Part 2

"They give you a tough physical. Every six months. The first thing they do is check your eyes. I know it was coming up so I used to read at night by the blue battle light that was outside the room at Bancroft Hall. I couldn't see in the morning. They said OK go back and rest. Don't go to classes, put cold compresses on your eyes,they were very solicitous I must say. So I went back that night read some more. I went back the next day and they said 'Oh boy!' They dilated my eyes. I knew they were going to find out now, it was going to say tilt on there or something. They came back with that they were terribly sorry Mr. Stevens (they never call you that in the fleet but at the academy they do). We can't keep you, you can leave now or you can finish out the academic year. They came up with a prescription for eye glasses that were thicker than the bottom of this glass (he pointed at an ice tea glass on the table) which I never wore. I didn't have to."

So much for getting out of the service. See, I told you it was genius in action. Staying out was another matter. After receiving a full scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York which was for two years, the Japanese stepped in and interrupted Mr. Stevens' career. He couldn't seem to get aay from the military. Even during his long television career he has played soldiers, sailors, pilots, astronauts, etc. He was in the service a week after Pearl Habor as an aviation cadet. He was stationed in England flying P-47s fighter aircraft.

With a working knowledge of the military and a general interest in the world around us, Mr. Stevens' views on the base closures were clean and clear. " I think the jobs that would be lost by that could be better turned to some other effort. I'm sorry about the jobs being lost but I don't think we need to keep an economy based on the military expediters. It doesn't seem necessary to me. I don't know what is happening in the Middle East. I think we've got plenty to handle that. I think the closures are justified." ( At the time of this interview, this was a hot topic in the US.)

From being a fighter pilot in WWII to being a ground pounder and tanker on the hit ABC-TV series Combat is a major jump. But not for Mr. Stevens. For him it was just one more step on his long road to stardom. Rick Jason, one of the stars of Combat, had this to say about Warren Stevens: "I remember working with him well, he's a very fine actor."

Mr. Stevens remembered not only working with Mr. Jason but also with Mr. Pierre Jalbert and of course the late Vic Morrow. In the Combat episode The Gun, Vic Morrow has to pull him out of a smoking tank, real dramatic stuff, great acting from a fighter pilot. Even with Combat being in the distant past, the memories are still there of a party that was held after a long day of shooting.

"We went to Gunville up on the Russian River for a couple of the shows, I remember that was interesting. They gave us a party at the vineyard up there - Korbel. The party started at 6 0'clock at night and of course we couldn't get there until 7. They had a huge mansion, the owners - a couple of brothers - and they had this huge swimming pool shaped like a champagne bottle. They were pouring this awful champagne - Korbel champagne and I said to this guy can't you get a decent drink around here. It turned out to be one of the brothers. He took me up to the mansion and said what would you like. I said how about scotch. Yeah, I'll join you was his next line. Nobody lived in the mansion they only used it for parties. But I didn't have to drink his lousy champaign."

Mr. Stevens was asked if he could only make one comment to fans what would it be. " Keep watching." Those two words say it all. Without the fans the actors are the losers. They can make or break a show or star. Fan clubs are another interesting subject. Some stars love to have a fan club or information group, still others prefer not to do so. They keep their lives very private and away from the media in any form. According to this star, "I think it's great. I'm not sure I understand, but I think it's great for the fan club, the fans and the product."

Here is a man who has done everthing from commercials for Lone Star Beer in TX to traveling to other planets. A person who has created some wonderful monents on television and in the movies. Yet, when asked what advice he would give to some one interested in acting, the answer was unexpected, "Well any advice I could give them wouldn't make any difference anyway. They're either going to do it or not, no matter who says what. Especially if they are really determined. So my advice is to not give any."

Warren Stevens, a man who has lead a rich full life and is still enjoying each day. He plays golf and has played in a number of golf tournaments. He made a hole in one a month ago which is great for a golfer of any age. Here is a star who recently did a convention appearence in Florida and donated the proceeds from his autograph sales to charity. The man behind the characters, behind the very identifiable voice, behind what we have seen on the silver screen, is a kind, generous gentleman. One who made a Sunday afternoon a very special memory. Thank you for giving us so much joy!

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