QUESTION:
Who was the man that inspired you to become a great actor?
ANSWER:
It was not a man, but a woman -- my mother took me to my first audition when I was 2 and a half years old! I got the part and an agent that day. Within 6 months, I was under contract to RKO Studios.

QUESTION:
When was your debut?
ANSWER:
The part my mother took me for -- Jane Wyman's son in "So Big", a Warner Brothers film released in 1953. An interesting piece of trivia about it is I played the son at a young age and Tommy Rettig, whom I replaced in "Lassie" played the son at an older age. (We were 9 years apart). The dogs in the film were all Rudd Weatherwax animals, the man who owned and trained Lassie; so, we were all there in my first film.

QUESTION:
What was the best and the worst moment of your career?
ANSWER:
Worst: I was about 8 years old and it was the end of a very long day on "Lassie." The director saved my toughest scene for last. I was exhausted and he kept making me do it over and over and over until I just broke down. That's probably the worst day I ever had on any set any time. Best: The most fun I ever had on a set was shooting "The Computer Wore Tennis Shes" for Disney -- a great time. My best moment professionally was getting my star on Hollywood Blvd.

QUESTION:
How was your life affected playing in a such young age the main role in the TV series "Lassie"?
ANSWER:
This is a huge question -- I wrote a whole book about it! Working on "Lassie" was a wonderful experience and I was very lucky to be surrounded by people who genuinely cared for me; but it was work. There were no other kids on the set. I went to work with 30 adults every day. I wasn't sure how to behave with kids when I was with them. I worked whether or not I was sick or tired. I was tutored on the set, but most assuredly, my schooling suffered terribly.

QUESTION:
What was the best scene with "Lassie", that you always treasured in your mind and why?
ANSWER:
The end of a 3-parter called "The Odyssey". Lassie was accidentally locked in the back of a truck and driven miles and miles away. After trying everything we could to find her, Timmy believes he will never see her again. He takes her toys to their favorite spot and digs a hole to bury the toys. Just as he is about to cover them with dirt, he hears a bark and looks up. Lassie is at the top of a big hill. Timmy and Lassie begin running toward each other as fast as they can, practically knocking each other over when they meet...lots of hugging and licking and tears. It's a fan favorite, too.

QUESTION:
Can you tell us, how was this particular Lassie behind the scenes?
ANSWER:
In 7 years, I worked with 3 Lassies. I worked with the 3rd one for 5 years and he and I really bonded. I loved that dog, so sweet and so intelligent.

QUESTION:
Why did you choose not to renew your contract for three more years in 1964?
ANSWER:
I'd been Timmy for 7 years -- half of my life at that time. I was 14 and wanted to move on from dogs to meet girls! It was time to go to a real school with other kids and find out who I really was.

QUESTION:
What made you decide to return to television with reccuring role in "The New Lassie" in 1991?
ANSWER:
I originally asked to meet with the producer as an advisor, but after we spoke for awhile, he asked if I'd be interested in playing "Timmy grown up" on the show. Robert Weatherwax, Rudd's son owned and trained Lassie. Other cast members from the films and TV series came back to appear in it. After all those years, it was like going home again. It was very easy to say yes.

QUESTION:
How did you feel when you honored with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Pocono Mountains Film Festival?
ANSWER:
I have been fortunate to receive many awards in my life and am humbled and grateful for all of them. When I was appearing on "Lassie", I never dreamed it would mean so much to so many after all this time. It's a great legacy and I'm very proud of it

QUESTION:
Are you married?
ANSWER:
My wife, Laurie Jacobson and I met in 1996. We have been married 11 years. She co-wrote my autobiography Timmy's in the Well (I could not have done it without her!) and we are working on another book together, a cookbook called Timmy's in the Kitchen. She is a Hollywood historian and has written several books on Hollywood mysteries, scandals and ghosts!

QUESTION:
Do you have any children?
ANSWER:
I have a son Ryan, 26 and a daughter Katie, 24 from my first marriage.

QUESTION:
What are your hobbies?
ANSWER:
Love seeing movies, love to cook...

QUESTION:
What is your advice for the new actors?
ANSWER:
Work hard, have a lot of patience and have a big network of friends so you can keep up with what's going on out there! Never say, "I'll give it 3 years and see what happens." All you are doing with that is making the decision to quit in 3 years. You really have to make a committment.

QUESTION:
What is your opinion about our sites? (www.hellasgr.gr and www.webinfoportal.net)
ANSWER:
I have to say that the first site is completely in Greek and I didn't have a clue what any of it meant. But the second! Much better! There are endless links for every subject. I am working on a cookbook now called Timmy's in the Kitchen and the recipes link is really great. And I hope your readers will visit my site: www.jonprovost.com