Right For The Role with John Frank Levey

John Frank Levey
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Film Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

"Right For The Role" is hosted by legendary casting director John Frank Levey, whose four-decade career and four Emmy Awards reflect his uncanny ability to recognize who's right for the role. As the casting visionary behind revolutionary television shows like "ER," "The West Wing," "Shameless," and "China Beach," Levey has not only witnessed but actively shaped the careers of some of Hollywood's most recognizable talents. Through intimate conversations with accomplished guests like Eriq La Salle, Sasha Alexander, Dennis Dugan, Noah Wiley, Shanola Hampton, and others, listeners will discover inspiring stories about finding one's authentic path in both life and career.  Drawing from his vast experience, Levey guides conversations that uncover valuable insights about taking risks, advocating for what you believe in, and discovering your true calling. Whether you're in the entertainment industry or simply navigating your own path, each episode offers honest, unfiltered discussions about defining moments, career transformations, and the journey to embracing the roles we're meant to play.  So join John Frank Levey -- recipient of the Casting Society of America's prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award for Lifetime Achievement -- as he shares his exuberance for the craft and helps listeners find inspiration to discover their own role of a lifetime.

  1. 5d ago

    Dana Delany: How to Trust Your Instincts In a Tough Industry

    Dana Delany has built a career around following her instincts, embracing meaningful roles, and allowing her personal values to shape the choices she makes professionally.  In this deeply personal conversation, John Frank Levey reconnects with his longtime friend to explore where Dana’s creative drive began, from childhood trips to the theater in Connecticut to her early experiences on Broadway and the realization that acting was a calling she had felt since she was three years old. John and Dana revisit their time working together on China Beach, including the audition that eventually led Dana to the role of Colleen McMurphy and the unusual story of how she accidentally showed up for her audition a day early. Their conversation also examines the impact of that series, the authenticity Dana brought to Colleen, and how the experience taught her to trust her instincts while recognizing the responsibility actors carry when their work reaches millions of people. Dana also opens up about the creative choices that have shaped her career, including her attraction to complicated female characters, her lifelong fascination with film noir, and her decision to turn down roles when something about the material or the people behind it did not align with her standards. John and Dana discuss the changing nature of television, the loss of intimate storytelling, the evolution of the audition process through self-tapes, and why Dana has increasingly gravitated toward independent films and projects with people she trusts. The conversation ultimately becomes an exploration of identity, family, personal responsibility, and the lifelong process of discovering who you are through the choices you make. Dana reflects on using performance as a child to connect with her parents, the significance of her father seeing her perform on Broadway before his death, and the three words she chooses to describe herself today: curious, present, and a loner. Key takeaways from the conversation: Dana explains why she knew from an extremely young age that she needed a creative life and how her childhood experiences with theater helped shape that callingJohn and Dana revisit the audition process for China Beach and how Dana’s instinctive connection to Colleen McMurphy helped create one of the roles she still identifies with most stronglyDana discusses why she has deliberately turned down major opportunities throughout her career, explaining how her personal standards and responsibility to audiences have influenced those decisionsThe conversation explores the importance of authentic human interaction in acting, from traditional auditions and working together in a room to the increasingly technology-driven world of self-tapes and remote castingDana shares deeply personal reflections about her parents, the loss of her father at a young age, and the ways acting allowed her to connect with her family while discovering who she was becomingFollow Dana on Instagram

    Dana Delany: How to Trust Your Instincts In a Tough Industry

  2. Aug 5

    Richard Lawson: Never Fear Forging Your Own Path

    Richard Lawson has built a career that spans decades, yet his passion for acting, teaching, writing, and mentoring continues to evolve with purpose. In this conversation, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his creative life, from serving in Vietnam as a medic to discovering acting as his life's calling and developing the resilience that has carried him through thousands of auditions, setbacks, and successes. The discussion explores how personal hardship can become a foundation for growth when you commit to serving others instead of allowing difficult experiences to define your future. Through powerful stories from the battlefield, the classroom, and the entertainment industry, the conversation reveals how empathy, gratitude, and a clear sense of purpose have guided every stage of a remarkable career. The episode also takes listeners behind the scenes of Hollywood, offering an honest look at rejection, career longevity, and the realities actors face while pursuing meaningful work. Richard shares why creating opportunities for yourself matters just as much as booking auditions, how separating your identity from your profession creates resilience, and why maintaining integrity often requires difficult decisions. John Frank Levey and Richard Lawson also discuss the responsibility that comes with mentoring the next generation, the value of remaining in service to your craft and your community, and the lasting impact of choosing purpose over recognition. The conversation closes with thoughtful reflections on legacy, gratitude, and the simple daily question of whose life you can positively influence through your work and your presence. Key Takeaways Serving as a combat medic during the Vietnam War shaped a lifelong commitment to empathy, leadership, and helping others navigate life's most difficult moments.Thousands of auditions, career disappointments, and unexpected detours became opportunities to strengthen purpose instead of reasons to abandon a lifelong dream.Learn how to build a sustainable creative career by balancing personal projects with professional opportunities while protecting your sense of identity.Gain insight into navigating Hollywood with integrity, including the importance of standing by your values when career-defining opportunities challenge who you are.Teaching, mentorship, and daily acts of service can become the foundation of a meaningful legacy that extends far beyond professional achievements.Follow Richard Lawson on Instagram @mrrichardlawson | @hyperlensstudios Connect With Richard On His Websites richardlawsonstudios.com richardlawsonenterprises.com hyperlensstudios.com Follow Richard on TikTok

