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The Secret History of Hunter: Wild On-Set Accidents, George Clooney, Sammy Davis Jr. and more with Stepfanie Kramer!

In this episode of That's Classic, host John Cato sits down with the legendary Stepfanie Kramer—best known as the powerhouse, independent Detective Dee Dee McCall on the hit 80s series Hunter.

Stepfanie pulls back the curtain on Hollywood history, sharing incredible, never-before-heard stories about the intense grind of making the show, what Fred Dryer was really like off-camera, and how a chance encounter in a health food store frozen aisle laid the tracks for their iconic on-screen chemistry.

But it’s not just about Hunter! Stepfanie opens up about her encounters with old Hollywood royalty, from singing over the phone with Bob Hope and dancing with Sammy Davis Jr., to sitting between Donald O'Connor and Ella Fitzgerald at Frank Sinatra’s private 40-guest birthday party. She also shares the terrifying reality of 1980s international fame—including the dark side of obsession that forced her to live under 24/7 armed guard with a motorhome on her property.

Plus, find out why she chose to walk away from a hit show at the absolute peak of its success, what it was like directing her co-star Fred Dryer, and the massive cultural phenomenon Hunter became when China first opened its borders to Western television.

Finally, get an exclusive sneak peek into her brand-new paranormal and spiritual podcast launching later this year, The Other Side with Stepfanie Kramer!

Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.


00:00 — Introduction - Meet Stephanie
01:02 — The Missing Piece: The Audition Process for Hunter
01:52 — The Riptide Spin-Off That Almost Changed Everything
02:44 — The Mystery Envelope: A Second Position Audition
03:20 — Why NBC Executives Changed the Title Hunter & McCall
03:59 — Aging Up: Wearing a Suit to Look 10 Years Older
04:38 — Facing the "Suits" in the Network Mini-Theaters
05:38 — "That Girl": How Fred Dryer Picked His Co-Star
06:25 — A Chance Encounter w/Fred Dryer in the Health Food Frozen Section
08:42 — From the Gridiron to Hollywood: Fred Dryer's NFL Background
11:04 — Rewriting Hunter: Fixing Scripts on the Fly
12:14 — The 90-Hour Work Weeks: "It Exacts Its Pound of Flesh"
14:52 — The Hardest Gig in LA: Going Through 8 Crews in One Year
16:55 — Action to Romance: The Metamorphosis of the Show
18:37 — The Flashback Episode: The Truth About Their "Affair"
22:22 — The Forgotten Episode Featuring a Young George Clooney
23:25 — Sharing the Screen with True Greats: Jane Russell & Sammy Davis Jr.
24:52 — Late Night Phone Calls and Singing Duets with Bob Hope
27:51 — Frank Sinatra's Intimate 40-Guest Birthday Party
33:29 — Crawling Through Pipes with Uzis: The Physical Stunts
34:50 — On-Set Disasters: The Blank Blast That Blew Out an Eardrum
37:59 — "She Shot Me!": The Shocking Prop Gun Mishap
41:22 — The Dark Side of Fame: Mentally Unsound Fans & Armed Escorts
43:37 — Living Under 24/7 Guard: A Motorhome on the Property
48:04 — Training at the Police Academy & Inspiring Real-Life Female Officers
52:08 — "What I Do vs. Who I Am": Staying Grounded in Hollywood
54:51 — Choosing Motherhood Over Hollywood: Leaving Hunter at the Peak
57:31 — Stepping Behind the Camera: Directing Fred Dryer
1:02:35 — National Obsession: Becoming a Sensation in 1980s China
1:05:00 — The Ultimate Challenge: Learning a Theme Song in Chinese in 48 Hours
1:12:39 — Juggling with Tom Hanks: Early Days on Bosom Buddies
1:18:01 — The Next Chapter: Launching The Other Side with Stephanie Kramer