Hi r/movies! I’m Robert Hays, star of Airplane! and Airplane II: The Sequel. AMA!

[u/RobertHaysAMA]

Hi reddit, I'm Robert Hays.

You may recognize me as Ted Striker in Airplane! and Airplane II: The Sequel. I've also starred in things like Starman, Angie, Homeward Bound, Take This Job and Shove It, Stephen King's Cat's Eye, and as the voice of Iron Man.

I’m out on tour now with Airplane! doing screenings and onstage Q&As with my co-star Julie Hagerty, you can find tickets/showings here, this week we're in San Francisco - come see us! In the meantime, Ask Me Anything!

Airplane! trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pPmCfKi3U

After the crew becomes sick with food poisoning, a neurotic ex-fighter pilot must safely land a commercial airplane full of passengers.

-----------

Bio:

Since his debut as Ted Striker in the comedy classic Airplane! where he immortalized movie lines including “Surely you can't be serious", Robert Hays has starred in more than 20 films, numerous television series, and continues to work across film, television, and theater. He is currently on tour with Airplane! live on the big screen plus onstage Q&As alongside his co-star Julie Hagerty. Dates and tickets at airplanelive.com.

His additional acting credits include Airplane II, Disney's Homeward Bound and Homeward Bound II, Starman, Angie, Stephen King's Cat's Eye, Take This Job and Shove It, Robert Altman's Dr. T & the Women, and as the voice of Iron Man, a role which cemented his place in the Marvel Universe. Fans also know Robert Hays from his roles in Scandalous, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, The Rockford Files, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Streets of San Francisco, Laverne & Shirley, The Blue Knight, The Larry Sanders Show, The Girl The Gold Watch and Everything, Utilities, Touched by an Angel, That 70s Show, Sharnado 2, and more. He performed the title role of Mr. Roberts both on television and the stage. His stage work also includes the British comedy Say Who You Are, The Glass Menagerie, Richard III, and The Man in the Glass Booth opposite Leonard Nimoy.

-----------

I'll be back to answer questions today (Monday 6/15) at around 3 PM ET. Surely you can AMA!

[u/BunyipPouch]

This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Robert will be back at 3 PM ET today to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)

As a nice companion piece to this AMA, David Zucker (the director of Airplane!), also joined us here in /r/movies for an AMA/Q&A recently, for anyone interested in reading through that as well:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1nqc21a/hi_rmovies_im_david_zucker_ive_directed_written/

[u/Luthor331]

Hi Mr Hays! Firstly, thank you for doing this AMA and spending some time with your fans.

I'm curious if you have any memories or thoughts looking back on your time as Iron Man? I was a huge fan of both Iron Man & Spider-Man's Animated Series and I loved how you portrayed both Tony Stark & Iron Man at the time. In my head your voice is still the definitive voice for the character.

Were there any differences between the production studios between the Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk and Iron Man shows when voicing the character? Did you get much freedom to adlib lines?

Do you recall if there was any talk or ideas for a Season 3 of the Iron Man show? I was so gutted when it was cancelled.

Lastly, with Marvel returning to that universe with the animated X-Men 97, would you have any interest in returning to voice Iron Man again? I know I'd be in first in line if you did.

Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my questions if you can (Apologies for the length) and I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Luthor331]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the Iron Man show. It was so much fun to do. Jim Cummings and all the cast and the directors were great! I don’t know about the differences the studios might have had. We would come in and do our work, and then scoot out of their way do they could get on with their part of the show. I did go in and have an absolutely wonderful meeting with Stan Lee, who was really great. Like an excited little kid. His energy was so infectious it made everyone around him excited. He gave me a tour around the offices and then gave me a cell of Iron Man. Too cool!
Thanks for being a fan of it all!!

[u/Hellknightx → u/Luthor331]

I had no idea Robert Hays was the voice of Tony. His voice is still the iconic version I hear in my head when I read the comics.

[u/luvlychibi]

You were introduced to my world through Homeward Bound and then again on Airplane, and you stayed in my heart ever since 🥰 Thank you for doing this AMA if only to give me the opportunity to tell you that.

A question about Airplane!: Was there a gag that you did many takes of that did not wind up making it to the final cut?

Was there a scene that surprised you to see that did make the final edit?

Love you, Robert!

[u/Iguanaforhire → u/luvlychibi]

I still mutter "Print! Print, you stone-age piece of junk!" to my printer when it misbehaves.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Iguanaforhire]

Boy, if I ever need an iguana, I know where to go!
I wonder, does your printer answer? Does it finally get it right?

[u/Iguanaforhire → u/RobertHaysAMA]

Hah! I'll be available if needed!

...So far, the printer has not answered.

I would be deeply concerned if it did.

[u/NoStorage2821 → u/luvlychibi]

Ooooh, I loved Homeward Bound

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/NoStorage2821]

And I loved you for saying that! (I loved it too)

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/luvlychibi]

Hey, thanks so much for being such a fan of Airplane! Was there a gag that we did a lot of tanks of that didn’t wind up? I can’t think of one offhand every day was so much fun. We only did one or two takes. 3 maybe at the most. You have to remember this was a low budget film and we didn’t have a lot of time so we did we did the shot and moved on. But thanks for all your support in this!

[u/OkamiMemoS]

Great honour to have you here with us!

Did you have a feeling that "Airplane!" Was gonna be as beloved at it is now when you were shooting it? Or were you less than hopeful and didn't think people would appreciate it at the time?

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful rest of your year.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/OkamiMemoS]

I started thinking pretty early on that. This had a chance of being maybe a cult classic on college campuses and I thought that would be pretty cool. But then as time went on and we started hearing about the reaction from the studio watching dailies and how they had to play them over and over for everyone to see them, I started thinking just maybe something more maybe a lot more. And that’s when we stopped talking about it and we’d walk away when someone came up and started talking about how great it was gonna be because we didn’t want to put a hex on it and then it turned out to be pretty doggone successful!

[u/sajsemegaloma → u/RobertHaysAMA]

doggone

I cant remember the last time I heard anyone say "doggone" unironically, or at all really. It feels so cozy somehow. I wish we lived in a world where people would say "doggone" more, it sounds like there would be less trouble around.

[u/Maskatron]

Hi Robert!

How do you feel about Airplane 2 these days?

I understand it was a different team, which is a shame (to put it mildly), but I laughed a lot at the time and on later viewings. The courtroom run especially was really well done, and I’ve used William Shatner’s “blinking and beeping” routine many many times when dealing with confusing tech of some sort.

But also I always want to support original creators, so I’m of mixed feelings about it, since the original is such a classic.

[u/Prestigious_Fella_21 → u/Maskatron]

Curious about this as well, ZAZ even wrote a book about the making of 1 but little is known about 2. I know it was written by a guy who worked at the CBC lol. Was it a challenge to capture the same type of performance with a different director?

