Showing results by author "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Actor Jeff Bridges and singer and songwriter Joe Pernice on this edition of Fresh Air. Jeff Bridges has starred in The Last Picture Show, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Tucker, The Big Lebowski, Seabiscuit and other films. On each of his movie sets he's photographed the action behind the scenes.

Hear singer-songwriter Ray Davies on this edition of Fresh Air. Davies first became known as the leader of the band The Kinks, one of the great and enduring British bands to came out of the 60s. Davies' first solo record, Other People's Lives was released in 2006. While recording the album in New Orleans, he was shot in the leg by a man who stole his girlfriend's purse. His new album, Working Man's Cafe, was released this month.

Linguist John McWhorter and photographer Joel Meyerowitz on this editin of Fresh Air.

British comedian, stand-up performer, and actor Eddie Izzard on this edition of Fresh Air. Izzard is currently selling out venues in the U.S. and Canada with his new stand-up show Circle. He has won over fans with his quirky comedy and his cross-dressing. The Chicago Tribune says, "Izzard lives up to his billing. He's very bright, very fast, and very hip."

Religious scholar Elaine Pagels talks about the Gospel of Thomas and Middle East energy expert Youssef M. Ibrahim on this edition of Fresh Air. Elaine Pagels latest book, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, is about a religious text that is little known - the secret Gospel of Thomas, rediscovered in Egypt in 1945. She will explain why it was suppressed by the church and kept out of the cannon.

Writer Stephen King on this edition of Fresh Air. King has just received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at this year's National Book Award ceremony. Author of several best sellers, he is credited with ushering in a whole new era of horror with his first novel, Carrie, published in 1974.

Hear actor Mark Wahlberg, actor Colin Firth, and film critic David Edelstein on this edition of Fresh Air. Wahlberg was nominated for an academy award for best supporting actor for his role as a police sergeant in the film The Departed. Then, Colin Firth, who is probably best known for his role as Mr. Darcy in the BBC/A&E production of Pride & Prejudice. Finally, David Edelstein reviews the new documentary Taxi to the Dark Side.

Children's TV host Fred Rogers on this edition of Fresh Air. Rogers died of stomach cancer on February 27, 2003, at the age of 74. His popular show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, was the longest-running program on public television. It ended in 2001 after 33 years on the air. Last year, Rogers was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor the nation can bestow. (Original Broadcast Date: November 13, 2002)

Hear British scientist Richard Dawkins and geneticist Francis Collins on this edition of Fresh Air. Richard Dawkins is a professor of the public understanding of science at Oxford University. The New York Times has hailed him as a writer who "understands the issues so clearly that he forces his reader to understand them too". In his latest book, he writes about what he sees as the irrationality of a belief in God and sets down his arguments for atheism.

Actor/comedian/screenwriter/playwright and novelist Steve Martin on this edition of Fresh Air. His new novel The Pleasure of My Company follows his best selling novella Shopgirl (which he is making into a new film). He wrote the play Picasso at The Lapin Agile and is the author of a collection of short stories, Cruel Shoes. Martin's screenwriting credits include L.A. Story, and Roxanne.

Hear actor Sidney Poitier, TV critic David Bianculli, and film critic David Edelstein on this edition of Fresh Air. Sidney Poitier was the leading African-American actor of his generation. His Academy Award winning classic film In the Heat of the Night is now out in a 40th anniversary edition DVD.

Dr. Paul Farmer, the subject of a new book, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi on this edition of Fresh Air. Farmer is an infectious disease specialist, a medical anthropologist, and a recipient of the MacArthur "genius" grant.

Former White House adviser David Gergen on this edition of Fresh Air. Gergen worked with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. He left politics and become a regular analyst on The Newshour with Jim Lehrer and Nightline. He is also editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report. His new book is Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership.

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and actor Peter Gallagher on this archival edition of Fresh Air. McNamara is the author of In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam which contains the long awaited admission that McNamara felt the U.S. policy in Vietnam was wrong and the war was unwinnable.

Syndicated cartoonist Aaron McGruder, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page and remembering Dr. Shirley Glass on this edition of Fresh Air. Aaron McGruder's strip The Boondocks follows the escapades of Huey and Riley two brothers from the inner city sent to live with their grandfather in a Chicago surburb, where most of their neighbors are white.

Humorist Fran Lebowitz and writer Anne Lamott on this archive edition of Fresh Air. The Washington Post called Fran Lebowitz "The funniest woman in America." Humorist Lebowitz has come out with her first children's book, Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet The Pandas. In 1978, she wrote the critically acclaimed book Metropolitan Life a collection of witty essays on life. Writer Anne Lamott's new book is Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Tammy Faye Messner and record executive Simon Cowell on this edition of Fresh Air. Tammy Faye Messner, along with her ex-husband Jim Bakker, built the Praise the Lord televangelist network. Record executive Simon Cowell is one of the judges on the talent show, American Idol, a spin-off of the show he co-created in Britian, Pop Idol.

Audible was not granted digital rights to today's program. We bring you actor Gene Wilder on this edition of Fresh Air. Gene Wilder's birth name was Jerome Silberman. He made his film debut as a kidnap victim in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), but he's best known for his work with Mel Brooks in the films Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers.

Singer and Hollywood legend Rosemary Clooney on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Clooney starred in the 1954 film White Christmas. She talks about her life as a singer and performer, and you can listen to songs from throughout her career. Her 1999 autobiography, Girl Singer, reads like a who's who from the Golden Age of Hollywood. She also released a CD companion to the book. Its called Songs from the Girl Singer.

Serbian student activist Srdja Popovic and writer and retired New York City firefighter Dennis Smith on this edition of Fresh Air. Srdja Popovic is one of the founders of the student nonviolent group which helped bring down Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. The group known as Otpor (the Serbian word for "resistance") had a clenched fist as their symbol, but they used humor and theatre to ridicule Milosevic and other government officials.