Denise Nicholas "Room 222"

Before millions of Americans knew Denise Nicholas as Liz McIntyre on the groundbreaking television series Room 222, she was living through history.

Denise traveled through Mississippi and Louisiana with the Free Southern Theater during the Civil Rights Movement, an experience that put her face-to-face with violence, racism and even death threats. In this remarkably candid conversation with Steve Kmetko, Denise recalls bombs being thrown at the stage, sleeping on the floor of Fannie Lou Hamer's home because of gunfire, and the terrifying moment a police officer put a gun to her head.

Then came Hollywood.

Denise takes us behind the scenes of Room 222, shares memories of Karen Valentine and Michael Constantine, and reveals how Carol O'Connor helped turn her from an actor into a television writer on In the Heat of the Night.

She also opens up about her relationship and marriage to legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers, the unsolved murder of her younger sister, a deeply personal secret about the father who raised her, her decision to walk away from acting, and the writing career that became her passion.

Plus, Denise reveals the current television series that might just convince her to step in front of the cameras again.

It's a remarkable life spanning the Civil Rights Movement, groundbreaking television, Hollywood, love, loss and reinvention.

This is Still Here Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Denise Nicholas joins Still Here Hollywood
01:18 Acting wasn't remotely part of the plan
02:48 Joining the Civil Rights Movement
03:04 Fearing for her life in Mississippi
04:01 Her mother stops speaking to her
05:13 What America gets wrong about the Civil Rights era
06:09 Bombs, gunfire and Fannie Lou Hamer
07:25 From Civil Rights activist to Room 222
10:42 Racism behind the scenes in Hollywood
13:50 A police officer puts a gun to Denise's head
15:10 The truth about Lloyd Haynes
15:21 Remembering Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine
17:31 Old-school Hollywood behind the scenes
19:31 Carol O'Connor turns Denise into a writer
21:25 What happened after Room 222
24:17 Turning down demeaning Hollywood roles
25:28 Race and opportunity in Hollywood
27:49 What Carol O'Connor was really like
29:45 The murder of Denise's sister
31:33 How Denise met Bill Withers
32:35 What Bill Withers was really like
35:00 Why marriage was difficult for Denise
36:03 Her massive celebrity wedding to Jim Hill
37:06 Becoming an author
40:19 Why she called her memoir Finding Home
40:51 Why Denise walked away from acting
42:49 Freshwater Road and owning her words
44:17 The family secret she carried for decades
47:18 The role that could bring Denise back
49:25 What gives her hope
49:53 A surprise message from Tai Babilonia
51:57 Looking back at race in America

Show Credits

Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko

All things technical: Justin Zangerle

Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein

Music by: Brian Sanyshyn

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Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]

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