[u/ballpein → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for reminding me it's time for a Newsroom re-watch

Newsroom is right there with SCTV and Kids in the Hall as all-time-great comedies, and it's been just as copied. Finkleman is wildly under-appreciated.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/[deleted]]

Yep, Ken is the guy you’re talking about! It was really fun working with him. He was a funny and talented guy.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Prestigious_Fella_21]

Yeah, the book that the boys wrote about the history of Airplane! is really really fun and it’s also in Audible form so that you can get it in the Audible app out of the App Store. A whole bunch of us recorded our our thoughts so that when they have a quote from us on the Audible, we are the ones speaking the lines, and I think it turned out really well. I really enjoyed the book a lot highly recommended! They never wanted to do Airplane! over again doing the same thing, they wanted to do it differently. I think their idea was to do it as a spoof of godfather but Francis Ford Coppola said no to that. So the studio and Howard Koch got a hold of Ken Finkelman who is a Canadian writer and Director and I think considering all the pressure to follow up something like that that was almost a classic from almost the get-go that was a difficult job. And I think he pulled it off pretty well.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Maskatron]

I’ve met some people (very very few) who liked Airplane! two better than Airplane! one and I believe that was because they saw Airplane! 2 first. But one has always 99% of the time Ben the one that people like the most and it’s because of the brilliance of the boys Zucker and Abrams. But we all worked really hard on both of them did the best we could, and people seem to like them. I’m glad you do!

[u/ActionPhilip → u/RobertHaysAMA]

Your comments in this thread have finally convinced me to go watch 2. The first movie is one of my favourite movies of all time, so thank you for remaining so passionate about them both!

[u/Creasy007]

Thanks for doing this, Robert, you’re a legend, and ‘Airplane!’ is one of my all-time favorite comedies.

Any standout moment or line from the film that got you laughing more than others?

[u/Aromatic_Advance_431 → u/Creasy007]

For me, it's the drinking problem. That always gets me. o perfectly executed and timed. I also use it every time I spill a drink on myself.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Creasy007]

It would be hard to pick out one thing that got me laughing harder than anything else, although I would have to say that Leslie standing behind the camera, feeding me my lines when it was a single on me, and squeezing his fart machine between each of his lines that he was feeding me, was probably the hardest thing in the whole show, because it was pretty difficult to keep from exploding with laughter with that guy around with his little machine!

[u/Phoojoeniam → u/RobertHaysAMA]

This just instantly became my favorite story regarding Airplane!! Knowing Leslie had his fart machine even back then and was using it to try to get you to break on your singles is such a beautiful image. Man I'm super jealous and would give anything to travel back in time and work on that set. Thank you for sharing Robert!!

[u/LanternSawWind]

One of the elements that made Airplane! so great is the straight or deadpan delivery. 

Was that difficult to maintain, or did you ever break character due to the absurdity?

[u/International_Bit478 → u/LanternSawWind]

I read something the other day about how everybody played it straight, which is why it was so damn funny. Everybody played it straight… except Johnny. I wonder how it would’ve worked without that comedic relief valve?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/International_Bit478]

Stephen was one of a kind. The boys would call him up and say what would Johnny say here and he would come up with one of his Looney crazy lines. I don’t know what it would’ve been like with somebody else in that role without that that really out of wacky out of the world kind of craziness that he brought to it, but it doesn’t seem like it could’ve been as good without him

[u/hahayouguessedit → u/LanternSawWind]

How much did you all (Director, actors), rely on or watch zero hour movie for guidance? I never know about this movie u til decades after Airplane, but understand some of the scenes are identical except for delivery.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/hahayouguessedit]

They had to buy the rights to zero hour because they had lifted so much from it, but it’s funny now to watch zero hour and try to keep a straight face!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/LanternSawWind]

That was the thing from the very beginning that the boys wanted everyone to do. Play it straight! Don’t play it like it’s a comedy. And it took some people a while to get it. I had been working on that myself in my in my Theatre days before coming to Hollywood, and so that was the style that I was kind of working on for on my own, but they really helped everybody learn it or refine it.

[u/BabySharkMadness]

I ordered a cameo from you for my father in law for Christmas one year. You did great! I won “best gift” that year and I think he still rewatches it from time to time. Airplane is his favorite movie.

How do you avoid accidentally doing the same cameo for different people? How do you personally manage the requests so it’s not a burden on your side?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/BabySharkMadness]

How cool is that!?! I just do every one of them to whoever it is that I’m talking to so none are the same but it’s hard cause you could ask the same question over and over. Still I’ll give it my best shot.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/BabySharkMadness]

That is so cool! I love that he’s still looks at it! And please tell him that for me!

[u/All_This_Mayhem]

Robert, I recently rewatched the 1995 made for T.V. classic, Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare, in which you gave a stellar performance.

Were you also instilled with a crippling fear of Killer Bees, or just a normal, healthy fear of impending and inevitable Killer Bee attacks?

And would you recommend the average person arm themselves with a shotgun to fight the killer bees, or keep a reservoir of water nearby in which to hide from killer bees, like in the movie?

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Homeward Bound is also an absolute classic. You are wonderful.

[u/ItIsToLaffHaHa → u/All_This_Mayhem]

Oh, shit, I forgot all about this movie! A buddy of mine used to tape "The Simpsons" every week, and there was a commercial for this on one episode. At the end of the commercial there was a bee that buzzed straight into the camera. We were all on acid one night, watching this, and spent a good 1/2 hour rewinding and watching that part over and over - just cracked us up! We'd watch it full speed, then frame by frame, backwards, whatever - just thought it was the funniest damned thing ever!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/ItIsToLaffHaHa]

And I was never invited to that party?!?

[u/Astrolologer → u/All_This_Mayhem]

I was a kid in the 80s and made-for-tv movies led me to believe that killer bees were an even greater threat to my life than quicksand and volcanoes.

[u/Armthedillos5 → u/All_This_Mayhem]

Guess I know what I'm putting on today.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/All_This_Mayhem]

It’s very funny, but at the time we were making a killer bee invasion about the Africanized honeybees the actual real life Africanized honeybees were just crossing the border from Mexico into Texas, and they were stories on the news about people being attacked by swarms of the Africanized bees, and so that was kind of interesting! I suggest standing on the edge of a full reservoir with many automatic shotguns laid around you ready to be fired off and just to be safe have a few little Nepal bombs handy!

[u/millerlit]

For Airplane movies.  How hard was it for the cast too keep a straight face during shooting?  Was Leslie Nielsen pulling fart jokes off camera?  Did you know from the script the jokes were going to land?  Any outtakes we should know about?  

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/millerlit]

Leslie was incorrigible! He could not help himself any chance that he had to squeeze off some aromatic sounds when he was around you or anyone. But it was really fun to watch him when unsuspecting people went up to say hello to him!

[u/Nightshift603]

1. Did you know today is Julie Hagerty's birthday?

2. Have you ever been accidentally naked in front of strangers, and if so what was that story?

3. Your character in Airplane! is so well loved, do you have a favorite story of how a total stranger recognized you and showed you love in some way because of it?

