I am Cylon #1 on BSG, and Al The Hologram on Quantum Leap. I am Dean Stockwell. AMAA.

I loved your performance in Battlestar Galactica. your portrayal of the rage and anger that Cavil had at Humanity for having created him so flawed and fragile, not the perfect being he felt he should be, really stood out as a highlight of the whole show for me.

It seemed like this was the meat of the whole character, and the source of his hatred and cold personality. Did you feel you got to really do him justice and really explore the character by the end of the show?

As arguably the man who knew him best, how to you view Cavil's choice to kill himself rather than be taken as a prisoner or killed by anyone else?

The choice was intuitive and instantaneous during a rehearsal of the scene. And so we kept it in.

What made you do an AMA?

My wife.

Best possible response.

Best possible wife.

Best possible husband.

THAT'S THE USERNAME YOU PICKED, CAROL?!?!

Carol: Al was my favorite character? ;)

I'm confused as to who he is talking about. Dean divorced Joy Marchenko in 2004.

Carol here: Can't always trust the mighty internets for infos. Long story, but yes, we're tied, and yes I'm a Redditor. He and I are both absolutely stoked about the response we've gotten so far. Thanks, reddit!

Quick! Someone update Wikipedia!

Carol: For kicks, I checked. Geez, that didn't take long. o.O

To Carol: I hereby apologize the thoughts I've had about your husband. No offense, but DAMN HE FINE.

Carol: I know. He fine. You're definitely forgiven. Carry on. :)

Can I ask a question directed at your wife, Carol?

Do you go to conventions and stuff like that with him? Do you like them?

To Carol/Dean: What do you think of the fandom atmosphere that can follow shows that aired quite a while ago, like Quantum Leap?

Heh. Since I'm still awake and he's not, I can answer this question. ^{.^}

I always go to cons with him, and since I've been with him, I'm usually his "helper" person. I am a born SciFi/Fantasy nerd so yes, I love going to them! Dean enjoys them to some extent too, but admittedly its not a generation he completely understands. I have exposed him more to the wonderful (and sometimes frightening) world that is the internets, so I think he's gained more of an appreciation for us nerdy-types. He's more of an old school nerd - listening to Bach when other kids were listening to that Rock'n Roll music in the 50s and such.

Carol, I met you guys at Dragoncon 2010 and I was struck at the time that you were so helpful and tech savvy. I could tell Dean didn't really want to be there but after he lit the stogy he seemed happier. ;) So thrilled to see you both on Reddit!

Carol: Thank you for that. I am always pleased to entertain him and put him at ease among the growing throngs of SciFi fans, usually distracting him with pretty lights from my iPad in-between cigar breaks. We meet a lot of really nice people at those cons, no doubt you were one of them. :)

Dear Mr. Stockwell,

I've been a lurker for a bazillion years, but your AMA just inspired me to create an account.

Quantum Leap is my favorite show of all time and I think it saved my life. I was going through a really rough time when I was 16 years old, not actively thinking about killing myself, but I think entertaining the thought more and more. I had no idea what Quantum Leap was, but I turned on the SciFi channel one day and the episode "A Single Drop of Rain" was on, just as Sam was looking up at the sky and saying his prayer. This is going to sound crazy, but that scene in that episode made me feel a little bit of hope (I know, a TV show, right?). I started watching the next day, and the next, and by the time I finished the series, I felt...more normal? Definitely less depressed and no longer thinking about suicide. I felt like I went on this adventure with Sam and Al and if they could fight through time-traveling problems, then I could deal with mine. Ah, to be in high school again. I'm sure that's not how I would've responded if the same thing happened to me today, but back then, the show was like a Godsend. I've always wanted to tell this story to someone, and now I get to tell it to you! I feel like one of those cliches where a weight gets lifted inside you, except my hands are also nervously cold and clammy.

Reddit is awesome. You are awesome. Thank you so much for doing this AMA.

