Celebrity Interview | Entertainment & Film Industry - Rebecca Holden from Knight Rider to Philanthropy

Greg Staffa 0:01

You're listening to the Staffa Corner Podcast, a Staffatarian look at entertainment and life with your host, Greg Staffa. My guest this episode is talented actress Rebecca Holden. She is an actress, model and singer. She's best known and seen in shows like Love Boat, magnum, PI Three's Company, taxi, night Court, remington Steel, arnie Miller, tj Hooker, before becoming a fan favorite on season two of Knight Rider. Rebecca, thanks for joining us today.

Rebecca Holden 0:50

Thank you. It's nice to be with you, Greg. It's nice to know about your show. I wish you much success with it.

Greg Staffa 0:56

Thank you. So tell us a little bit about what brought you to acting in the first place.

Rebecca Holden 1:01

Well, actually I studied piano and voice from the time I was a little girl and music was my entire world. And I was in New York studying privately with music teachers, continuing my music education, and an agent, I guess, discovered me, saw me on the streets of Manhattan and I became the Breck girl and did a lot of commercials for Breck Shampoo, as well as print ads and magazine covers, and that just led to lots more commercials Ivory Soap, dentine, kellogg, chevrolet lots and lots of commercials and a lot of print ads. And then Aaron Spelling, the very prolific television producer in Los Angeles, saw one of my rec spots that aired on the Super Bowl and contacted my agent. The next thing I knew I was in LA working and I've always had a very strong work ethic. My parents instilled that into me. You show up and know your lines and hit your mark and do what you're asked, and that bode well for me all.

Rebecca Holden 2:14

Throughout my career I just continued to work more and more and more and one show led to another, to another, to another. It's sort of been my whole life has been that way. People contact me through my website and find me and offer me new projects. So life is exciting and you never know what the day might bring. I always get new wonderful surprises each day.

Greg Staffa 2:42

Now, you did a lot of guest appearances on a lot of great shows, especially in the 80s. Was there anyone in particular that you would have loved to have stayed on, or a role that you maybe was didn't get as featured as much, but one that you really enjoyed working with the people?

Rebecca Holden 2:58

Oh, I enjoyed working on most every show I did. Of course, when you're a regular on a show like Knight Rider, you really do become like a family because you spend a lot of hours on the set and sometimes more than with your own family and so we all became very close and bonded and that's nice. When you're a guest star, you know you're with people about a week and then you're off to another show. But I was very fortunate. I had wonderful experiences on just about every show that I had the great pleasure to work on and made lots of friends throughout the years.

Greg Staffa 3:38

Is there a different process as an actress to maybe have one episode where your character isn't as developed versus doing an entire season?

Rebecca Holden 3:49

Well, that's a good question. Actually, when you come on as a guest star, you have your idea of what the character is like just from reading the script and usually if you go in and audition and you read and the director and producer like what you did, then obviously your vision is sort of like theirs and you proceed On a show where you're a regular. We become sort of even more familiar with our characters, obviously, as you would, by working on them week to week. Sometimes, as you probably know, there are many, many writers that contribute to shows like this, because it's a lot of content to come up with various episodes from week to week and sometimes the various writers wouldn't seem to be as familiar with our characters or their personalities.

Rebecca Holden 4:46

So directors gave us a little leeway to maybe change lines or have a little more fun with it. You know, there was sort of a great chemistry and a lot of humor with April, with her fellow castmates, and sometimes I was allowed to instill those things and make her my own, I would say. Also, there was a lot of times when I would get new pages in the makeup chair at 5.30 in the morning. It would present me with all new dialogue and sometimes that happened, maybe for a reason that was caused by the prop guys not being able to manifest what was written in the script, or they couldn't get the gadget or the uh, the, whatever they had designed for kit to do. It wasn't able to be brought to fruition. So they would come up with something at the last minute, change all my lines and give it to me on set. So sometimes it was a very good thing that I am. A quick study.

Greg Staffa 5:56

In this day and age. Cgi is everywhere. I mean, we see digitally altered things, we create digital characters. Back in the 80s, there wasn't much opportunity to interact with things that wasn't there, with the exception of Knight Rider. I mean, here you're talking to a car that talks back, but it doesn't necessarily talk back to you the way you would think it would. What was that like working with Kit working?

Rebecca Holden 6:23

with Kit. Well, you're exactly right about that, because William Daniels, who, as you know, played the voice of Kit, was never actually on set. We like to say he had the cushiest job in town because he could come in one day a week, you know, in shorts. He didn't have to get into makeup or wardrobe and just go right to the looping stage and run all his lines in a, you know, less than a half hour. But on set he was never there. So the script girl, we just sort of read Kit's lines in sort of a monotone and we had to imagine how Bill would actually say the lines. We had to give it the character and personality that Kit had and that was in our imagination. So you're exactly right in that we were reacting to what was in our heads, not what was actually on set.