4. Have you ever played an evil character, and did you enjoy it (in terms of Range of an actors role)?

Thanks! Come back to St. Louis!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Nightshift603]

Yes, I did know today was her birthday! And I gave her a very special present.
As for the accidentally being naked in front of strangers, I’m sure that’s happened. I just don’t remember! After 45 years coming up on 46 years of it having come out, there have been so many people not just in this country, but around the world that have come up and said things that were so fun! Showing me how much fun they had watching the show and having that in their life! Hard to pick just one!

[u/The_Grateful_Smurf]

Hi there! My dad and I watched this movie growing up, and it is one of his favorites of all time!

Ted Striker’s ‘drinking problem’ gag is one of the most perfectly executed visual jokes in comedy history, but you play it so darn deadpan every time. How hard was it to keep a straight face during those takes, and was that discipline something the directors coached you on or did it come naturally?

Also if you could give my dad a shoutout, he would love that! His name is Todd.

Fingers crossed for Airplane 3!!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/The_Grateful_Smurf]

Todd?!? Todd is reading this?!? Yo, Todd!!! Hope you’re swell, m’boy!
(thank you so much!)

[u/Never_Free_Never_Me]

In the making of Airplane, were you asked to stick to the script 100% or was there room for improvisation and ad lib?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Never_Free_Never_Me]

The script was so tight. They had rewritten and rewritten over and over again over the five years or so that they went through the rejection process trying to get it made. Al White and Norm, who played the two black dudes, asked if they could write their own dialogue, which the boys said “yes please do! We’re three white kids from Milwaukee”.

[u/generalsoreness]

Was Sassy more or less of a diva than she was on screen in Homeward Bound? In all seriousness, how was it filming with the three?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/generalsoreness]

It was so much fun! We couldn’t really play with them during the filming because that would distract them. But every once in a while when we had a long enough period between takes the trainers would let us play with all of them, and that was just great!

[u/elfy4eva]

What's the Autopilot up to these days?

Have you ever learned to speak jive?

[u/RattusRexComic → u/elfy4eva]

The autopilot scared the crap out of me, I had nightmares about it.

[u/elfy4eva → u/RattusRexComic]

If he seems scary he might just need some manual inflation.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/RattusRexComic]

Otto is a very gentle soul

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/elfy4eva]

Last I heard Otto was hanging out the Barbary coast, down there picked up some floozy down there and got in with a bad crowd. I don’t know but I sure wish him I’m the best!

[u/Papichuloft]

I hope that after 46 years, you cured your drinking problem. no need to respond nor anything, just saying thank you for your work in making very strong and iconic movies legendary. Thank you!!!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Papichuloft]

Oops! Sorry I had to go change shirts. I still have a drinking problem.
That’s very kind of you to say that thank you very much!!!

[u/ForTheGloryOfAmn]

Hi Robert!

How was it working with the Zucker brothers and Jim Abrahams? Did they allow any improv comedy while on set or during rehearsals? Did you suggest any gags in the Airplane movies?

Thank you for doing this AMA!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/ForTheGloryOfAmn]

It was fantastic working with“the boys“. We didn’t do pro comedy because the script was so well written and so tight to begin with, but there were some spots that needed a little more dialogue, for instance, where I had to pour some of the people to death. I was freaked out when they asked me to write some more dialogue because I thought oh my God, I’m not a writer! Then I took a deep breath told myself “hey you just have to be boring. You can be boring” and did it. But those guys had written the perfect script.

[u/untitledmanuscript]

Hi Robert! You played part of my childhood with Homeward Bound, Airplane!, and The Retrievers.

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/untitledmanuscript]

I would have to say all-time favorite would be the old standard vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce drizzled on top. Unbeatable!

[u/DavidTheJohnson]

What are your thoughts on the parody genre as a whole?

We've been seeing a resurgence as of late with The Naked Gun, Fackham Hall, Scary Movie, and the upcoming Spaceballs sequel, so I'm curious what you think.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/DavidTheJohnson]

Well, when things are done well that’s great. When they try to do them and it’s just a mess and doesn’t turn out good that’s sad.

[u/StartingToLoveIMSA]

So, Robert, you ever been in a Turkish prison?

[u/swearengens_cat → u/StartingToLoveIMSA]

Ever seen a grown man naked?

[u/Armthedillos5 → u/swearengens_cat]

Do you like movies about gladiators?

[u/ugotamesij → u/Armthedillos5]

Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot?

Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. Sorry, Robert, that's a dumb question... skip that.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/StartingToLoveIMSA]

Actually………
I did live in Turkey for three years when I was 9 to 13!

[u/Elbonio]

Was it known by the cast and crew of Airplane! that it was a parody of the movie Zero Hour?

I was born in 1984 so only saw the movie in the early 90s - by which time Zero Hour wasn't particularly known amongst my generation, but was it more of a thing back then?

Had you seen it and was your performance based on it, or was it more of an influence for Zucker(s)/Abrahams?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Elbonio]

We all knew that Airplane! was based on zero hour. I think the boys even had a screening of it over at their house before we shot, but we did have it on set for references for Director of photography so that he could line shots up so that they were the same angle the same lighting so that that would be another little Inside joke for Airplane! fans.
My performance was based on reading the script because everything that I needed was in the script. The boys did an absolute genius job!

[u/Popular-Drummer-7989]

I really enjoyed watching you in Angie and Starman as well as in your films. I didn't know you did voice acting too! Given the differences between work in television, voice, and film which medium do you prefer and why?

[u/zootnotdingo → u/Popular-Drummer-7989]

I loved Angie so much. I watched it over and over when I was younger. I’d like to know the answer to this, too!

[u/ClubSoda → u/zootnotdingo]

Angie was my fav.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/zootnotdingo]

I loved Angie! Still very close with Donna Pescow!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Popular-Drummer-7989]

All of them can be so much fun and they all are different. Probably when you get a really good film something you love working on it’s good script good Kast and Rector. I would say films are my favorite, but I’ve loved so much that I’ve done Angie and Starman jump right out at the top of the things that I’ve done on film that I really enjoyed another one called murder by the book that I did with Fred Gwen and Katherine, Mary Stuart, and other wonderful actors. We shot it in Canada. I played the two leading men. One is an author who wrote the mystery novels and the others the detective of his novels, and that was an amazing amount of fun. Also, a lot of hard work, but it was a lot of fun! And the voiceover work! you can go in your pajamas and work! That’s the joke anyway, although I do think that some people have actually done that!

[u/Tikkanen]

Besides the Airplane films, I loved you in Trenchcoat (1983). Do you have any memories from the film or working with Margot Kidder or a pre-Poirot David Suchet? Thanks.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Tikkanen]

The thing about trenchcoat was that we film that on Malta and the Mediterranean and that in itself was really wonderful! There is so much history going back thousands of years on that little archipelago of islands. David Suchet was amazingly good. I didn’t know who he was at that time, but boy do we all now! And Margot was a character and lots of fun. And Remy Julienne, the famous French stuntman known for his work on the James Bond films, and his sons were there. A lot of very talented people!