Dean: How wonderful that a show like Quantum Leap could affect you that way. So wonderful and positive, I feel honored to be part of it. It gives real substantial meaning to my role in Quantum Leap. God bless you.

Since no one has asked a question yet:

You have an extremely storied career in Hollywood. Out of all the roles you have, which one was your favorite?

Have there been any roles you turned down and regret not accepting?

What is your favorite personal story from Hollywood?

Thanks for doing this!

I would say Edmund from Long Days Journey into Night.

2nd question: No.

Just a small portion of my life was spent in Hollywood proper. But I do recall when I was 13, I think, my mother and my school teacher - Mrs Andersen - were walking on either side of me into the vast sound stage of MGM, where the set for the movie Kim was being constructed. There was Errol Flynn and someone introduced him to me. Still with my mother and teacher at my sides, he shakes my hand, looks me in the eye, and says, "Hi, Dean. Have you had your first fuck yet?"

Needless to say, this was overheard by my mother and my teacher.

Since no one else has asked it...

Was the bartender God?

Edit: I'm both curious as to your opinion, and anything you may know about the writers intent (that's not seen in the episode).

For those who don't understand the question (SPOILERS): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Leap_\\(TV_series\\)#Conclusion

I can't really answer that. It's all Bellisario and I can't answer for him.

Did you keep any of the ridiculous blazers from Quantum Leap? I always looked forward to them as a kid.

I did not, and I regret having not done it. I really really regret having not done it. My costume line was exclusively designed by Jean Pierre Dorleac, to whom I'm thankful.

They have to be out there somewhere in a hollywood warehouse. I want to nab one.

Dean's wife here (Carol): I know they are stored and taken care of by some association of Television Costume archive, or some such thing. I saw them on display at FIDM's museum on Grand Ave one year. Dean curses how didn't keep any of them constantly, or at least whenever I ask about it myself. I did identify two pieces in his wardrobe that he DID manage to keep - but nothing really noteworthy ... like that purple and silver jacket I loved so much. :P

Just wondering, are you a redditor Carol?

If she is, she knows better than to identify herself.

Carol: :P

Did you do sci-fi on purpose or were you just taking roles offered to you?

The latter.

Your wikipedia page contains the line:

In the early 1960s, Stockwell dropped out of show business, becoming active in the hippie subculture.

Could you expand on that a little? The veracity of that claim? How long did this period last? Did you join communes and suchlike? Were you an early acid adopter? Did you meet people like Kesey and Leary? Were you an activist? Were you an idealist, i.e. did you feel the world was going to change more profoundly than it did and that the old world order would disappear? And/or anything else you care to relate about this period.

Right away, no communes. No no no, not ever, never. And I didn't drop out, I just didn't get any work. So I bopped around.

Wow Dean Stockwell!

Your portrayal of Al in Quantum Leap and Dr. Yueh in Dune are 2 enduring memories of my childhood and had a great influence on the sci-fi buff I have become today.

I don't have a question as such but just wanted to say thank you for being such an amazing actor and giving me such good memories from when I was a kid!

This is exactly my sentiment. I definitely have a permanent imprint from the Quantum Leap series. My HP-48GX has a name: Ziggy.

Sometimes I'll have the opportunity to answer a technical feasibility question with said calculator and a pen (as the cigar) in-hand. I'll hold the pen in my teeth as I calculate, then point it at the calculator when I'm done and say, "Ziggy says ..." This happens less than once a year.

My wife tells me her computer is also named Ziggy.

Was it your idea to lip-synch to Roy Orbison in "Blue Velvet"? Or was that something David Lynch had in mind in the script? Also, You rule.

No, it was David's idea, and a total surprise to me.

Al the Hologram and Cylon #1 are very different characters. Do you prefer playing the good guy or the bad guy? How does it feel to be sci fi royalty? Have you had any really memorable (good or bad) interactions with fans?

