The following is an interview with author and journalist Steven Peros regarding the recent release of the biography, H.M. Wynant: You Must Believe!, through BearManor Media. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Peros about his creative process in bringing H.M. Wynant’s story to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of H.M. Wynant: You Must Believe! What encouraged you to share Wynant’s story with readers?
Steven Peros: I’ve known H.M. for thirty years when I cast him in a play I wrote, which I was directing. We became fast friends and now practically family. His career, spanning eight decades, has always fascinated me. First as a Broadway dancer, cast by the legendary Jerome Robbins at only 20 years old, beginning a decade on Broadway with the likes of Laurence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Phil Silvers, and Rex Harrison. Then the call from Hollywood to star with Rod Steiger and Charles Bronson in his first movie. From there, his list of movie and TV co-stars included Elvis Presley, Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Doris Day, James Garner, Ricardo Montalban, and George C. Scott. And finally his association with landmark TV shows and movie series likes The Twilight Zone, Batman, Mission: Impossible, and the Planet of the Apes saga. It’s the jaw-dropping story of the life of a working actor who never sought stardom.
BD: As a writer and journalist, what can you tell us about your creative process in both researching and crafting the narrative behind this story?
SP: I am primarily a fiction writer of screenplays and stage plays, which has its own set of rules. Even though I have contributed essays to books of non-fiction, this is my first solo non-fiction work, and specifically my first biography. Actor and filmmaker biographies fill my book shelves, so I know what I like and don’t like. Although my book is filled with facts, it is not academic. Rather, I wanted the reader to hear H.M.’s voice wherever possible, which is why the book is filled with his quotes and recollections from our interviews and prior interviews. I also want the reader to feel that a genuinely enthusiastic person is telling them this story. Someone knowledgeable who loves this period of entertainment industry history. I deliberately wanted this to be a fun read, that was also informative and substantive.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Wynant’s story may connect with and impact readers?
SP: If you love movies, you’ll want this book. If you love the history of TV — the very dawn of it and the hit shows of the 1950s-1970s, you’ll want this book. If you are a Broadway junky, you’ll want this book. I think it will open readers’ minds to the nuts-and-bolts life of a successful working actor beyond the “star bios” they may have read in the past. You may not know who H.M. Wynant is, but by the end you will feel like you’ve met him and walked side by side with him in his career, and in his life, from being the only U.S. born son of Eastern European Jews who emigrated to Detroit, to making something of himself with only $125 in his pocket when he arrived on Broadway, to having the Hollywood staying power to have a professional acting in movies and TV career, all totaling eight decades.
BD: What makes BearManor Media the perfect home for this book?
SP: Ben cares and Ben is a fan, just like his readers. He is willing to tackle the books others find risky. BearManor’s philosophy seems to be, “If we find it interesting, someone else will, too!” What’s more, Ben has the utmost respect for his authors and gives them a lot of leeway to deliver the book exactly how they see it.
BD: Are there any other projects that you would like to highlight or share with readers?
SP: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention by previous BearManor book, Giant Beast Cinema, which I edited with Mark Bailey, selected the writing team, and wrote eight chapters for myself. Prior to that I contributed to Mark’s book, Giant Bug Cinema. Both reached the Top Ten in their category on Amazon. We are currently finishing up a followup, Cinema Bizarro, coming in early 2025.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about H.M. Wynant: You Must Believe! and your other work?
SP: I would tell them to visit the links to read about the book on Amazon and/or BearManor Media. It will give you an enticing window into what you will find in the book, including dozens of never before published photos. To learn more about me and my career, or to contact me directly, I encourage your readers to visit www.stevenperos.com.