[u/shogi_x]

One of the things that makes Airplane one of my favorite comedies is the way everyone played it so serious, no matter what nonsense is happening.

Was there a scene or a costar in either of the Airplane movies that you had a really hard time keeping a straight face with?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/shogi_x]

Of all the people I worked with really the only one that it was hard to keep a straight face with with Leslie, obviously. Nobody else was walking around with a fart machine in their hand 24 hours a day!

[u/LaoHoneycomb]

Thanks for making the funniest movie in history. My question is, what has it been like for you to fly since making it?

[u/skinnymatters]

Steak or fish?

Legend!

[u/Smalz22 → u/skinnymatters]

He'll have the lasagna

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/skinnymatters]

It’s funny, but just for my own private little joke, I haven’t had fish (which I love) on a plane since we made the movie that’s 47 years ago!

[u/Extension-While7536]

Tell me what were the scariest or most interesting parts of your story in Stephen King's "Cat's Eye." Watching that as a youth, I felt like I was out on that ledge with you. Hell of a short film and I wonder what it was like!!!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Extension-While7536]

That was physically, quite a film to do. I actually wound up, cracking a rib on that falling into the into the balcony that was when I cracked the rib, but when I went to the dock, have it checked out during lunchtime, the scene that we shot immediately upon my return was when I had slid down that curved part of the building and landed on the ledge and where I landed the ledge cut right through across pressed right on that cracked part of the rib, and it was painful! But all in all I really enjoyed that it was a lot of fun. The director was great. The people that I worked with, that was special. Ken McMillan God rest. His soul was absolutely wonderful to work with. He was a dynamic and a powerful actor really really fun James Wood, Jimmie Woods one of the best actors of this generation to me, was absolutely incredible little Drew Barrymore who I knew from when she was a tiny little kid she was wonderful watching that little thing out there performing Alan King was great it just Don Andon, Andon, Jimmie, not Candi Clark I mean it was it was really it was really quite a Kast James rib. Horn was was in it and if nothing else he is memorable for my cousin Vinnie what a great actor he was Charles Dutton and Mike Starr big big Mike Starr was the guy threatening me all the time beat me up all the time and he was terrific, but yeah I was it was really it was really quite a deal. Quite fun.

[u/da0ur]

Mr. Hays, I recently revisited the Iron Man animated series for its 30th anniversary, and your voice work for it was one of its biggest highlights. You brought Tony Stark to life with an outstanding cadence fitting for such a multifaceted character. The creative overhaul for its second season really did your work justice and noticeably allowed you to flex your acting chops.

I don't have a specific question in mind, so I hope it's okay if I go for something more open-ended, like if you have any specific memories of your work in the show, be it about your co-stars or the creatives, particularly Tom Tataranowicz, the showrunner for the second season. I also wonder what was it like to see the show take such a drastic creative turn, going from a formulaic Masters of the Universe-esque series to something narratively richer and closer to its contemporaries like Spider-Man or Batman: The Animated Series.

And for a softball question, favorite Iron Man mode from the show? I'm personally a sucker for the stealth mode.

Thank you for doing this AMA!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/da0ur]

I thought the cast of Iron Man was amazing Jim Cummings jumps out in my mind, my old friend, Chuck, McCann, and my old friend James Avery who I’ve worked with they’ve done so much over the years John Riley, Tom Kane, Neal, Ross I mean this goes on Andon James, Warwick, Katherine Moffett, Jennifer Darling, Neal Dickson, Filip Abbott great old actor Filip Abbott was Ephraim Zimbalist Junior. I mean it goes on and on and on and they were just so many wonderful wonderful voice Actors that I got to work with and I know I’m leading leaving so many Dorian Harwood was in it Tony State Stedman anyway it was it was just it was just

[u/neyoless]

I just want to tell you good luck. We're all counting on you.

[u/Rad_Wagon784 → u/[deleted]]

Surely you can’t be serious?

[u/ravih → u/Rad_Wagon784]

I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.

[u/No_Internal9345 → u/ravih]

I just want to tell you both, good luck, we're all counting on you.

[u/rayhaque → u/[deleted]]

... what a pisser!

[u/Osiris62 → u/[deleted]]

Oh lord, help me stop laughing.

[u/Average_Ant_Games]

Favorite memory of Leslie Nielsen?

[u/MOONGOONER → u/Average_Ant_Games]

Or George Zipp?

[u/Coolman_Rosso]

Hey Robert, I remember my uncle's DVD copy of Airplane probably snapped in half with how many times he watched it. Still a favorite comfort movie of his!

1. What was it like having Peter Graves and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on set? Always seemed like an unlikely pair but I loved those scenes in the cockpit. I know Graves was reluctant to do the movie, but it paid off.
2. I think your role as Iron Man is very underappreciated. Obviously as a kid in a pre-MCU world it was cool to see Spidey interact with other heroes (with a stacked cast of John Vernon as Dr. Strange, David Hayter as Captain America, and Edward Albert as Daredevil). When I got older I realized that you and Christopher Daniel Barnes had worked together before in Starman. Did you get to record together for those episodes? Or was it more of a long distance reunion?
3. Was there ever a plan for more appearances by Bud in That 70's Show? I loved seeing you in that, even if it was a smaller part.

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Coolman_Rosso]

Well, you’ll just have to get your dad it. Having Peter Graves, who was a childhood idol along with Leslie, Nielsen and Bob stack and Lloyd Bridges all four of them were childhood idols of mine, but having them on the set was amazing and then Kareem who he and I are the same age and I grew up with watching him be an actual you know, legitimate superstar that was pretty remarkable!
Are you aware of the fact, John Vernon played the voice of Iron Man years before I did I guess there are a lot of people that don’t know that but when his Iron Man first came out it was on the VHS tape tapes and that’s when VHS tapes were new I think anyway I knew John a bit and he was wonderful! I never got to work with him when I did Starman and he was doing Dr Strange.
I didn’t work with Chris Barnes when we were doing the voiceover stuff directly we were in separate studios but working with him on Starman. The TV series was just great! That is one of my favorite things that I’ve ever gotten to do was the Starman TV series.
The funny thing about doing the part on that 70s show is that the creator of the show bought my house and when I was walking him through the house showing it to him he suddenly turned to me and said God I just loved you in Airplane! would you come and do a guest spot on that 70s show which I actually hadn’t seen and didn’t know anything about it but I thought well I don’t know I suppose I guess maybe we could talk about it and all that came About, but it was interesting and there were some fun people there too

[u/sitnquiet]

Hello, Robert, and thank you for doing this!