Greg Staffa 7:17

What was that like working on? Because you came in during the second season, so it was already established, but now you're a main character. Was it a welcoming experience right off the bat? Did you have to kind of earn your your place, or how did that go?

Rebecca Holden 7:30

well it was. It was delightful actually. Uh, I got a call from my agent, uh, saying you know, they know your work for that. You work so much at nbc, work so much at universal and they just wanted it's not an audition per se, we just want you to come in and read a scene with David and let's see the the chemistry.

Rebecca Holden 7:51

So I went over to Universal and we met in the offices and the producers were there and David was there, we read a scene and we we're all having a great time. Uh, the chemistry was obviously there. We laughed a lot and the only question I remember them asking me was uh, she is a sort of a computer nerd and a techie, and can you look less glamorous? And I said, will this do? And I pulled out my own glasses out of my purse and put them on, and and from there april was born and she had glasses all the rest of the the season and that came became sort of a part of her character. And before I even arrived back home I already had a call from my agent saying they want you for the show and I was delighted to join the cast and everybody was wonderful and so welcoming to me and it just felt right.

Greg Staffa 8:49

Now, had you seen any of season one, or did you know what the show was about prior?

Rebecca Holden 8:53

I really hadn't, to tell you the truth, but when I knew I was going to be called in, I think I maybe watched that week, knowing that I was going to have a meeting and I love the show. Who wouldn't? You know? It's David. Well, let's face it, nobody could have played the Knight Rider but David, who's bigger than life, as was the Knight Rider, and it was just a wonderful casting and David was just great to me all through the years and in fact I attended his birthday party last year. Edward was such a gentleman and just the whole cast and crew, all our makeup people, the hair people. We had a great time and I cherish my time on the show because, you know, this show has such a legacy and it's become such an iconic show.

Rebecca Holden 9:46

I get asked so many interviews about this show, unlike many of the other shows that I worked on. So you think, you know, there are so many shows produced. Every day there are more shows produced. What is that little element that made this show iconic so iconic that it was and gave it the magic? You know, you, you never can quite put your finger on it, but the fans were drawn to it, as they still are today, even new, new generations watching it on d and on syndication.

Rebecca Holden 10:23

And I think of course there's the magic of the talking car. We all know that Guys love that, but many girls love that too. There are many girls in the hobby and they do call it the Knight Rider hobby, building their own replicas. In fact I rode a kit car in the Hollywood parade the Christmas parade just at Thanksgiving, and that car was built by Jennifer Katana, who lives here in LA and also built a replica for David. So there's just as many women who seem to love the show as guys.

The Impact of Knight Rider

Rebecca Holden 11:01

But I hear a lot about the fact that it was a little morality play. You know, the good guys versus the bad guys and Kit and Edward and Michael and April all you know worked to overcome the evil and let good win out.

Greg Staffa 11:23

I think you're exactly right. I mean, we've seen attempts at remaking it and rebooting it and it just never took off, because it didn't have that heart of the original. I think it is a testament. I mean it's a little bit dated. I mean you can see where the jumps were hidden, that you know. Oh, there's where the jump was played, but overall the storyline is very held up to this day. I think that's a testament for the writers and everyone on the show.

Greg Staffa 11:51

I remember myself not to date either of us, but I remember as a little kid going to Universal Studios where they had Kit on a little platform and they had some guy that kind of sounded like him, you know, off screen or whatever. So you could get in the kit car and ask kit, you know, and I'm like, well, this is fake, I'm going to show him, cause I'm going to ask him such a hard question. And the guy knew his stuff and I tried to trip up the guy, whoever was voicing the kit, and so for me to to, as a kid, to sit inside this mock-up of the car was just I remember that as a childhood, one of the top moments of my childhood.

Rebecca Holden 12:33

A dream come true, right? Is it fresh Talking?

Greg Staffa 12:36

back to you.

Rebecca Holden 12:39

Exactly events and a gentleman on the east coast named anthony kakeis has a beautiful kit car that talks back and it's wonderful to see the fans come up, and kids even, and the kit car talks back to them and you know, the magic is still alive today. It's a wonderful thing. In fact, we're going to be going on tour with my new album with my singing duet partner, terrell Edwards, and we're going to have the kid car along with us, because our music is uplifting, it's positive messaging. I think everybody today is looking for hope and inspiration and trying to find the positive in life, and that's what Knight Rider was really all about is that each one of us individually can make a difference in this world. That was the theme of the show.