There's no preference to being one or the other, that is to say good or bad. Doing one or the other presents its own challenge. Once mastered, you're an actor. I like both.

Sci if royalty: Oh, wow. That's a good one, but I have no idea how to answer something like that. This is the first I heard of it, I think. That I know of.

Did you guys really shoot Paris, Texas without a shot list or anything? How much improvisation was involved? Thanks

It was loose as a goose.

Hi there! Your acting and character was one of my favorite parts of BSG. Thanks for working so hard and giving us such a great show! Do you remember any favorite scenes or parts that were especially awesome or fun? (Again, thanks for being a part of my favorite show!)

Well, I particularly liked the scene where I played both Cavils together in the same scene and we went off into space holding hands at the end. I believe that was only at the end of The Plan.

This is something that friends and I have debated for a while. You, having portrayed Cavil, probably have the personal connection with the character 'Cavil' needed to really know.

Why do you feel that Cavil gave up so suddenly with the loss of Resurrection technology? On a certain level it makes sense, but it just seemed so flippant, I want to know what you felt was going through his head to just "give up" on his people.

The fear of mortality seems like an odd reason to commit suicide.

Edit, forgotten letters

Cavil chose what he thought at that moment the best way out for him. He had suffered enough.

What was perhaps your favorite role, in any show?

I quite liked The Twilight Zone, where I played a Japanese soldier. A Quality of Mercy.

[deleted]

Playing football at a boys school, I'm pretty sure that was when i was in "The Happy Years".

To answer the second part of your question, nothing decided it for me. To answer the first part, one must go super deep into the vocation. Whence this is done, acceleration is to be demanded.

[deleted]

"Bravo bravo bravo!" he says ecstatically, as his wife types up as accurate a response as possible. :)

Are you working on any new projects? A classic question, I know, but thanks in advance. Love your work!

No new projects, save a convention or two. We will be appearing in Albuquerque this weekend at the ABQ Comic Con on Jan. 13 - 16. Also, Monterrey, Mexico convention in March. And perhaps others in the future.

GET THIS GUY WORK. NOW!

Yeah, no shit!!

Dungeons and Dragons or World of Warcraft?

My wife tells me Dungeons and Dragons. I have no idea what that means.

Your wife, sir, is a woman of excellent taste. Also, you guys seriously rock for doing this! Thank you!

Carol here: Thank you very much. :) Also, I wanted to update my reply. Since the release of the awful 4th Ed. of D&D, I have to say Pathfinder is better and keeps to the true spirit of pen and paper RPG, without the use of silly battle maps and figures.

@carol I don't know you, but this answer lets me conclude that you most definately know where your towel is :)

And also that the answer is 42. :)

OMG will you read my script????

Just kidding. You've had an an amazing career, I'm curious what movie, TV show or play you enjoyed working on the most.

Thank you for asking! And it was the film/play Long Days Journey Into Night that I enjoyed the most.

What were your most memorable experiences working with David Lynch and Kyle MacLachlan?

Well, not any specific memories, but I noticed how David would never curse or express himself in any kind of gross way. He wouldn't even say out loud the expletives in his script. He's like an Eagle Scout.

Your have been on all of my all-time favorite shows. Your resume is every sci-fi geek's wet dream.

Twilight Zone

Star Trek:TNG Enterprise

Stargate:SG1

Quantum Leap

BSG

The stories you must have of all the legends you have worked with must be incredible.

Care to share any cool anecdotes about your time on the sets of these awesome shows?

*EDIT: ST series goof

Dean: Ever consider/been offered a role on Dr. Who?

Carol: My favorite show next to QL too! I would love it if he got a part in Dr. Who! omg!

Dean: What show?

Carol: -_-0

If I was you, I would have stolen the communicator you had in QL to talk to Ziggy.

I did.

Did you ever get into a fight with Scott Bakulas eyebrows?

What?! Nobody's are as big as mine! In fact, if I didn't trim them, no one would see my forehead.