The very first time I ever found myself in front of a movie camera was in the fall of 1968, shooting what would become a very important cultural cinematic moment, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. My mom wasn’t able to be on set with me this time because she actually had landed her own part in a movie called The Love God? starring Don Knotts at Universal. Dawn was busy working on that pilot for Nanny and the Professor. It was a busy time for all of us, but I was excited to have gotten the part, even though if you blink while watching the film today, you just might miss me. Being around all of those great actors, Elliott Gould and Robert Culp—and especially Dyan Cannon and Natalie Wood—was exciting for me.
The film was directed by Paul Mazursky and would eventually go on to earn four Academy Award nominations in 1970. The music was done by Quincy Jones, and the film was a big deal all the way around. I developed a serious schoolboy crush on Dyan Cannon, who was very sweet with me. She gave me an autographed photo that I still have today. Natalie Wood was also lovely and absolutely beautiful. Even at the young age of seven, I remember appreciating the sultry beauty of these women. I know that sounds strange, but I’ve always been comfortable around women and have always been attracted to them—especially older women, but more on that later. The film was a breakthrough for how it dealt with the touchy subject of open marriage and sexual experimentation. It was truly ahead of its time, and for me it was a great chance to watch Hollywood at its highest level, up close and personal. Even though my part was tiny, I was there, I was observing, and it made me want to be a successful actor. I wanted to grow up and do what these people around me were doing.