John Forsythe joins ranks of TV bad guys on 'Dynasty'
By John N. Goudas
John Forsythe says he would have been content to continue to supply the voice of Charlie on "Charlie's Angels"; do his voice-overs for that beer commercial; narrate the syndicated "World of Survival"; and take an occasional role in a movie such as ". . . And Justice for All." But his wife-of more than 35 years, Julie, wanted to get him out of the house.
"I'm a clutterer and she's an interior decorator who can't stand what I can do to a room," Forsythe said. "She suggested ! go back to work doing a series, so I started to listen to the offers."
The offers included the lead in "Trapper John, M.D.." but nothing really caught Forsythe's fancy until ABC's "Dynasty" came along. He liked the idea of playing someone other than a nice guy.
"I see Blake Carrington of 'Dynasty" as the quintessential American tycoon," Forsythe said. "He may be cold, ruthless, and all-powerful in the marketplace but he could also be loving and sensitive at home."
At 'home' is beautiful Linda Evans, who co-stars as Carrington's wife, Krystle.
Admitting that "Dynasty" isn't anything more than a good commercial show, Forsythe says it doesn't have pretensions of being anything more than what it is — an entertaining look at the super-rich and those around them.
The public seems to have found "Dynasty" to its liking. Although it is on at the same time as "M*A*S*H," on Mondays, "Dynasty" racks up respectable ratings.
Forsythe agrees that a good deal of the plot tends to be sexy, and believes that most good drama should touch upon sex.
While he hopes the show will catch on, he isn't intense about it. He has learned to enjoy life and take what comes along. His TV career has been more successful than many, and he likes the idea of reaching the age where he doesn't have to say no to delicious character parts in films.
'When I was first offered the part of the villainous judge in'. . .And Justice for All,' I almost turned it down," said Forsythe, who said he was afraid at the time that some of his "Bachelor Father" fans would be shocked to see him playing a judge involved with kinky sex parties. But, on second thought, "I believed it was time to play all sorts of roles, and took the part." He said "Dynasty" might offend some viewers who want him to stay a good guy.
Forsythe is interested in playing parts that are challenging and interesting, and nice guys often are one-dimensional, he said.
Summing up his career, Forsythe labeled himself one of the luckiest of actors. He has been on stage, in films, and on TV for more than four decades, and after ail that time, it looks as though his acting life is about to begin anew.