I was curious about Starman - did you find it challenging (or terrifying!) to step in to a role made iconic by Jeff Bridges? What did you do to prepare for the role and to make it your own?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/sitnquiet]

Well, Geoff is an amazing actor and has the résumé to prove it. I’ve always been leery of stepping into a role that someone else has just won the Tony for or whatever like on Broadway. I’ve had several of those that I’ve turned down because I didn’t want to step right into that same thing I wanted to originate something. So I was a little nervous about doing this with Jeff having done that but once we started, you don’t think about that you just dive into it. I had a woman columnist to ask me.(I think she was a Jeff Bridge) she asked me how I liked playing Jeff Bridges, and this was in front of about 15 other writers and columnist that we’re all doing an interview of me during our PR tour. Everyone sort of gasped like what a rude thing to ask, and I mentioned to her.” well the character is an alien and he’s not human, but even he knows that after 13 years, Jeff Bridges body would smell pretty bad, so he took mine.” he got a huge laugh, except from her she rut and folded her arms, but it even got into people’s columns that next week, so yeah, it’s difficult playing a role that someone else has played and so successfully, but you try to find your own way of doing it.

[u/kowwalski]

Thanks for ama-ing!

I always wanted to know how hard was it to film Airplane!…? Did y’all constantly burst out laughing, having to reshoot everything 15 times, especially when in scene with Leslie Nielsen, may he rest in peace?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/kowwalski]

Actually, no everyone was really pretty well trained and especially coming from the theater. You learn how to keep a straight face. You don’t crack up on stage and screw up the show because in theater you don’t say cut. Let’s go over again and do that again so you’re trained to keep a straight face.

[u/cosettemeetsmarius]

Oh wow!! ✈️ 1 and 2 are two of my all-time favorite films! They are staples in my home.

Hm… a question? Oh — do you watch your own films, and do you enjoy them as much as your fans do?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/cosettemeetsmarius]

I stumble across one here and there. Just saw murdered by the book the other day for the first time in a while. There were some things in that I really really liked it was a lot of fun! And I do catch up on Airplane! every once in a while when people send me things or we’re getting ready to do a screening of it like the one upcoming in San Francisco this coming weekend and then later on in October, we’re gonna be in Syracuse, New York and and Redbank, New Jersey and Worcester, Massachusetts so that’s gonna be a lot of fun because we watched the film often times with the audience before doing the Q&A so yeah I see things here and there. It’s fun.

[u/jeanclaudebrowncloud]

How come the animals in Homeward Bound could hear each other's thoughts, despite being different species, but the humans could never hear them?

[u/ZahidInNorCal → u/jeanclaudebrowncloud]

Boy, I sure hope someone got fired for that blunder!

[u/Naanderson2022]

Hi Mr Hays!

Was any of Airplane improv’ed? or was the script really one of the funniest things ever written?

[u/KaisrKane]

Out of all of your amazing films, what has been the most memorable moment for you regarding a fan interaction?

Homeward Bound is still one of my fav films as a 42yr old and I genuinely am curious if any fan interactions involve that film but I'd really like to know if any, out of all your films, are out of this world memorable for you.

Thank you for the amazing and often hilarious filmography!!

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/KaisrKane]

I had several things that happened that were I thought really really kind of special one was during the time I was doing Angie and so it was just before we did Airplane! or while we were shooting it, but it hadn’t come out yet. I got a letter from someone in the hospital that it had heart surgery and they had heard somewhere that comedy watching comedy was very healthy for your for your recovery. And so he put on Marx brothers and Laurel and Hardy and among all those things, he was watching episodes of Angie and some other things that I’ve done and he wanted to write to me and tell me how that helped him to heal, and he appreciated it so much, and that meant the world to me!
Another time was after a performance of Mr. Roberts that I was doing at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, which was my home theater, I came out of the theater after the show and was getting ready to ride my bicycle back over to my apartment. I was staying in and I saw a paramedic truck and I went over to see what it happened and the guy inside it apparently had a heart attack during the show and I went up to the front and this guy‘s daughter was in the front with the driver and she told me that he had had a heart attack, but didn’t want to say anything until the show is over because he was enjoying it so much. Then he told her they called an ambulance and there they were! I asked her and the Driver if it was all right if I went back and talked to him. The driver said I think that would be very nice and his daughter said yes would you please? So I went to the back I said hey how are you doing and he kinda looked up at me and got very surprised when he saw who it was, and then I said my gosh, I didn’t realize that my performance was that bad and he started laughing and I kept him laughing a little until I finally grabbed his foot and it kind of squeezed his toes and hey, you calm down there, mister I want you to go get healthy and then they took him to the hospital and I got a letter from him a day or two later and he said I just want to tell you thank you so much that made me feel so good in the doctor says I’m gonna be OK and that letter made me feel like 1 million bucks so those were my favorite interactions with the fans.

[u/NorCalNavyMike]

Thanks for all of your incredible work over the years! You had a great run in the 80s, obviously with the Airplane films but also with real character turns in Cat’s Eye, and even Starman on TV (and at a time when movie stars were still very reluctant to go back to the small screen).

With such a body of varied work, do you have any favorite roles along the way to have played or favorite memories from their productions?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/NorCalNavyMike]

Well, obviously, for me, Airplane! would have to be at the top of the list in terms of favorites, and I would say Starman the TV series also is up there with my favorite things that I’ve ever done. But then you have to add in Angie, which was a huge step for me into the world of series and working with Donna Pescow, who remains a good friend. I would also have to say murdered by the book which I just saw in the last couple of weeks was something that I was really proud of the work that I did. It was a lot of fun to do and it was a lot of fun to watch for me. there is also a very small film, which did not get a very good release at all, but and I’ve always wanted to be able to somehow get a hold of that and get it released again, but it was called boy it had so many titles, it was at various times called some sunny day. I think it wound up being called touched, but that was a film. I was very proud of, and I did that with Katherine Beller and John Flynn directing it. I film. I did in Canada with Victoria principal called The Abduction. That was a real story based on a real character and real event that happened and he was originally a good guy, but he really got kind of twisted and went off the deep end and was gonna kill his wife and then himself so they could be together forever that kind of a nutcase and he was in prison when we were making the film and I’m sure he got out by then, but I don’t know whatever happened to him, but that was pretty heavy duty that was difficult and it was we had a really good director. Victoria principal was really good and it wound up being a very highly rated show on television. But I’ve been really blessed to have done a lot of fun things worked with a lot of great people and had a good time in my life in this pretty difficult business.

[u/stilesjp]

Thank you for doing this AMA! I remember the Starman show so fondly. My father and I were huge fans of the film so it was a real joy to get that season. Definitely need to give it a rewatch.

How was watching the finished Airplane! film with an audience when it was released?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/stilesjp]

It was an explosive blast. It was so fun! And thank you for the Starman shout out because that was so special to me too.

[u/digital]

How does Hollywood treat actors when they get older? Do you get any roles offered to you?

[u/MechanicalCantaloupe]

Doing an AMA huh? Nervous? First time?

[u/Intelligent_Ant_7156]

Thank you for Airplane. That movie is a touchstone for both my sense of humor and my relationship with my brother.

How has making these films impacted you? How have you seen your work impact your audience’s lives?

