Inside Track
Mike Gallagher’s star rising in alternate career as actor
Salem Radio Networks syndicated talk host moonlighting with professional roles on stage and screen
By Bev Santaniello
TALKERS MAGAZINE
Assistant Editor
ALLAS – Salem Radio Networks syndicated talk show host and longtime “Heavy Hundred” regular Mike Gallagher has been among radio’s elite for well over a decade as his conservative program enters its 13th year boasting its best listener and revenue numbers ever. In addition, he is an active Fox News Channel contributor. But wait, there’s more! A whole extra dimension to this 30-year broadcasting veteran’s talents is now bubbling to the 
surface and launching him into an alternate career as an actor on both the stage and screen.
Why not? Anyone who has seen Mike Gallagher on his many news/talk television appearances or in person at an industry conference can attest that he has all the makings of a great theatrical character actor – commanding stage presence, booming voice, expressive face and an extremely engaging personality.
It all began (or more precisely, re-began) about six months after the tragic death of his beloved wife Denise in June of 2008 when his sons – worried about their dad’s emotional state – suggested he return to acting as a hobby and expressive outlet in addition to work. After all, acting wasn’t new to the talk star. He had performed in theater when he was a little 
boy playing roles such as the lead in “Oliver” and Winthrop in “The Music Man.” As he got older he worked in community theater in South Carolina playing roles including Daddy Warbucks in “Annie” and Fagin in “Oliver.” As a matter of fact, he met Denise in a community theater production of “A Christmas Carol.” But as the years went by, he developed a major career in talk radio, he and Denise raised a family and acting fell by the wayside.
However, without Denise in his life, Mike Gallagher indeed faced a void, so he responded positively to his children’s suggestion telling TALKERS magazine, “I decided that instead of community theater, I’d try to become a professional. I went on a couple of regional theater auditions in Dallas and New York and I was shocked to get cast in a couple of shows right off the bat! Now, I’m a member of Actors’ Equity and the Screen Actors Guild and am acting almost non-stop.”
In the past year, Mike Gallagher has been in Lyric Stage (a prestigious Dallas regional theater) productions of “Funny Girl,” “Showboat” and is finishing up rehearsals for “Bye Bye Birdie” where he’s playing Harry McAfee in late June. In May, he worked with Sally Struthers in a five-city tour in Kentucky of the A.R. Gurney play, “Love Letters,” which was produced by the Kentucky Repertory Theater. Last year, he had a small part in a Jackie Mason movie titled, “One Angry Man” in New York and he was just booked in an independent film to be shot in North Texas in July and August.
When asked if this extra activity takes time away from his radio career Gallagher explains, “My top priority is my radio show, so anything I do has to take a back seat to radio. But 
since my show airs from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon ET, I’m pretty much free in the afternoons and evenings. Rehearsals and performances are always in the afternoon and evening, so everything works out, schedule-wise. In addition, since radio shows can easily be done from anywhere thanks to ISDN, if I’m on the road like I was with “Love Letters” in Kentucky, our Salem team just arranges for me to broadcast from whatever city I’m in.”
Does he discuss his acting career on the air? “I do talk about the acting work on air, but I try to keep it fairly minimal. I think many listeners appreciate hearing of another dimension of a host’s life, but others have suggested that it sounds self-serving and maybe too much of a departure from hard-hitting issues. So I try to maintain a happy medium and balance, which is what I always strive to do, anyway.”
What about the different lifestyles a committed conservative political news/talker would encounter in the world of theater, known to be dominated by liberals? Gallagher tells TALKERS, “It’s been intriguing to meet other theater people who are obviously liberal and highly suspicious of a conservative like me in their midst. I enjoy getting to know them and showing them that we conservatives aren’t evil or have horns, and are perfectly capable of doing a good job in the arts. Theater shouldn’t be something that is inhabited solely by liberals, and I get a great sense of satisfaction in being fairly successful in a field that liberals think is exclusively their domain.”
Regarding the future, Gallagher says he thinks he has his new acting career in a healthy perspective. “I think I’m just responding to my sons’ suggestion that I stay as busy and active with my life as possible, and acting is something I love to do. I don’t really have any long-term goals with it –– my career is as a talk radio show host, not an actor –– but it’s something that I find fulfilling and satisfying and fun.”
Actually, Gallagher thinks his acting enhances his depth as a human being and thus makes him an even better talk show host reflecting, “In the nearly 30 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve always found that having a healthy, well-rounded life really makes me a better talk show host. I turned 50 years old this year and I feel like I’m really hitting my stride. In May, my radio show posted the highest revenue month in the entire 12-year history of the syndicated show. I’m continuing in my capacity as a Fox News Channel contributor, and I’m having a blast working as an actor in my free time. I think Denise would be very proud. In fact, in the Lyric Stage program biography, I dedicate my performance as Harry McAfee to ‘my real-life Mrs. McAfee, my Denise.’ She’d have gotten a big kick out of that.”
Beverly Santaniello is assistant editor at TALKERS magazine. She can be phoned at 413-739-8255.
