Kathy Wagner-Actress
Our House, The Wonder Years
Interview with Kathy Wagner on May 5, 2012
picture taken from IMDB.com
picture taken from IMDB.com
We are honored today to have Kathy Wagner with us at the film project. She has spent her life as an actress, a UMass graduate, and so much more. Our obsession with pop culture compels us to talk to you about everything you have been involved with. Poltergeist II (of which my brother and I can often be found reciting the Reverend Kane/Carol Anne lost at the mall scene…”Are you lost sweetheart?”) , your work on Growing Pains, Silver Spoons, 90210, Sisters…you worked with Redman in “How High”. But our duty to 1988 calls us to talk to you about your superior work in our year of honor. ’88 is a powerful siren. In 1988 you and I both turned 11, the difference was that I was sitting in Ms Sipe’s 5th grade class in Cheyenne, Wyoming… and you were living in L.A. doing unforgettable guest spots on “The Wonder Years” and “Our House”. Of course, the world will never forget your role as Lisa Berlini, the girl that destroyed Kevin Arnold’s pride with .. “I like you as a friend” . The good news is, I think Lisa Berlini was forgiven by the time that Becky Slater knocked Kevin out. However, I prefer to remember you in 1988 as Courtney, the girl who convinced Molly that shoplifting was the path to popularity on “Our House”. I can also assume that since it came out in January of ’89, you spent part of 1988 filming “The Ryan White Story”. This film is very close to the heart of Hoosiers, as Ryan was from Indiana and has an amazing educational exhibit in his honor at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. So, if you are ready, here we go.
1988 Project: What do remember most about 1988?(film wise, politically, personally, whatever you would like to talk about)
Kathy Wagner: Well, I was 11 so my memories consist mostly of 5th grade issues like boys and playground drama
Project: If you could go back to 1988, would you do anything differently? any regrets?
KW: I don’t think I’d want to be 11 again- but if I was I’d want to be more confident and not care what other people thought so much.
Project: In 1988, AIDS was just beginning to be taken seriously by the larger population(according to the articles we have been posting). This was due in part to President Reagan’s shock at the death of Rock Hudson, the death of Liberace, and the case of Ryan White. As an 11 year old who was making a movie about the disease and Ryan White (in which Ryan made an appearance) do you remember how you felt about the topic? So much was unknown then, and there were so many rumors and superstitions, did you understand what was going on?
KW: I don’t think it was until I auditioned for the movie that I really has to face what AIDS was. Luckily my first real education about it was through Ryan White and his story so I learned about it in a mature and compassionate way. I do remember being scared – not that I would catch the disease – but that something like this existed in the world. It seemed so unfair.
Project: 1988 was also the year of the notable deaths of two child actors; Heather O’Rourke who you had worked with on Poltergeist II, and Judith Barsi who had built a similar volume of work to you, voiced Duckie in the Land Before Time, and also did work on Growing Pains. Do you remember if , at the time, either death had an impact on you as a child actress, considering they were around the same age as you? (see our story about the tragic death of Judith and her mother)
KW: I didn’t really know Heather O’Rourke but it was a sad day when I found out about her death. Judith and her mom on the other hand were actually good friends of my mom and I. The death of the two of them was so incredibly sad because of the horrible way it happened. This was really hard to deal with. She and I saw each other on auditions all the time. We played Barbies and colored together. I remember sobbing at her funeral and it was the first time I saw a little casket. It made a big impression on me.
Project: Change of emotion; there was not a boy in my 5th grade class who didn’t carry a crush for you after your turn on Wonder Years. When you showed up a month later on “Our House”, it was the talk of the playground..”Lisa Berlini was on “Our House”" !(we didn’t have imdb.com at the time to look up actors’ names, so we called Fred Savage- Kevin Arnold, etc) As I told you when we first started talking, we used to get “Read” magazine in school. The only two issues I remember were the one where a boy wakes up in a parallel universe where everyone is gone and his friends are in their universe and he is gone, and the issue that included the script of “The Wonder Years” episode where Kevin calls Lisa while Apollo 8 orbits the moon. Again, thank you for contributing to my literacy. First, wasn’t anyone on the show concerned that Apollo 8 orbited the moon over what would have been Christmas break? But, more importantly what do you say to people who tell you that their whole 5th grade class had a crush on you?
KW: Apollo 8 orbited the moon over Christmas Break?? Guess I didn’t do my research. I just read the lines As far as 5th graders having crushes on me….that’s very flattering. I guess I just say “Oh that’s so sweet, thank you” as I blush. I’m kind of a shy person so I’m not always good at being recognized.
Project: Who were you more nervous to work with in 1988, Fred Savage or Wilford Brimley?
KW: No brainer – Fred Savage!!
The Lightening fun round:
Project: It is 1988, you are listening to your walkman on set. The cassette that is playing is most likely__________
A. George Michael’s “Faith”
B. Whitney Houston “I get so Emotional”
C. Beach Boys “Kokomo”
D. Debbie Gibson “Foolish Beat”
E. Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
F. Guns N Roses “Sweet Child of Mine”
G. None of the above, I preferred to listen to _________________
KW: All of them! But I did love Debbie Gibson
Project: It is 1988, you want to catch a movie. What are you most likely to watch out of the top 10 movies that year?
a. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
b. Rain Man
c. Cocktail
d. Big
e. Twins
f. Crocodile Dundee II
g. Naked Gun
h. Beetlejuice
i. Coming to America
j. None of the above, I preferred to watch______________________________________
KW: Beetlejuice
Project: It is 1988, you have downtime from work. You were most likely to read____________
a. a Tom Clancy book
b. Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time”
c. Stephen King’s “The Tommy Knockers”
d. Thomas Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities”
e. None of the above, I was reading ______________________________________________
KW: None of these- I was reading Judy Blume Books
Project: It is 1988, you manage to catch some TV…would it most likely be?
a. Roseanne
b. The Cosby Show
c. Cheers
d. The Wonder Years
e. None of the above I was watching ______________________________________________
KW: Wonder Years of course!