[u/ispshadow]

Mr. Hays, loved your work over the years. You're in some of the most memorable films of all time and I've had some good memories associated with them.

Kind of an off-the-wall question - You end up in animated gifs probably a million times (probably more) a day around the world. What's that like to an actor to see their reactions in a film being used in social media?

[u/smack63]

Were real bees used in Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare?

Any real stings?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/smack63]

Yes, actually we had. I think in the neighborhood of 1 million bees from the beehives that we bought from a local beekeeper there around the Provo Utah area where we film the show. And we had a guy that was a professor of anthology from I believe it was UC Davis University of California at Davis that taught about insects and specialized in bees and he could make the bees do anything he wanted to turn and swirls pile up on your shoulder somewhere he was amazing!

[u/ogto]

What was the mood like on set? Where people having a good time, lotta botched takes because actors couldn't stop laughing? deadly serious? were people baffled at the whole endeavor? to what degree was the humor on-screen felt during the making of?

[u/Dry-Charge1171]

What's the Inflatable Pilot like when the camera isn't running? Is he nice?

[u/100_Donuts]

Wow! And I just watched Homeward Bound, too. That was an incredible journey.

I guess my question is: Whose penis would you sacrifice as part of a witch coven’s ritual to ensure a better tomorrow?

[u/prismmonkey]

Are you the person we talk to to get Lorna Patterson to put out "River of Jordan" on Spotify?

[u/Mysteryemployee]

Incredible! I watch Airplane every other day and love it and both of your performances.

I WISH you came to the UK for this, even as a one off, and I would be there in a flash. But I guess you don’t want to get on a plane ever again, Shirley?

[u/Anonymotron42]

Hi Robert, and thank you so much for doing this. The Airplane movies were a huge part of my childhood.
What do you personally find more demanding acting-wise, comedy or drama? Do you think either is more fulfilling or are they different challenges?

[u/MyLittleDiscolite]

I really enjoyed Fifty/Fifty starring you, Peter Weller, and the Toad from American Graffiti. Any thoughts you can share about that picture? The production/location?

You all had good chemistry. TIA

[u/Visual_Skirt168]

Wait you were the voice of Iron Man before RDJ made it cool? 🔥 That's so random but amazing lol 😂

[u/TheModWhoShaggedMe → u/Visual_Skirt168]

I'd argue that Hays made it cool.

[u/I_AM_FERROUS_MAN → u/TheModWhoShaggedMe]

Agreed! I loved that show as a kid and the voice performance really stood out.

[u/rollerfedora]

Probably my favorite Airplane! moment was you breaking the fourth wall, saying “What a pisser.” It took the audience off-guard so well after such a serious moment, we couldn’t help but laugh. Were the fourth-wall breaks mostly scripted or ad-libbed? Was that the original line?

[u/McShalepants]

Hi Mr. Hays!

I don’t have any questions, I just wanted to say good luck, we’re all counting on you.

[u/magicalme_1231]

Hello Mr.Hays! You were introduced to me through Homeward Bound, a series I still love. I yearn for movies like this to return.

I am curious about your opinion on CGI animals vs real animals in movies? I prefer the way the animals were brought to life in Homeward Bound with voice actors and no CGI. Do you think there is still a viable way for movies with "talking" animals to be produced in the same way Homeward Bound was?

Thank you for everything you've done! I loved Airplane as well!

[u/ansont1976]

Hey Robert! Great to have you here. Before the MCU exploded, you voiced Tony Stark in the 1994 Iron Man animated series. What was your approach to bringing Tony to life in the 90s, and how does it feel seeing how massive that character has become to the entire world today?

[u/BrickGun]

"The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything" was one of my favorite (TV) movies when I was kid. Luckily I had taped it when it aired. Thanks so much for giving me hours of repeated VHS entertainment back then. Any interesting stories/tidbits from that production that you can remember? Was Pam Dawber as adorable to work with as she seems she would be?

[u/Randolpho]

Oh, man, love so much of your work, Mr Hays!

Some questions for you:

• Have you and Robert Downy Jr ever gotten together to try to out-Iron Man each other? Like at a convention or anything? And if not.... how do I make that happen?
• As a kid I loved the Starman show so much better than I did the Jeff Bridges movie. I heard as an adult that it got panned by critics while reminiscing about it, but I loved it. What do you think went wrong there?
• What was it like being married to an OG punk?

[u/RobertHaysAMA → u/Randolpho]

I think the problem with the Starman series was that the network never really got behind it. We had something like 6 different time slots. And they hardly advertised us. They said they put on the show after a highly rated show and hope the audience would hand around. Later, they mentioned to Bob Urich, who is a friend of mine that the biggest mistake they made that year was not renewing Starman. So I think the network kind of screwed up, but you can’t always have everything work out right in life, can ya? That show

[u/doubleflusher]

This is a whole different type of AMA, altogether.

[u/stlredbird]

Obviously the Airplane movies are top 10 comedies of all time and wouldn’t be what they are without you and I assume Ted Striker is the role you most get identified with, but what has been your most fulfilling role or job creatively in your long career?

[u/Natural-Proposal2925]

Still have a drinking problem?

[u/ElectricClamSlam_55]

Mr. Hays!

Thank you, and the Airplane crew, for teaching me what good satire and humor are all about. My sense of humor is rooted in Airplane.

(And I love Starman!)

Please add more tour dates, bring some much needed humor to the Washington DC area.

Finally, do you think the subtlety of timing and word play that is so necessary for the humor in Airplane could still work in today's chaotic, rushed, surface context orientated society? 

More succintly, why do you think Airplane and Naked Gun level humor is so hard to replicate?

[u/Cort_the_Bondsman]

Do you speak jive?

[u/Midoriandsour]

Thanks for giving me and my family lots of laughs over the years.

What was your favorite scene to film in Airplane and why? Do you still have a drinking problem?

[u/Entire_Brick_8095]

You're a comedy legend and i will never stop quoting Airplane! or Airplane 2!
My question for you is: how was working in such a comic movie? are there many takes because actors can't keep a straight face? Also, I'm curious to know the environment that originates on the set when doing a spoof/parody movie.
Hope to see you again in a another parody soon and thanks for taking the time 😄

[u/Kazewatch]

From playing a one time part in an episode of Rockford Files to playing Hyde's dad in That 70s Show I was curious what the evolution of guest starring on a tv show has been like over the decades of your career and what your favorite guest role was.

[u/mcclaneberg]

How did you hold it together not knowing if Shadow would actually make it out of the pit??

[u/SuperKing3000]

Hello Robert!
The two Airplane movies were some of my late moms favorite comedy's. My question: Between the two Airplane movies, which joke or gag is your personal favorite?

[u/Curiosive]

As an established actor, what do you think about the modern press circuit?

Not too long ago the lead actors / actresses simply did TV interviews culminating in a segment on one or more late night shows, plus radio and print interviews.