Greg Staffa 13:39

Yep.

Rebecca Holden 13:40

And I hear so many wonderful stories from fans about how they took that message to heart and they attempted to make a difference in their own lives. And I think all of us can do that. You know, even if we just make a difference with the people and around us in our little circle, it inspires the next person to do the same and they make a difference in the lives around them, and then it's sort of like a ripple effect outgoing and pretty soon the world is a more wonderful place.

Greg Staffa 14:12

I think some of it is. We hear that one, one man can make a difference, or one person can make a difference. And I was talking to someone recently because I was going through a tough time and she's like I want to help you but there's nothing I can do because it's just, it's just me, I don't have resources to help. I said, well, you can always say a prayer.

Rebecca Holden 14:31

That's exactly right.

Greg Staffa 14:32

And she's like well, what would that do? I'm like. Well, it might do something, I don't know. But if you believe in prayer, then that's one thing that you can do to help someone, and making a difference in someone's life can be. We always think it has to be the big thing. You see a homeless person. I wish I could buy him a house. Well, no, sit down and talk to that person, buy them a meal you know gestures don't have to be massive, they can be little things.

Greg Staffa 15:01

I think a lot of that, you know, the night writer story instilled, I think instilled a lot of that in us, because a lot of his messages, kit, kit and Michael weren't saving the planet. They're helping individuals. For the most part, most of the episodes was helping a woman in need, helping a mom and her child. It wasn't like today's movies where it's the end of the world apocalypse and you need Iron man to to save them. They weren't helping large groups of things, they were helping individuals and they made a difference in that individual life and I think

Rebecca Holden 15:38

that's what sets it apart thank you for noticing that, greg, and that you're. You're just absolutely right on. We can all make a difference, even a a small way, and we don't even know how big that just that moment of sitting with someone and listening Sometimes someone just wants you, someone to care. Enough fear that people have is being alone, and to know that someone cares and they're not alone because someone is with them and willing to sit there and just be there with them, is a huge thing. I love that you're saying that. Yes, the show is about individual stories and making a difference in a very real way. Tomorrow I'm going to the homeless shelter with a group that I sing with and we do fundraisers. It's called the Get Together Foundation and we do concerts that raise money to support these shelters. And tomorrow we're going to go over and give toys out to the children and just seeing a kid's face light up by getting a toy, it means a lot. So it's the little things. You're absolutely right. It's the little things when people know you care.

Greg Staffa 17:04

Yeah, one more question about Knight Rider and then I want to move on. I mean, I think about when I had a job and I know you have a lot of reverence and appreciation for what?

Rebecca Holden 17:14

Knight Rider?

Greg Staffa 17:15

did. But does it ever get frustrating that this is something that you did that many years ago? I mean, if I had to keep talking about a job I had back then versus stuff I'm doing today, Does it ever get higher? Some of like I have the CD coming out, I have, you know, I'm doing this, this and this, but everyone wants to talk about something I did many years ago. Does that ever get frustrating for you? Or is there always that appreciation because that led to so much else?

Rebecca Holden 17:42

You used the perfect word appreciation. I'm very grateful for the time that I had on the show and the experiences I had, and I never look at it as a negative, only a positive. If people like Knight Rider and they tune into an interview because of Knight Rider and they hear about my album and come meet me in person and hear me sing, that's a wonderful thing. A lot of people know me from that show and they offer me other work. I just finished a movie, a western, that's going to be doing the Red Carpet premiere if you have any listeners, in Bethesda Maryland or nearby, january 22nd at the landmark Bethesda Row Theater in Bethesda Maryland and we're going to have a wonderful time. So come on out. You're going to see a great, faith-based, family-valued Western movie.

Greg Staffa 18:39

That was Once a Hero, correct?

Rebecca Holden 18:42

Was Once a Hero, yes, and Darby Hinton is in it. He's been in many Westerns and, of course, he played the little boy in the series, daniel Boone, and he's all grown up now. Bobby Carradine, robert Carradine, is in it. Also, our bad guy is played by John Carter Cash, johnny Cash's son. So we have a great cast and it's about something very important a lot of people are dealing with these days ptsd or uh, dementia, and dealing with that and uh it. You know it's a good way. A lot of times when you're, when you're seeing a television show or a movie on a particular topic, it stirs up discussion and makes conversations within families possible. You know, it brings up topics that should be talked about. So sometimes it's not just pure entertainment. This movie is greatly entertaining, but it also is about a very worthwhile subject matter.

Greg Staffa 19:46

And any idea of where it will be after the red carpet premiere? Is it going to be released small or digital?