Project: Bonus question: I see that you went to UMass from 95-99. I had a friend named Susie Carey that also went to UMass from 95-99. Did you know her?
KW: Don’t think so
Project: Bonus Question #2: What are you up to?
KW: Raising two kids! I have a 5 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. I’m still acting here and there, but my family is my focus right now.
Project: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. Thank you also for great performances and memorable pop culture.
1988 Project: What do remember most about 1988?(film wise, politically, personally, whatever you would like to talk about)
Kathy Wagner: Well, I was 11 so my memories consist mostly of 5th grade issues like boys and playground drama
Project: If you could go back to 1988, would you do anything differently? any regrets?
KW: I don’t think I’d want to be 11 again- but if I was I’d want to be more confident and not care what other people thought so much.
Project: In 1988, AIDS was just beginning to be taken seriously by the larger population(according to the articles we have been posting). This was due in part to President Reagan’s shock at the death of Rock Hudson, the death of Liberace, and the case of Ryan White. As an 11 year old who was making a movie about the disease and Ryan White (in which Ryan made an appearance) do you remember how you felt about the topic? So much was unknown then, and there were so many rumors and superstitions, did you understand what was going on?
KW: I don’t think it was until I auditioned for the movie that I really has to face what AIDS was. Luckily my first real education about it was through Ryan White and his story so I learned about it in a mature and compassionate way. I do remember being scared – not that I would catch the disease – but that something like this existed in the world. It seemed so unfair.
Project: 1988 was also the year of the notable deaths of two child actors; Heather O’Rourke who you had worked with on Poltergeist II, and Judith Barsi who had built a similar volume of work to you, voiced Duckie in the Land Before Time, and also did work on Growing Pains. Do you remember if , at the time, either death had an impact on you as a child actress, considering they were around the same age as you? (see our story about the tragic death of Judith and her mother)
KW: I didn’t really know Heather O’Rourke but it was a sad day when I found out about her death. Judith and her mom on the other hand were actually good friends of my mom and I. The death of the two of them was so incredibly sad because of the horrible way it happened. This was really hard to deal with. She and I saw each other on auditions all the time. We played Barbies and colored together. I remember sobbing at her funeral and it was the first time I saw a little casket. It made a big impression on me.
Project: Change of emotion; there was not a boy in my 5th grade class who didn’t carry a crush for you after your turn on Wonder Years. When you showed up a month later on “Our House”, it was the talk of the playground..”Lisa Berlini was on “Our House”" !(we didn’t have imdb.com at the time to look up actors’ names, so we called Fred Savage- Kevin Arnold, etc) As I told you when we first started talking, we used to get “Read” magazine in school. The only two issues I remember were the one where a boy wakes up in a parallel universe where everyone is gone and his friends are in their universe and he is gone, and the issue that included the script of “The Wonder Years” episode where Kevin calls Lisa while Apollo 8 orbits the moon. Again, thank you for contributing to my literacy. First, wasn’t anyone on the show concerned that Apollo 8 orbited the moon over what would have been Christmas break? But, more importantly what do you say to people who tell you that their whole 5th grade class had a crush on you?
KW: Apollo 8 orbited the moon over Christmas Break?? Guess I didn’t do my research. I just read the lines As far as 5th graders having crushes on me….that’s very flattering. I guess I just say “Oh that’s so sweet, thank you” as I blush. I’m kind of a shy person so I’m not always good at being recognized.
Project: Who were you more nervous to work with in 1988, Fred Savage or Wilford Brimley?
KW: No brainer – Fred Savage!!
The Lightening fun round:
Project: It is 1988, you are listening to your walkman on set. The cassette that is playing is most likely__________
A. George Michael’s “Faith”
B. Whitney Houston “I get so Emotional”
C. Beach Boys “Kokomo”
D. Debbie Gibson “Foolish Beat”
E. Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
F. Guns N Roses “Sweet Child of Mine”
G. None of the above, I preferred to listen to _________________
KW: All of them! But I did love Debbie Gibson
Project: It is 1988, you want to catch a movie. What are you most likely to watch out of the top 10 movies that year?
a. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
b. Rain Man
c. Cocktail
d. Big
e. Twins
f. Crocodile Dundee II
g. Naked Gun
h. Beetlejuice
i. Coming to America
j. None of the above, I preferred to watch______________________________________
KW: Beetlejuice
Project: It is 1988, you have downtime from work. You were most likely to read____________
a. a Tom Clancy book
b. Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time”
c. Stephen King’s “The Tommy Knockers”
d. Thomas Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities”
e. None of the above, I was reading ______________________________________________
KW: None of these- I was reading Judy Blume Books
Project: It is 1988, you manage to catch some TV…would it most likely be?
a. Roseanne
b. The Cosby Show
c. Cheers
d. The Wonder Years
e. None of the above I was watching ______________________________________________
KW: Wonder Years of course!
Project: Bonus question: I see that you went to UMass from 95-99. I had a friend named Susie Carey that also went to UMass from 95-99. Did you know her?
KW: Don’t think so
Project: Bonus Question #2: What are you up to?
KW: Raising two kids! I have a 5 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. I’m still acting here and there, but my family is my focus right now.
Project: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. Thank you also for great performances and memorable pop culture.