    Richard Lawson: Never Fear Forging Your Own Path

  3. Jul 29

    Susan Rovner: How Resilience, Change, and Independence Lead to Growth & Success

    The experiences that shape your life rarely stay confined to childhood, and the lessons you learn through adversity often influence every major decision that follows. You’re about to dig into a conversation that explores how resilience, independence, and a willingness to embrace change can shape a meaningful career, strong relationships, and a lasting impact on the people around you. On this episode of Right For The Role, John Frank Levey is joined by Susan Rovner to talk about the moments that shaped her path from a determined young woman navigating her parents' divorce to one of the most respected television executives in Hollywood. Together, they explore how listening before speaking, trusting your instincts, and embracing calculated risks can open doors to opportunities that may never have been part of your original plan. The conversation also offers an inside look at the creative side of the television industry, examining how honest feedback, thoughtful leadership, and genuine collaboration help writers, actors, and producers do their best work. From giving constructive notes to navigating difficult career decisions, these stories reveal how respect and empathy can strengthen creative partnerships and build lasting professional relationships. You’ll also get an up-close look at the rapidly growing world of the micro series and the new opportunities it’s creating for storytellers and performers. It also reflects on lifelong learning, career reinvention, mentorship, and why continuing to discover the roles that align with your strengths can create a more fulfilling personal and professional life. Key takeaways from this episode: Childhood experiences can shape confidence, resilience, and long-term career decisionsListening first often leads to stronger leadership, better communication, and more effective collaborationHonest feedback and mutual respect help creative professionals produce stronger work and build lasting relationshipsNavigating career changes, embracing new opportunities, and making decisions that align with your values is imperative to self evolutionThe growing world of micro series is creating new opportunities for actors, writers, producers, and emerging storytellersCatch Up With Susan Rovner! Websites: atwist.com | aha-studios.com Instagram: @atwistofficial | @ahastudios_

    Susan Rovner: How Resilience, Change, and Independence Lead to Growth & Success

  4. Jul 22

    Ming-Na Wen: How Authenticity & Gratitude Can Shape a Career

    Some careers last because of talent, while others endure because of the character, resilience, and perspective behind that talent. Ming-Na Wen reflects on the experiences that have shaped her remarkable journey, sharing how authenticity, gratitude, and a commitment to lifelong growth have guided every stage of her career. John Frank Levey and Ming-Na discuss the importance of embracing your identity instead of trying to fit someone else's expectations, especially in an industry that has historically relied on stereotypes. Their conversation explores how thoughtful conversations with creative leaders, confidence in your own voice, and a willingness to stay true to your values can create opportunities that have a lasting impact. Every career includes moments when the phone stops ringing, and Ming-Na offers an honest perspective on navigating those quieter seasons with patience and purpose. She explains how investing time in family, personal interests, travel, and new experiences creates a richer life while also strengthening the work you bring to every future opportunity. This conversation also explores the responsibility that comes with success and why using your platform to support meaningful causes creates fulfillment beyond professional achievements. John and Ming-Na examine how advocacy, community involvement, and maintaining a strong sense of gratitude can help you build a career that reflects who you are while making a positive difference in the lives of others. Key Takeaways Embracing your identity creates stronger opportunities than trying to fit someone else's expectations. Career slowdowns become opportunities for personal growth through family, travel, hobbies, and life experiences that enrich future work. Honest conversations with creative leaders can help challenge stereotypes and encourage more authentic storytelling. A fulfilling career includes interests and passions that exist outside of your profession and continue to shape your perspective. Advocacy, gratitude, and community involvement create a lasting legacy that extends beyond professional success.Connect With Ming-Na on Instagram Grab a Copy of Ming-Na's cookbook, Have You Eaten Yet?

