Interview: J. David Moeller by Jeff Woodward

J. David Moeller is a face many would recognize if they saw him on the television in the 70s, 80s and 90s. With almost 50 years in the business, J David has been seen on everything from the television show Dallas, to America's Funniest People. In addition to his numerous acting credits, he also ran for mayor of Dallas in 1971, and has been active in the Superfeast organiztion, helping hungry children around the globe.

We saw J David recently in the Chicago based Wildclaw Theatre's stage presentation of Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witchhouse. Wonderfully gifted, J David became his characters, letting the audience fall into a trance as they were sucked in by his acting ability.

Macabre Cadaver: Dave, you've had a long and prosperous career, and have worked with some Hollywood greats. What is your most memorable experience?

David J. Moeller: I was having an afternoon snack in my favorite delicatessen in Dallas, "Phils". They had the best Lentil soup in Texas. I was the only customer. I heard the little bell over the door ring and looked up, more out of instinct at hearing the sound rather than curiosity, and standing there was Uncle Miltie: Milton Berle! He looked right at me and said, "Like where am I supposed to go but a good delicatessen?" They sold those risque greeting cards there; and, wanting an autograph from the veteran vaudevillian who became known as "Mr. Television", I bought one and he graciously signed the inside. On the cover it read "Smile!" and inside: "If you got a little last night -Love Milton Berle". To die for!!!!

MC. How did you get your start in the business?

 DJM: I knew when I was 3 I'd be a performer, when I made a complete fool of myself at a neighborhood "talent show". I loved the applause even though I could neither sing (I didn't know any songs) or dance. I appeared in my first play, "The Tavern" when I was 16 but did comedy monologues (from popular comedy albums of the day) when I was 13 or 14. I became the class magician for parties and church at 15.

MC: You ran for mayor of Dallas in the 70s. Was it a tight race?

DJM: It was the largest voter turn-out in Dallas history. There were 7 candidates: The "machine" candidate, an ambulance chaser lawyer, an accountant (whose son and I had been classmates), the first black mayoral candidate (who later became a city councilman and was indicted for various problems later in his long career), a TV Goumet Chef, a TV sportscaster, and the hippie candidate (!). The TV sportscaster won and appointed me to his Mayoral Advisory Committee (for his 6 yr. term). I beat the ambulance chaser 3 to 1. No, it wasn't close, but FUN, oh yeah. It was FUN! 4. Is there a different atmosphere when performing theater vs. television roles? The technique is different. Theater requires larger moves (so the folks in the back row can see them). TV and film require a more subtle, realistic approach. The camera is unforgiving. It is said "Just think it and your face will show the emotion." I was once reprimanded by a director for mugging. (Me? Mugging? Hah! Damn right I was mugging!) So, I toned it down just a notch, still mugging, but more subtly. He bought it, left it in, and it works. There's nothing wrong, in my book, with using the face actively in characterization.

 MC: You played a variety of characters in the Wildclaw Theatre's Dreams in the Witchouse. Were you a fan of the horror genre before you took the role?

 DJM: I love horror! Problem is, I don't find anything truly scary -in films, at least- these days. Films that scared me: the original "Night of the Living Dead", "This Island Earth" (actually it scared me more the 2nd time I saw it!). "The Blair Witch Project" wasn't so scary but I really liked it and the ending was very moving for me and worked! I've played the Mummy in a comedy/melodrama spoof- but played it realistically scary; and I played an erudite Frankenstein's monster- an intellectual incarnation in the mind of Mary Shelley the night she wrote her classic tale- and end up being seduced by her rather agressively at the end, if you get my meaning. Girl Goooood! WildClaw Theatre is a blessing! I can't say enough about their professionalism and the phenomenon of their existence. They are destined to become legends in the industry for their work. Having worked with them is one of the proudest moments of my career.

MC: You also worked on the hit series "Dallas" during the 80s. Seriously, did you shoot J.R., or was that just a rumor I heard?

DJM: There's a scene in my demo reel where I help an injured friend to his feet. The rest of that scene has me moving him to the side of the road and my nodding to J.R. indicating the job he's paid us for is done (setting up a local functionary for J.R. to get the goods on him. Unseen is where I pull out an Uzi and mow down everyone in the shopping center, and then finally decapitating myself with a final burst.

MC: Out of all the places in the world to live, how did you decide on our beautiful city of Chicago to take up residence?

DJM: I've worked in Geneva, Switzerland; London, Vancouver, New York, L.A., Tucson, Dallas, Houston, Austin (TX), Las Vegas, Seattle, and Amarillo. I was in Seattle for 13 years and drove a cab for 10 and was saddened that theatrical and film possibilities, of any import, were not available. I saved some money and moved here in '06 because I've always wanted to live here and I'd gotten severely tired of not acting. I'd done nearly 20 shows in L.A. before Seattle and to suddenly stop working got to me. I had to change and Chicago was the ticket. I love it here. The acting talent is the best in the world! I have yet to work with anything but first rate performers and, believe me when I say I've learned from each of them.

 MC: Tell us about your experience with a ghost sighting.

DJM: I'd just gotten cast in "Getting Out" in Dallas, having moved back there (it was where I grew up) from an Off-Off Broadway performance run. I was looking for an apartment near the theater and was looking at one a block away. The landlady, a young woman in her twenties, opened the door and stood back in the hall and gestured me inside. But she stayed outside. Immediately, I smelled the odor of blood one step inside the door. Another step and the odor disappeared. I looked back at her and she looked away. I loved the place and took it on the spot. The front room was heated (it was a very cold winter that year) by a wall mounted gas heater. About 3 steps away from the wall, directly in front of the heater, I again detected the sanguine odor. Only those two spots! The first night I had trouble sleeping. I had no furniture: only a foam mattress on the floor. I could't get comfortable. I felt restless. After an hour of tossing I moved the mattress to a different position in the bedroom. No help. I moved it again. Four times: no help. So I moved into the living room. And slept like a baby, deep and satisfyingly. One night after a show I was exhausted and went right to bed. My back was to the heater. It was a small room and didn't take much to warm it. The heater was on. But I felt like I wasn't alone; like I was being watched. I turned my head toward the heater; and floating there, in the spot where I'd smelled the odor of blood, was a cartouche shaped mist gently undulating. I immediately "felt/knew" it was a little girl, maybe 5 or 6 years old. At first I thought there was something in my eyes and rubbed them -a cliche move for sure- to no avail: the shape was still there. I fixed my eyes on the shape and turned my head right and left, up and down to see if it was one of those "floaters" one gets inside their eyes: nothing -she was still there! Next I fixed my eyes away from the little visitor to check again for "floaters" and again she remained where she was. She was real!

 MC: Any upcoming projects?

DJM: Ah, the actor's bane: being between engagements. I'm slated to be a participant in the "48 Hour Film Project" this weekend (July 24-26). It's a world wide competition where films are written, rehearsed, filmed and edited all within 48 hours. Winners of regional competitions compete to ultimately be shown in Cannes!