Art Dielhenn (director Punky Brewster / Head of the Class / Sister Sister)

Art Dielhenn (director Punky Brewster / Head of the Class / Sister Sister)

July 13, 2026 · 1h 6m · Season 1 · Episode 321

About this episode

Art Dielhenn discusses his journey in directing and acting, personal challenges, and life coaching.

Art Dielhenn joined me to discuss watching Roy Rogers; having celiac disease and dyslexia; a drama coach turns him onto acting; realizing in college he is not an actor; moving Oppenheimer's possessions as a moving man; spending 7 years directing at KRMA Denver; moving to KQED San Francisco and directing Pauline Kael; Peter Bonerz is a guest and invites Art to L.A.; Norman Lear hires him as an AD on Apple Pie and Hello Larry; does Sanford and says Redd and Jamie Foxx are two funniest people he's ever worked with; working with Jack Shea on Silver Spoons; Insight; getting the job on Punky Brewster; "Perils of Punky" episode; censor problems; 15 minute episodes; going to Webster; everyone hates Susan Clark; being friends with Soleil Moon Frye's mom and they both protect Soleil; going to Head of the Class; Howard Hesseman being miserable; working with Brian Robbins, Dan Schneider, and Elaine Stritch; getting hired to direct Free Spirit, wanting Amy Yasbeck as star, but getting Corrine Bohrer; wanting and getting Allison Hannigan as co-star; directing a Cosby Show and having to give Cosby notes; directing Pacific Station and dealing with a depressed Robert Guillaume; having…

People in this episode

Host: Ian Fermaglich

Guest: Art Dielhenn

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KRMA Denver, KQED San Francisco, Lifetime

Books & works: Punky Brewster, Free Spirit, The Cosby Show, Pacific Station, Sister, Sister, Get Out of Your Head, Addiction is a Family Disease

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