Rebecca Holden 19:53

I understand. Very unlike most independent films today, it will have a theatrical release, so that's very exciting and a very big compliment to all of our cast and crew. But then also it will be on the streaming platforms. I think BMG Global is the distributor, so I don't know which platforms yet, but I know that they already have distribution and the producers are very excited about the people who are representing the film.

Greg Staffa 20:28

Not only are you a talented actress, you also perform as well. You have a brand new single coming out called Brand New Day, which is available January 2025. You also have a song Like the First Day that's out currently and available to download. We're just going to pause a second and play a clip of that.

Rebecca Holden 20:57

I still feel it like the very first time when we met and you touched meending chills up my spine, thank you. And yes, it's available on Apple Music and most of the streaming platforms. Like the First Day, was written by a wonderful friend in Miami, the producer of the year, latino producer of the year, rudy Perez Great, great song, and I'm happy to have recorded it with my singing partner, terrell Edwards, who's just an amazing talent, and we're recording a whole album of songs, so look for the new ones to keep popping up on streaming. Brand New Day will be available after the first of the year up on streaming. Brand new day will be available after the first of the year, and I think our whole world is changing and we're all looking for a brand new day in this world.

Rebecca Holden 21:56

We got the idea for the song uh from a television show that I've been asked to host called rescue one restart Rescue One Restart about helping people restart their lives after crises or tragedy, and there are many helpful organizations out there that can help people to do just that, but a lot of times people don't know where to start, especially if they've been traumatized. So when they asked me to be a co-host on this show. They said we also need a theme song, and we know that that you um do music. And I said yes, I do. And so the scripture came to me from isaiah 43, 19. It says god will make a road through the wilderness and a river in the desert. And that's the theme of brand new day, and I think we're all looking for a brand new day, and I think, with this new administration to come and so many changes in our world, a brand new day is ahead for all of us.

Greg Staffa 23:03

I certainly hope so. I need 2024 to be over as soon as possible.

Rebecca Holden 23:09

Well, I'll salute that and say a prayer for you. I know that your brand new day is just ahead, Greg. I have a feeling that things are looking up and that brand new day is just ahead for you as well.

Greg Staffa 23:24

I'm hoping so. This will be a tough holiday, but it is what it is. So a lot of your work we we mentioned the night rider theme has been a continuation of that. Not necessarily because of it, but that seems to be a core value in a lot of the message that you put out there. Is that something that's intentional or is it just how you live your life?

Rebecca Holden 23:46

well, I am a christian and I was brought up with values and principles that I try to live by every day, and I think we're to put our fellow man above self and we're supposed to keep doing as much with this life that we were given as possible to do just that make a difference. And we start, you know, with the people around us. Like I said, and we're you and I are having a conversation today, and just some of the things that you've said today touch my heart, they inspire me, and I think we all need a little inspiration to keep going, and you know the people around us do that for us, and so we need to keep looking ahead and looking to the people around us to find a purpose in life. I think purpose gives our lives meaning and gives us a reason to get up in the morning that's very nice.

Greg Staffa 24:43

So we mentioned the new, single, brand new day coming out in january 2025. We listened to the clip of the like the first day. Uh, we listened to a clip of Like the First Day. We listened to a clip of that, which was very nice. But one of the other things that you do and we've kind of hinted on this, but you do more than the average person as far as charity work Tell us a little bit about some of the stuff that you do, just on a personal level.

Rebecca Holden 25:07

Well, I've always felt that being involved with charitable organizations helps you to notice where the needs are and be aware of the needs of others above self, and it also helps us to be grateful. I know that I've traveled all over the world and I tell you, every time I set foot back in the United States I'm grateful for where I was born and where I live and where I have the privilege to live my life. It keeps you with a grateful perspective, able to have a realistic view of this world, and it keeps you working hard to make it better. I am involved with lots of different organizations. The Get Together Foundation is

Celebrating Music, Faith, and Future Projects

Rebecca Holden 26:01

one. As I said, they have not only the programs for the homeless and supporting shelters. They've instituted a wonderful program, the Music Enrichment Program for kids to bring them the experience of music.

Rebecca Holden 26:16

I know, when I was a kid, all the music programs from a concert choir and magical singers and even band and orchestra, because I played piano and accompanied so many of the orchestra and band concerts, as well as individuals who were trying out for, say, all state orchestra or whatever. The camaraderie of making music with the other kids was a wonderful part of my childhood and growing up. It gives you a sense of community and friendships and and just a sense of belonging. But also music gives us so much. Even science has proven now what, neurologically, what it does for the brain to enhance brain function, to improve our ability to focus and reason.

