In DeSales, Hollywood actors Dan Lauria and Dan Roebuck reflect on their craft and showbiz

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — When actors Charles Durning and Jack Krugman died just hours apart on Christmas Eve in 2012, Dan Lauria made a heartfelt request to dim the lights on Broadway.

Lauria, now in his 70s and best known for playing the father on “The Wonder Years,” told his story Friday during a panel discussion inside the DeSales University Center.

He was joined on stage by fellow actor and soon-to-be Santa Daniel Roebuck.

The two appeared together on stage at “Conversation with Dance,” part of the workshop “Literacy and Retail Symposium.”

The event also featured author conversations with author Maria Rodale, professor Dr. Catherine Ramsland, actress Shelley Dennis, and journalist Vicki Make.

“Before, I felt more human.”

Lauria and Roebuck both began working in television and film in the ’80s, and both spoke lightly about the themes of artificial intelligence and ageism in Hollywood, while also mentioning other criticisms.

They agreed that the audition process lacks depth because it is done through video calls, cell phone recordings, and other technological means.

“We used to go to auditions to have a more human experience,” said Roebuck, 61.

“I remember one time I took my dad to an audition and he wanted to meet Tom Wilson, who played Biff in Back to the Future. The next thing I heard was… All I could hear was my father laughing hysterically. I can’t take anyone with me anymore. [also] It’s because of Corona. ”

faith based movies

Midway through their careers, the “Dan” duo decided to literally flip the script and write their own material.

Roebuck, known for his roles in the TV series “Lost” and “Matlock” and the film “The Fugitive,” wrote and starred in four films shot in the Lehigh Valley as a love letter to his hometown.

His films include “Getting Grace,” “Lucky Louie,” “Hail Mary,” and most recently “Saint Nick of Bethlehem,” which finishes filming next week.

The idea to make a holiday movie was a cheeky response to the 2023 Hallmark movie The Miracle of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which was filmed in Winnepeg, Canada.

The public is invited to the Christmas Bazaar and Wrap Party at SureStay Plus by Best Western Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem on Saturday, April 28th.

The event will raise money for Channel of Peace, a charity he co-founded to fund faith-based films such as “St. Nick.”

“Actors don’t retire”

Lauria, who starred in Broadway productions of “Lombardi” and “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” is similarly busy and will soon begin rehearsals in Manhattan for her upcoming off-Broadway debut, “Just Another Day.” In May.

To finance the $300,000 project, the veteran actor sold his Los Angeles home.

“Actors don’t retire, they live on.”

TV star Daniel Lauria

“I’m 77 years old, so what am I going to do?” he said. “Jack Krugman and Charles Durning were literally my mentors. When they were 87 and 86, they put on plays that I discovered. [them] And they loved it. Actors don’t retire, they keep going. ”

One of Lauria’s first screenplays, “Dinner with the Boys” is a play about his four best friends: Krugman, Durning, Dom DeLuise, and Peter Falk.

“When Peter passed away, I kept the play in storage for almost 10 years until I brought it up,” said Lauria, who passed away in 2011.

“Jack and Peter were the hardest working actors. Peter kept me hooked and Charlie and Dom were so much fun. They were great people.”

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