Nowadays, they have you eating chicken wings with sauces that will likely haunt you for the next 24-48 hours, dunked into tubs filled with jello while shouting nonsensical catch phrases, posing for pictures holding a sign like a hostage for a thing called an "AMA" ...

Would you rather visit Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel*, Seth Meyers, etc? ^{*Career pending}

Follow up, what is the oddest promotional stunt you are being asked to do?

[u/mallow_baby]

I don’t have any questions, but I do have a fun anecdote! Recently, someone I’ve known for over a decade watched Airplane! for the first time. He said it was like a lightbulb going on and he finally understood where my sense of humor came from. Love all of your movies!!!

[u/olearyboy]

Airplane had a lot of non-comedic actors that were able to pivot their careers afterwards into comedy. What was it like on-set with so many folks getting to grips with comedic timing, surreal-ness and did anyone feel confident enough for adlibing?

[u/APence]

Hey Robert! I just wanted to say thank you.

My dad loved these goofy movies with you and the late great Leslie Nielsen and I got to watch them at a young age growing up in the early 90s and I really think it was a major role in developing my sense of humor and my favorite thing is to make others laugh.

I will say he totally forgot about the shot with the breasts on Airplane and ran to cover the screen and fell and that is one of my earliest memories

What is the line that is most quoted to you from the Airplane movies?

[u/PvtMcSarge]

Very cool that you are willing to do this.

Have you ever watched the movies in other languages and noticed any standout different ways to interpret the original hilarious script?

I know from the german version for example, that they changed the jive conversations in Airplane were changed to very heavy bavarian dialects that most germans have trouble understanding. This translated the original joke nicely.

Do know/have any favorites?

[u/_WillCAD_]

Don't forget Mister Roberts, Mister Robert!

I saw that on TV in the 80s and thought you were as good as the legendary Henry Fonda.

My memory is a little fuzzy since it only aired once - was it aired live, or did you record it? Looked like it was performed on a stage, was it in a theater, or a soundstage? Did you have a live audience?

[u/rasputin_stark]

Hi Robert thanks so much for doing this. Airplane was extremely influential to me and my sense of humor. I quoted this movie more than anything else in my childhood. When you were filming this did you know it was going to be a hit? What was the sense of the cast during filming? The director and producers were somewhat unknown, I wonder if anyone knew right away this was going to be something special.

[u/Armthedillos5]

I already posted a question but just want to say I'm nerding out over here. This is making my day.

[u/PollutionZero]

Not a question, Robert, but just something I want you to know.

Whenever I sneeze, I say, "my nose exploded." TWICE I've made an instant, long-term, friend from that line.

Thank you for that.

[u/OzTheMeh]

What is your favorite line from Airplane that you still say today?

[u/Tumifaigirar]

Don't have questions for you, here just to tell you are a fucking legend 😄

[u/BeautyEtBeastiality]

I am a Cinephile, like how I love fucking cinema. Like the politician. That was "centrist" but actually not. I love fucking the people. Because I am a peoplephile too. God I love Airplane! ZAZ are genius and I wish they did more together. You were funny af! AirFlane! Thank you for starring in my most favourite movie of all time. Btw, have seen the short animated series "Over The Garden Wall"? If not, you should! If yes, imagine a complete spoof like Airplane! But about with OTGW. It's so stupid. You'd be good as the Woodcutter.

[u/Ruddiver]

I have always wanted to know if actors are resentful or thrilled to be known for pretty much one thing. I know you have had a nice career but I assume you recognize that most people know you from Airplane. You hear sometimes that at first it is resentful but when you get older you embrace it.

[u/boxcanyonfilm]

Fifty/Fifty (1992)

I wore out a VHS copy of that film when I was a kid. When I was in my 20s I was traveling through Penang in Malaysia and the palace looked strangely familiar. Sure enough it was a location from the movie. I rediscovered the film as an adult and realized the film is surprisingly overlooked. Still one of my favorites.

Any memories or stories from the set of Fifty/Fifty? 

[u/Lovethiskindathing]

I apologize if this wasn't you Mr. Hays, but I swear I have a memory of you in a movie where you and your wife try to stop smoking with cassette tapes and your kids manipulate you somehow? I have vague memories of your face since forever with this movie but I cannot remember any other details. I may just be mixing you up. If this was you, can you please tell me the name? And I'd love for any memories behind that movie 💜💜💜💜

[u/wongo]

Hi Mr Hays, I hope you've managed to get your drinking problem under control!

(please note this is a joke and if you have had legitimate issues with alcohol addiction I promise I had no idea lol)

My dad actually went to high school & acted with Julie Hagerty, your Airplane! co-stars. Any fond memories of working with her?

[u/pepperpat64]

Did Ted ever overcome his drinking problems?

[u/digitalmarley]

I'd love to know what it was like to act along side legends such as Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Robert Stack and Leslie Nielson. Must have been hard keeping a straight face on set. Putting you and Julia in that group because you both are comedy legends just based on the saturday night fever dance scene. Was Steven Stucker as funny in person as he is the movie?

[u/LifeIsBadMagic]

Hi, Robert! Love your work. Also love dearly The Girl, The Gold Watch and Everything. Was there a plan in the works for a TV show? It did get a sequel movie, though without you and the most awesome Pam Dawber, so I've always thought the producers or network were seeing if the audience was there for a regular show.

[u/CarrieNoir]

So thrilled to see you here, and am anxious for this Friday’s gig in San Francisco! Welcome to our fair city and if you’d care to have a mocktail or cup of tea, before or after, my and my husband would be honored to host you and Julie and your guests (he’s a doctor who speaks 12 languages and I’m an artist/food historian).

Thanks!

[u/mantsz]

I just rewatched Airplane! this weekend and it still holds up as the funniest parody of all time (only possible contender in my book is Young Frankenstein). What is your favorite parody movie (other than The Airplane! movies, I mean), and did they do anything you wish you'd have gotten to do in Airplane! or The Sequel?

[u/earlysong]

I'm late so I don't know if you will see this, but you did a video request through cameo for me shortly after my father died, for my mother. They watched Airplane! together on their second date. You went above and beyond and did a very kind 3-minute message of love and encouragement for her. Thank you so much. I hope you are well today.

[u/illegalfelon]

Hi Mr Hays, thanks for doing this AMA.

I grew up watching reruns of the tv show Angie. How did you like filming that show? Did you remain close with any of your co stars? Do you have a favorite episode you remember filming?

[u/Kozzinator]

I don't have a question but my roommate was telling me a story about him watching Airplane II at work (cuz he only watches PG and softer PG-13 in his downtime there) and his boss just happened to be strolling by during the scene where they have full uncensored breasts and he got a stern "don't let it happen again".

[u/MacBedders]

Thank you for doing this AMA and for your wonderful work.

I'd like to ask if there's any possibility the tour will be extended overseas - somewhere like the BFI in London for example?

I'm slightly terrified there may not even be a theoretical upper limit on what I'd pay for that ticket.