    Ming-Na Wen: How Authenticity & Gratitude Can Shape a Career

  5. Jul 15

    Lisa Edelstein: Embracing Growth, Change, and Reinvention Personally & Professionally

    There comes a point in everyone's life and career where choosing a new path is the only way to move forward. Lisa Edelstein joins John Frank Levey for a thoughtful conversation about creative reinvention, personal identity, and the choices that help shape a meaningful life on this episode of Right For The Role. Drawing from her experiences as an actor, writer, and artist, she explains how pursuing creative work for the joy of the process can provide clarity and fulfillment. John and Lisa also discuss the pressure performers often feel to seek external validation and how stepping away from that mindset can open the door to genuine self-discovery. Lisa shares how engaging in creative practices without the expectation of an audience allowed her to reconnect with her own interests, values, and sense of purpose. In addition, this conversation explores the importance of owning your unique background, building rituals that create stability, and making space for creative expression in everyday life. Lisa offers practical insight into how small, intentional practices can help anyone cultivate a stronger connection to their authentic self and continue growing through the simple act of doing. Key takeaways from this episode: Creating for the sake of the process can reduce pressure and encourage personal growthPersonal identity, heritage, and individual perspective can become valuable assetsConsistent rituals and intentional practices can create stability and connectionThis episode features practical ideas for starting a low-stakes creative practice and using reflection to better understand their valuesFollow Lisa Edelstein on Instagram Check out Lisa's Artwork

    Lisa Edelstein: Embracing Growth, Change, and Reinvention Personally & Professionally

  6. Jul 8

    John Stamos: The Role That Changed Everything (and How The Beach Boys Discovered Him)

    It's the Season 2 Premiere of Right For The Role and, in this episode, John Frank Levey sits down with John Stamos for a conversation about the moments that shaped his career long before audiences knew his name. Together, they explore the value of learning from experienced mentors, why curiosity has remained one of John's greatest strengths, and how paying close attention to the people around you can create opportunities that no audition ever could. As is tradition on Right For The Role, the conversation moves beyond acting to examine the personal work required to build a lasting career. John reflects on the importance of understanding your own experiences (like getting hooked up with The Beach Boys), embracing honesty instead of protecting your image, and recognizing how self-awareness gives performers the ability to connect with both their work and the people they meet throughout their lives. The duo also discuss rejection, career setbacks, and the pressure that comes with high-stakes moments when everything feels like it is on the line. They unpack why many disappointments have more to do with timing and circumstance than talent, how perspective changes the way you recover from failure, and why persistence continues to open doors for people who remain committed to their craft. Throughout this episode: John Stamos explains why becoming a student of experienced professionals helped shape every stage of his career.Both Johns discuss how self-awareness and honesty strengthen both creative work and personal relationships.Hear John Stamos' perspective on handling rejection, recovering from career disappointments, and understanding what is truly within your control.Discover why gratitude and meaningful relationships have remained central to Stamos' success long after achieving fame.Learn practical lessons on finding the role that fits who you are, both in your career and in your life.Television shows discussed on this episode: General HospitalFull HouseERConnect with John Stamos on Instagram

    John Stamos: The Role That Changed Everything (and How The Beach Boys Discovered Him)

  7. 02/05/2025

    The Roles That Form & Change Us: Noah Wyle on ER, Activism & Longevity in Show Biz

    Actor, director, writer, and producer Noah Wyle joins John Frank Levey to share the fascinating story behind his legendary ER audition and explore his remarkable three-decade career in television.  In this intimate conversation, Noah reflects on how his role as Dr. John Carter evolved from an uncertain medical student to a confident physician, mirroring his own growth as an actor and person. From his early resistance to television work to becoming one of the medium's most enduring presences, Noah discusses how ER's groundbreaking approach to diversity, storytelling, and medical authenticity changed both his career trajectory and emergency medicine itself.  He shares moving insights about working alongside acting legends and the powerful mentorship dynamic between his character and Eriq La Salle's Dr. Peter Benton. In this episode: The complete story behind Noah's memorable ER audition that won over Michael CrichtonHow the Dr. Carter/Dr. Benton relationship broke new ground in TV representationWorking with legendary actors like John Randolph, Eli Wallach, and Alan AldaNoah’s real-world activism inspired by ER's Africa storylinesThe evolution of emergency medicine before and after ER's influenceFinding creative fulfillment through three decades of television workBalancing his career with fatherhood and family lifeThrough candid stories and thoughtful reflection, Noah illuminates how finding the roles you're right for – both on-screen and off – can lead to profound personal and professional growth. TV shows discussed in this conversation China Beach (TV)Dark Shadows (TV - unaired pilot)ER (TV)Leverage: Redemption (TV)Connect Connect with Noah on Instagram: @therealnoahwyleConnect with John on Instagram: @john_frank_levey_Click here to order a signed copy of John's memoir, Right for the Role. Acknowledgments Photographer Eusebio Hernandez specializes in "hero shots" — his own artistic spin on headshots. He helped John Frank Levey, who typically hates having his picture taken, feel comfortable enough to get a great shot for his memoir "Right for the Role." Learn more at www.heroshots.la. The Right for the Role podcast would not have been possible without the generous support of PBS Management, Karen Cease, and the estate of Peg Sweesy. Many thanks to my producers, Jerod Morris and Trudi Roth of It's the TruStory (https://www.itsthetrustory.com)

