her about two weeks to have the entire crew eating out of the palm of her hand. Truly a lovely, warm-hearted, and genuine lady. She has a certain style and class that you don't find in the NEW Hollywood. She's one of a kind!
My other "Hero" on the show was Charlie.... Charles Kimbrough. As warm and as charming as Lily Tomlin was, Charles Kimbrough was the male version of that. I will NEVER forget my very first day on the show. I had been watching MURPHY BROWN every Monday night for almost two years when I got booked on it. I was in such awe of the actors -- scared to death would be more like it. Well, this was on a Friday (show night), we had finished rehearsals, and had a break for dinner. Every show night the dinner was catered on another soundstage on the Warner Bros. lot. I got my food and sat all by myself. I kept my eyes on my plate and started eating...the next thing I know I hear this very familiar voice asking me if the seat across from me was taken. I looked up and it was Charles Kimbrough. Well, this was a dream come true because Jim Dial and Corky Sherwood were my two favorite characters!! (It was a shock to learn that Faith Ford was NOTHING like her lovable character Corky. Let's just say that Faith Ford is a BRILLIANT actress!!!!!!) Anyway, I had a billion questions I wanted to ask Charles Kimbrough. We talked about his years on Broadway (The musical "COMPANY" is one of my all-time-favorites), and a little bit about his life. Then there was a short silence. He said, "Okay, enough about me. What do you want from life?" For the next half hour I talked to him about my goals, dreams, and what I wanted to do with my life. He really didn't have to sit there and seem so interested in this would-be-actor, but he did, and from then on he became a Hero of mine. He always had a smile and a kind word to say to you. Even as popular as the show was he NEVER behaved like a STAR. Ask anyone who worked on the show and they will tell you that Charles Kimbrough was a favorite of everyone. He truly is a Gentleman.
8 1/2 years is a long time to work with the same people (Several of my friends lasted all 10 years) and we grew into a big happy family. The laughs we shared, the piles & piles of gross 1960's police reports & dated Automotive paperwork the Extras had to sift through, the 10 years of blooper reels that we got to see of the show, and the tears we shed at the 10th season wrap party are all a part of the memories I have of the show. At the 10th season wrap party everyone received a 10 year yearbook with pictures of EVERYONE who ever worked on the show. It is something I treasure VERY much and it still brings a lump to my throat whenever I look at it. (Sorry EBAY!) I'm glad this site was created because MURPHY was a show that touched many lives and I was lucky enough to see the magic first hand. It was a glorious time for all of us!