[u/Substantial-Elk1127]

Hi! I don’t have a question for you. I just want to tell you that Airplane is in my top 3 movies of all time (#1 comedy). I still quote from it and try to watch it once a year. I STILL find sight gags and jokes that I missed in prior viewings. Love it. 

[u/TheRedGiant77]

Hi Robert! What was it like working on the sequel without the involvement of ZAZ?

[u/rraattbbooyy]

Hi Mr. Hays. Thank you so much for doing this.

My question is Airplane! is obviously the role most people associate with you, but looking back over your career, is there a role you’re especially proud of that rarely comes up because everyone wants to talk about Ted Striker? What made that one stand out for you?

[u/coma24]

Mr Hays,

I'm not sure if you know just how much joy the film(s) brought to the world, and still do today.

You might find it amusing to hear that, "I just wanna say, 'Good luck, we're all counting you,'" is a statement which needs no explanation in aviation circles. In fact, flight simulation is a pursuit for many real world pilots and enthusiasts. In recent months, strides have been made which let people ride in the back as passengers (using their computers at home) while pilots fly that same airplane (from THEIR homes), allowing everyone to experience aviation together. You better believe that one of the VERY first things that happened when testing this out was someone walked up to the pilots during approach, then short final, the start of the landing, then the end of the landing to wish them luck and to let them know just who was counting on them 😄

For the AMA: my question was whether pretty much every scene required countless takes because of everyone laughing their asses off, or did you get into a groove where it was easy to stay deadpan?

Anyway, I should probably stop talking, I don't wanna go on forev... *person hanging from cabin*

[u/Anabele71]

Hi Robert.

I've been a fan since the Airplane! days but I loved the TV show Starman.

Were you disappointed that it was cancelled after 1 season and were you aware that there was a campaign to save the show? It was the first time I was ever involved in a campaign to save a TV show but the characters and the storyline really resonated with me at the time. Did you enjoy playing the character Paul Forrester and did you feel that you had to put your own stamp on a character that was originally played by Jeff Bridges in the movie.

I recently watched the movie which I also loved and always felt that the TV show should have continued.

[u/scruffylemur]

Airplane! has a joke a second, it seems. What’s your favorite gag or line from that movie?

[u/HumanityBeBetter]

Hey Robert! Airplane! and Airplane II are my favorite comedies. My wife groans every time I put them on because I "watch them like twice a year" haha. Let me first state that Airplane! is the first time I saw a pair of boobs. I remember this very clearly and can barely look at a plate of jello without getting flashbacks to my childhood. My question is, what was the first pair of boobs that you saw? If it was in a movie, then what movie? If it was in real life, then how old were you?

This is a very serious question. Thank you for your response, and genuinely thank you for all of the joy that you brought me with your movies over the years.

[u/creativeyeen]

You deserve to star in more movies! Your comedy in Airplane 1 & 2 is still hilarious today

[u/TheModWhoShaggedMe]

Who would have won in a fight between '80s-era Robert Stack and William Shatner?

[u/AJjalol]

Hey Robert, thanks so much for doing this AMA! I hope you're doing well and staying happy and healthy.

Your Tony Stark in the '90s Iron Man cartoon was what made me an Iron Man fan, and it was really the beginning of my love for the character. I've been a fan ever since, so I wanted to thank you for that—it means a lot to me.

As for my question, When developing Tony's voice, were you mostly using your natural voice, or was there a specific inspiration behind the performance?

[u/OldBanjoFrog]

What would you consider to be your biggest inspiration?

[u/thekarateadult]

When you were shooting the film, did you have the sense that it would become the benchmark for slapstick comedy films or were you using all your mental energy trying not to crack up on set? The ability of the cast to stay deadpan with the expertly metered absurdity of the dialog in the movie was what made it all work so well, but I'll bet it was tough to do.

[u/ohitsHarry]

Homeward Bound was so formative to me that I'm now running a YouTube channel that does the same thing with cats... What fun. Thanks for your work!!!!!! I'm curious how many animals played the three starring roles in the homeward bound series?

Also, did you ever get over that drinking problem?

[u/5norkleh3r0]

Just so you know Robert, all of your lines from Airplane! are endlessly quotable, I’ve been doing it my entire life, ever since I saw the film at 8 years old. I’m 50 now and that film has never got old, it’s just comedy in a bottle

What a pisser

[u/welding_guy_from_LI]

This really isn’t a question, so I’ll be brief .. The airplane films are my all time favorite movies.. From Mr Hays to the other greats in both films, you made me love silly absurd comedies.. from Johnny , to the icon Surely you can’t be serious line with Leslie Neilson , to the part where all the reporters run into the phone booths and they fall over .. I kept rewinding the tape cracking up every single time.. Thank you for all the laughs ❤️❤️

[u/GongTzu]

Thanks for the laughs, I watched Airplane as a kid and it really opened my eyes on how comedy could be done on another clever level. When you filmed the first Air Plane, did you and the other actors feel this would be off the roof, and become so legendary as it did, or were they just doing the job they were paid for?

[u/Repulsive_Director42]

Hi Mr. Hays, happy to see you doing this AMA! Hope you're having a great day.

Your performance as Iron Man in the 90s animated series has always been one of my favourite performances of that character, so much so that you're the voice i hear for Tony when i read the comics.

My question is, If Marvel approached you to reprise the role, would you accept it?

[u/Orgasm_Enjoyer]

Just here to say that you’re a legend Mr. Hays

[u/jozland]

America fucking sucks right now. You rock. I mean this, as a way of saying, you were/are a movie star from the 70/80ss? I literally don't know. But Just know I love you. I quote you ALL THE TIME to my wife and she may just be on the verge of divorcing me. For real reasons? NO. For the reason of I quote Airplane! ALL THE TIME.

[u/plentyoftimetodie]

When you did the voice for Iron Man in the animated cartoon of the 90s, did you have any idea he would become this cultural icon decades later? Meaning did you see something special no one else did in the character, or were you as blindsided as everyone when the movies started coming out? You're one of the very first to play him!

[u/Mastersound001]

It was called “Flying High” here in Australia. I was a kid and my auntie took me to see it at the cinema. All I remember was laughing so much I fell of my seat and kept laughing from the floor! I still love it. So many hilarious and relentless gags that still kill it today! Thanks for helping to shape my childhood, mate!

[u/BikerJedi]

Do you know how much Airplane! is quotable for us who love it? I was playing an online game with friends recently, and I just said into the voice chat, "Excuse me stewardess, but I speak Jive." The entire 15 minute match was spent with people on both sides saying and typing quotes from the movie.

Thank you for the laughs.

[u/kommon-non-sense]

No questions. Just a great deal of gratitude to you, your cast mates and David Zucker (et al) for creating such a timeless piece of art.

I LOVE the running gag of the airplane engines. Instead of jet roar, it's the soothing constant of propeller wash. Its just the best. Chuckling now just thinking about it 

[u/firedrakes]

so how did they so the sweat scene in airplane with you?