    The Roles That Form & Change Us: Noah Wyle on ER, Activism & Longevity in Show Biz

  8. 01/29/2025

    Taking Pride in Your Career: Tim Bagley on Learning, Growing, and Staying True to Yourself

    Veteran actor Tim Bagley joins John Frank Levey to discuss his remarkable three-decade career spanning hundreds of roles.  From his early days studying with renowned acting coaches to becoming a Groundlings mainstay, Tim shares how his commitment to authenticity and continuous growth has shaped his craft and journey as an openly gay performer in Hollywood. Through candid stories about his experiences on shows like ER, Southland, and Somebody Somewhere, Tim reveals how he approaches each character with empathy and psychological depth – whether playing a flasher, an OCD patient, or a Supreme Court clerk opposite Sally Field.  The conversation explores how his background in improv and dedication to ongoing training have enabled him to tackle dramatically diverse roles while staying true to himself. In this episode: How Tim discovered his comedic voice through The Young Americans and The GroundlingsThe psychology behind creating authentic characters, even in challenging rolesHis groundbreaking LGBTQ representation on Will & Grace and beyondLearning valuable lessons from being fired and the importance of letting goHis experience with loss during the AIDS crisis and its impact on his career choicesThe value of continued acting training and study throughout one's careerWorking with acclaimed actors like Sally Field and Regina KingTim's story exemplifies how embracing authenticity, both personally and professionally, while maintaining a spirit of continuous learning can lead to a rich and enduring career in the arts. TV shows and plays discussed in this conversation: Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV)ER (TV)Hacks (TV)Hello, Dolly! (stage play)Perfect Couple (TV)Shameless (TV)Somebody Somewhere (TV)Southland (TV)Teachers (TV)The Court (TV)Will & Grace (TV)Wings (TV)Connect  Connect with Tim on Instagram: @iamtimbagley, and visit his website, timbagley.comConnect with John on Instagram: @john_frank_levey_Click here to order a signed copy of John's memoir, Right for the Role. Acknowledgments Photographer Eusebio Hernandez specializes in “hero shots” — his own artistic spin on headshots. He helped John Frank Levey, who typically hates having his picture taken, feel comfortable enough to get a great shot for his memoir "Right for the Role." Learn more at www.heroshots.la. The Right for the Role podcast would not have been possible without the generous support of PBS Management, Karen Cease, and the estate of Peg Sweesy. Many thanks to my producers, Jerod Morris  and Trudi Roth of It’s the TruStory

    Taking Pride in Your Career: Tim Bagley on Learning, Growing, and Staying True to Yourself
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"Right For The Role" is hosted by legendary casting director John Frank Levey, whose four-decade career and four Emmy Awards reflect his uncanny ability to recognize who's right for the role. As the casting visionary behind revolutionary television shows like "ER," "The West Wing," "Shameless," and "China Beach," Levey has not only witnessed but actively shaped the careers of some of Hollywood's most recognizable talents. Through intimate conversations with accomplished guests like Eriq La Salle, Sasha Alexander, Dennis Dugan, Noah Wiley, Shanola Hampton, and others, listeners will discover inspiring stories about finding one's authentic path in both life and career.  Drawing from his vast experience, Levey guides conversations that uncover valuable insights about taking risks, advocating for what you believe in, and discovering your true calling. Whether you're in the entertainment industry or simply navigating your own path, each episode offers honest, unfiltered discussions about defining moments, career transformations, and the journey to embracing the roles we're meant to play.  So join John Frank Levey -- recipient of the Casting Society of America's prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award for Lifetime Achievement -- as he shares his exuberance for the craft and helps listeners find inspiration to discover their own role of a lifetime.

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