David Anders – May 2015 – CONversations with Craig

In May 2015, Craig sat down with David Anders at Comicpalooza in Houston for one of the very first convention panels he ever moderated. Anders, known for playing unforgettable villains and complicated characters in Alias, Heroes, iZombie, The Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time, looked back on his career, his reputation as one of the rare American actors known for convincing British accents, and the mentors who helped shape him. The conversation moved from funny set stories to emotional reflections on rejection, persistence, and the people who gave him a chance.

    • David talked about the early days of Alias, how J.J. Abrams fought for him to get the role of Sark, and why the character being British changed the course of his career.
    • He shared stories from Heroes, iZombie, The Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time, including the strange fun of playing characters who are villains, undead, immortal, or just beautifully terrible.
    • In one of the most personal moments of the panel, David opened up about giving up sports, finding acting, moving to Los Angeles at 18, and the teachers and mentors who helped him keep going.

“Always know everyone, know the scene backwards and forwards. Just know your words. And always be 15 minutes early.”

Want more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who bring your favorite characters to life? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcasting platform for more behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews.

Happy Gilmore

HAPPY GILMORE

Happy Gilmore only wants one thing: to play hockey. But when his grandmother is about to lose her house, he discovers his slap shot gives him an outrageous edge on the golf course. Now he has to turn his anger issues into prize money, while dragging the polite world of professional golf into total chaos.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Jeff Penn talk about golf, mannequin hands, Christopher McDonald’s induction into the William Atherton Asshole Hall of Fame and the movie “Happy Gilmore” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 0:59

    Craig, Elisabeth and Jeff Penn induct Christopher McDonald into the 2nd Annual William Atherton Asshole Hall of Fame.

  • 19:16

    Craig, Elisabeth and Jeff discuss “Happy Gilmore.”

  • 54:41

    Recasting

  • 1:10:30

    Double Feature

  • 1:14:59

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:27:13

    A preview of next week’s episode “O Brother, Where Art Thou.”

Next week, we celebrate Christopher Nolan’s “Odyssey” with a different telling of Homer’s tale with “O Brother, Where Art Thou.”

The Great Outdoors

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Outdoorsy Chicago family man Chet Ripley takes his wife, Connie, and their kids to a Wisconsin lakeside cabin for a peaceful vacation. But the getaway is derailed when Connie’s obnoxious brother-in-law Roman arrives with his family, turning a relaxing weekend into a battle between laid-back fun and uptight excess.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Tami Anderson talk about family dynamics, bald butt bears, kink shows and the movie “The Great Outdoors” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 0:59

    Craig, Elisabeth and Tami Anderson talk about going to the “Kink” show.

  • 14:08

    Craig, Elisabeth and Tami discuss “The Great Outdoors.”

  • 1:00:14

    Recasting

  • 1:12:13

    Double Feature

  • 1:17:30

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:22:15

    A preview of next week’s episode “Happy Gilmore.”

Next week, our 2nd annual William Atherton Asshole Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the movie “Happy Gilmore.”

The Sure Thing

THE SURE THING

Gib is a college freshman who can’t catch a break with women. When he hears a gorgeous girl in California is interested in him, he joins a cross-country carpool to meet her. The catch? Alison, the uptight classmate who already rejected him, is along for the ride. What starts as a nightmare road trip slowly turns into something neither of them expected.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Derek McCaw talk about if opposites attract, 50-year-old undergrads, summer in central California and the movie “The Sure Thing” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 1:01

    Craig, Elisabeth and Derek talk vacationing in Central California.

  • 9:46

    Craig, Elisabeth and Derek discuss “The Sure Thing.”

  • 50:45

    Recasting

  • 1:13:20

    Double Feature

  • 1:17:58

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:24:48

    A preview of next week’s episode “The Great Outdoors.”

Next week, we wrap up our summer fun movies with “The Great Outdoors.”

The Sandlot

THE SANDLOT

In the summer of 1962, new kid Scottie Smalls moves to town and is taken under the wing of a talented young baseball player and his rowdy sandlot team. He quickly gets pulled into their chaotic summer and learns that fitting in can be just as tricky as playing the game. But when a prized baseball is hit over a fence, the boys must retrieve it from the yard of the legendary Beast.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Rob Ervin talk about coming of age movies, convention going, PR photos and the movie “The Sandlot” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 0:59

    Craig, Elisabeth and Rob Ervin talk about this year’s conventions they’ve attended.

  • 15:53

    Craig, Elisabeth and Rob discuss “The Sandlot.”

  • 56:30

    Recasting

  • 1:05:33

    Double Feature

  • 1:10:32

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:15:36

    A preview of next week’s episode “The Sure Thing.”

