Barry Livingston, best known as Ernie from My Three Sons, brings a treasure trove of Hollywood stories in this nostalgic ride through decades of TV and film. From early beginnings alongside his brother Stanley to memorable roles in The Orville, Mad Men, Zodiac, and more—Barry shares the ups, downs, and delightful surprises of a lifelong acting career. He reflects on brushes with icons like Paul Newman and Elvis Presley, his transition from child actor to seasoned pro, and the quirky journey that shaped his signature look. Plus, a behind-the-scenes peek at working with legends like Lucille Ball, Fred MacMurray, Adam Sandler, and Steven Spielberg.
Episode Highlights:
- How Barry’s first role with Paul Newman led to a surprise diagnosis—and launched his Hollywood journey
- The real reason he was fired from Rally Round the Flag, Boys! and how it became a blessing in disguise
- What it was like working on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and transitioning into My Three Sons
- The McMurray Method: how Fred MacMurray filmed My Three Sons out of order—and no one noticed
- Barry’s surreal ride around the Paramount lot with Elvis Presley (while watching Popeye in a decked-out Cadillac)
- His hilarious encounter with Steven Spielberg and why Spielberg fan-boyed over him
- Behind-the-scenes memories from working with Lucille Ball, William Frawley, and Betty White
- From Doogie Howser to Bosch—how Barry built a second act as a beloved character actor
- What Adam Sandler did that no one else in Hollywood would—and how it landed Barry in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
- Honest reflections on navigating fame, adolescence, and the 1970s acting grind with grace (and some weed)
You’re going to love my conversation with Barry Livingston
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I'm a tech entrepreneur, podcaster, and professional stand-up comedian. I started my journey in the tech industry back in 1997 when I founded my own website development company, which was one of the pioneering companies in the country at the time. While working in technology, my comedic talents couldn't be contained, and I eventually took to the stage as a stand-up comedian.
My passion for comedy led me to create Hashtag Roundup (@hashtagroundup on Twitter), a platform that has contributed to over 8000 top 10 USA trends on Twitter. With the growth of social media, particularly Instagram, I founded Stampede Social, a company aimed at helping creators drive traffic to their content without relying solely on a link in their bio.