Mike Gallagher’s star rising in alternate career as actor
Salem Radio Networks syndicated talk host moonlighting with professional roles on stage and screen
By Bev Santaniello
TALKERS MAGAZINE
Assistant Editor
ALLAS – Salem Radio Networks syndicated talk show host and longtime “Heavy Hundred” regular Mike Gallagher has been among radio’s elite for well over a decade as his conservative program enters its 13th year boasting its best listener and revenue numbers ever. In addition, he is an active Fox News Channel contributor. But wait, there’s more! A whole extra dimension to this 30-year broadcasting veteran’s talents is now bubbling to the surface and launching him into an alternate career as an actor on both the stage and screen.
Why not? Anyone who has seen Mike Gallagher on his many news/talk television appearances or in person at an industry conference can attest that he has all the makings of a great theatrical character actor – commanding stage presence, booming voice, expressive face and an extremely engaging personality.
It all began (or more precisely, re-began) about six months after the tragic death of his beloved wife Denise in June of 2008 when his sons – worried about their dad’s emotional state – suggested he return to acting as a hobby and expressive outlet in addition to work. After all, acting wasn’t new to the talk star. He had performed in theater when he was a little boy playing roles such as the lead in “Oliver” and Winthrop in “The Music Man.” As he got older he worked in community theater in South Carolina playing roles including Daddy Warbucks in “Annie” and Fagin in “Oliver.” As a matter of fact, he met Denise in a community theater production of “A Christmas Carol.” But as the years went by, he developed a major career in talk radio, he and Denise raised a family and acting fell by the wayside.
However, without Denise in his life, Mike Gallagher indeed faced a void, so he responded positively to his children’s suggestion telling TALKERS magazine, “I decided that instead of community theater, I’d try to become a professional. I went on a couple of regional theater auditions in Dallas and New York and I was shocked to get cast in a couple of shows right off the bat! Now, I’m a member of Actors’ Equity and the Screen Actors Guild and am acting almost non-stop.”
In the past year, Mike Gallagher has been in Lyric Stage (a prestigious Dallas regional theater) productions of “Funny Girl,” “Showboat” and is finishing up rehearsals for “Bye Bye Birdie” where he’s playing Harry McAfee in late June. In May, he worked with Sally Struthers in a five-city tour in Kentucky of the A.R. Gurney play, “Love Letters,” which was produced by the Kentucky Repertory Theater. Last year, he had a small part in a Jackie Mason movie titled, “One Angry Man” in New York and he was just booked in an independent film to be shot in North Texas in July and August.
When asked if this extra activity takes time away from his radio career Gallagher explains, “My top priority is my radio show, so anything I do has to take a back seat to radio. But since my show airs from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon ET, I’m pretty much free in the afternoons and evenings. Rehearsals and performances are always in the afternoon and evening, so everything works out, schedule-wise. In addition, since radio shows can easily be done from anywhere thanks to ISDN, if I’m on the road like I was with “Love Letters” in Kentucky, our Salem team just arranges for me to broadcast from whatever city I’m in.”
Does he discuss his acting career on the air? “I do talk about the acting work on air, but I try to keep it fairly minimal. I think many listeners appreciate hearing of another dimension of a host’s life, but others have suggested that it sounds self-serving and maybe too much of a departure from hard-hitting issues. So I try to maintain a happy medium and balance, which is what I always strive to do, anyway.”
What about the different lifestyles a committed conservative political news/talker would encounter in the world of theater, known to be dominated by liberals? Gallagher tells TALKERS, “It’s been intriguing to meet other theater people who are obviously liberal and highly suspicious of a conservative like me in their midst. I enjoy getting to know them and showing them that we conservatives aren’t evil or have horns, and are perfectly capable of doing a good job in the arts. Theater shouldn’t be something that is inhabited solely by liberals, and I get a great sense of satisfaction in being fairly successful in a field that liberals think is exclusively their domain.”
Regarding the future, Gallagher says he thinks he has his new acting career in a healthy perspective. “I think I’m just responding to my sons’ suggestion that I stay as busy and active with my life as possible, and acting is something I love to do. I don’t really have any long-term goals with it –– my career is as a talk radio show host, not an actor –– but it’s something that I find fulfilling and satisfying and fun.”
Actually, Gallagher thinks his acting enhances his depth as a human being and thus makes him an even better talk show host reflecting, “In the nearly 30 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve always found that having a healthy, well-rounded life really makes me a better talk show host. I turned 50 years old this year and I feel like I’m really hitting my stride. In May, my radio show posted the highest revenue month in the entire 12-year history of the syndicated show. I’m continuing in my capacity as a Fox News Channel contributor, and I’m having a blast working as an actor in my free time. I think Denise would be very proud. In fact, in the Lyric Stage program biography, I dedicate my performance as Harry McAfee to ‘my real-life Mrs. McAfee, my Denise.’ She’d have gotten a big kick out of that.”
Beverly Santaniello is assistant editor at TALKERS magazine. She can be phoned at 413-739-8255.