Next week, we continue to celebrate fun movies with “The Sure Thing.”

The Hangover

THE HANGOVER

Two days before his wedding, Doug heads to Las Vegas with three friends for one unforgettable bachelor party. The next morning, his friends wake up with no memory of the night before, and Doug is nowhere to be found. With the wedding fast approaching, they must retrace their chaotic night and find him in time to get back to Los Angeles for the ceremony.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Paul Hitchcock talk about bachelor parties, tattoo highs and lows,  Las Vegas and the movie “The Hangover” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 1:05

    Craig, Elisabeth and Paul Hitchcock talk about trips to Las Vegas

  • 12:44

    Craig, Elisabeth and Paul discuss “The Hangover.”

  • 1:04:05

    Recasting

  • 1:17:23

    Double Feature

  • 1:22:49

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:31:40

    A preview of next week’s episode “The Sandlot.”

Next week, we continue to celebrate the summer with “The Sandlot.”

2024 FanX Animation Voice Actor Panel – CONversation with Craig

2024 FanX Animation Voice Actor Panel

Recorded live at FanX 2024, this episode of Conversations with Craig features Craig moderating a lively animation voice actor panel with Phil LaMarr, Spencer Grammer, Fred Tatasciore, Sean Chiplock, Khary Payton, and Jess Harnell. The conversation moves from career stories and fan questions to voice acting techniques, music, artificial intelligence, convention life, and the unpredictable comedy that happens when a room full of performers starts riffing off each other.

    • The panelists discuss how voice acting has changed as fans have become more familiar with the people behind their favorite animated characters and video game roles.
    • Audience questions lead to stories about auditions, musical inspiration, performance anxiety, AI, and the challenge of bringing emotion to even the smallest lines.
    • The panel gets wonderfully ridiculous with dramatic Pac-Man, Call of Duty Zombies holiday music, cage-free zombies, emotional dot-dot-dots, and a surprisingly confident ruling on whether water is wet.

“I’m damned displeased to be killed in this fashion.” – Fred Tatasciore

Want more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who bring your favorite characters to life? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcasting platform for more behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews.

Throne of Blood

THRONE OF BLOOD

Returning to their lord’s castle, two samurai warriors are stopped by a mysterious spirit who foretells their futures. When the first part of the prophecy comes true, one warrior begins to believe the rest may follow. Urged on by his ambitious wife, he is pushed toward betrayal, murder, and the bloody pursuit of power.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Blake Casselman talk about adapting classics, paranoia, sake and the movie “Throne of Blood” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 0:54

    Craig, Elisabeth and Blake Casselman talk about “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

  • 6:15

    Craig, Elisabeth and Blake discuss “Throne of Blood.”

  • 35:54

    Recasting

  • 49:48

    Double Feature

  • 52:55

    Final Thoughts

  • 57:25

    A preview of next week’s episode “The Hangover.”

Next week, we celebrate the summer with goofy, fun movies, starting with “The Hangover.”

The Last Duel

THE LAST DUEL

A respected knight, known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield, finds himself at odds with a squire whose intelligence and eloquence have made him one of the most admired nobles in court. When the squire viciously assaults the knight’s wife, she steps forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her own life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Brendan Agnew talk about the brutality of the Middle Ages, perspectives, tornados and the movie “The Last Duel” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

  • 1:23

    Craig, Elisabeth and Brendan catch up on Oklahoma weather and Marion’s latest movies.

  • 10:14

    Craig, Elisabeth and Brendan discuss “The Last Duel.”

  • 50:00

    Recasting

  • 1:11:01

    Double Feature

  • 1:17:57

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:22:04

    A preview of next week’s episode “Throne of Blood.”

Next week, we head to medieval Japan to talk “Throne of Blood.”

Excalibur

EXCALIBUR

The magical sword Excalibur begins in the hands of Uther Pendragon, but years later, it finds its way to his bastard son Arthur, the knave destined to become king. With the help of the mysterious Merlin, Arthur rises to fulfill his fate, bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. But even a legendary king is still a man, and Arthur must face love, betrayal, the search for the Holy Grail, and the fight to save the kingdom he was born to rule.

Craig, Alan and Elisabeth talk about Arthurian Legend, the timeless Helen Mirren, panels at Comicpalooza and the movie “Excalibur” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

  • 1:00

    Craig and Alan discuss all the panels they will be at for Comicpalooza 2026

  • 13:02

    Craig, Alan and Elisabeth discuss “Excalibur.”

  • 49:08

    Recasting

  • 1:15:03

    Double Feature

  • 1:18:30

    Final Thoughts

  • 1:25:18

    A preview of next week’s episode “The Last Duel.”

Next week, it’s like three movies in one as we discuss “The Last Duel.”