Rebecca Holden 27:08

Music is an amazing thing and the music education programs have been taken out of the school, so where else are kids going to get it these days? So this program gives music lessons and gives the children the experience of having that camaraderie with other kids and making music, and I'm just thrilled to be a part of this organization that provides that. I'm also involved with the Butterfly Foundation building butterfly palladiums which allow people to enter the palladium, and it's like a Costa Rican rainforest, with all the foliage and the hummingbirds and the butterflies. It's a wonderful, uplifting place to be to experience nature. We're also putting theaters in all the butterfly palladiums so that there can be a musical program there and a concert to uplift the people in attendance, because music, let's face it, it is the ultimate healer and uplifter of the soul.

Greg Staffa 28:19

Well said, I'll put links to both of those places on the bottom of this interview.

Rebecca Holden 28:25

Thank you.

Greg Staffa 28:26

So, wrapping it up, we have the Western was Once a Hero coming out soon. We have Brand New day available, january 2025. What else are you working on that fans of yours can look forward to seeing you in?

Rebecca Holden 28:38

Well, I've also been cast in a television show called LA Vice Squad in which I will play the mayor of Los Angeles oh wow. So I'm looking very forward to that series getting into production. Some things were delayed, obviously because of the pandemic in LA. It became so costly to produce anything because of all of the additional expenses of having nurses on set and all the testing and all of that. So a lot of things were delayed. But things are getting in gear again and I'm looking forward to that. I also have a wonderful project and I'm I'm very excited about it. It's a labor of love. I don't know if you know about the shroud of Turin.

Rebecca Holden 29:33

The one that.

Greg Staffa 29:33

Jesus wiped his face with.

Rebecca Holden 29:35

Exactly, and the Shroud of Turin.

Rebecca Holden 29:39

We are producing a movie, both a feature film which can stand alone on its entertainment value, because it's a wonderful action adventure on the lines of Da Vinci Code, and then also a documentary about the Shroud itself.

Rebecca Holden 29:57

And I'm working with a wonderful producer director out of New York, and if you want to become involved with the funding of this program to get it launched, you can always write me at my website. But I think the reason that this project is such a project of passion and so dear to my heart is that the Shroud this learning about the Shroud myself was a very big how shall I say? Up blister of my own faith and gave me the strength to survive in LA when I was surrounded in an industry with many non-believers actually, and maybe people who mocked their faith or whatsoever, knowing the science of the shroud and knowing that it is real. And, by the way, there are new advances in science now which do prove the validity of its truth and in fact recently in many publications there have been many new articles coming out in the press about this new science, which does indeed validate the shroud.

Rebecca Holden 31:19

But when you have something that you can hold on to, that you know that. You know that. You know that, you know that you know it helps shore up your faith in those times of doubt. So I'm very eager to get this project launched and made that helps shore up your faith in those times of doubt Nice. So I'm very eager to get this project launched and made and produced and out on the big screens Nice.

Greg Staffa 31:41

With Christmas coming up, do you have any message for people? Do you care to share a little bit of what you're doing for the holidays, anything special with family or anything like that?

Rebecca Holden 31:49

Well, I think this time of the year is, if you go to church, enjoy your times in service. I know I do mine. I play piano for my church every Sunday that I'm in town and just playing those old hymns and, especially around the Christmas season, all those great Christmas carols. It's a real joy for me and, of course, it's a time to be with your loved ones, the people that truly matter in your life, and to take a little time out to make the Christmas season a little brighter for somebody else.

Greg Staffa 32:25

Well, rebecca, it's been great having you on. It's a thrill to have you on. The little kid in me is deeply excited to have you on, as someone that deeply loved Knight Rider, just so I have a little piece of that to be able to talk to. It's probably the closest thing I'll get. Well, I did talk to Kit technically, so this is the second one I've been able to talk to, although I think that guy was just an actor hiding off in some room somewhere else, but still the little child in me that counts.

Rebecca Holden 32:53

Where do you live?

Greg Staffa 32:53

Greg, where are you located? I?

Rebecca Holden 32:57

am in Minnesota, in Minnesota, okay, great state of Minnesota. Well, it's been a pleasure to talk to you. You will be in my prayers. I hope 2025 will be your best year ever and that brand new day is just ahead for you.

Greg Staffa 33:15

Appreciate your time and look forward to seeing everything coming out, and I'll put links to the charity and we'll have the clip of the song that we played. So thank you so much for coming on thank you very much, greg.

Rebecca Holden 33:27

God bless you and Merry, merry, merry Christmas to you that does it for this episode.

Greg Staffa 33:33

Thank you for listening to the Stafford Corner.