Bill Campbell Debuted On `Dynasty' In 1981

Q: Please provide some information about one of my favorite actors - Bill Campbell ("The Rocketeer"). Didn't he star in a short-lived TV series as a private investigator in a tropical setting? Will the TV movie he starred in with Roma Downey be repeated in the near future? What's his latest project?

A: Campbell was first introduced to TV audiences in 1981 as Steve Carrington's gay lover on "Dynasty." He made his movie debut 10 years later in "The Rocketeer." The actor's resume includes a 1993 "Moonlighting" clone "Moon Over Miami," in which he teamed with "Profiler's" Ally Walker to play a Florida private investigator. Last year, he starred with Downey in the TV movie "Monday After the Miracle." As of this writing, a repeat has not been scheduled. This fall, Campbell and Sela Ward ("Sisters") get a six-week tryout in the new series "Once and Again," the story of two divorced people who fall in love. The new series will air in "NYPD Blue's" Tuesday night spot until October. Campbell turns 40 Wednesday.

Q: UPN's "Thumb Wars" parody was hilarious. Is there any way to order videos?

A: There are a limited number of the half-hour videos available. Call 800-546-4247 to order ($9.99, plus $3.50 shipping and handling). "Thumb Wars," Steve Oedekerk's half-hour "Star Wars" parody, aired on the UPN network in May.

Q: Who played the lead in the TV series "Lucky"? I think it took place on a gambling ship off the coast of California. Cary Grant starred in the movie.

A: John Vivyan played the suave gambler in the TV version of "Mr. Lucky," which aired during the 1959-60 season on CBS. The Blake Edwards production co-starred a pre-"Wild Wild West" Ross Martin and featured theme music by Henry Mancini. This was the only starring role for Vivyan, who had appeared in the movie "Imitation of Life." He continued to appear on stage and in TV guest roles during the 1960s until a heart attack put him in semiretirement. His last TV appearance was on a 1983 "Simon & Simon" episode. He died that year.

Q: Please name the artist and music that played during the final episode of "Providence." Sydney's (Melina Kanakaredes) boyfriend mentioned it was an Italian tenor.

A: The music was "Con Ti Partiro" from Andrea Bocelli's "Romanza" CD.

Q: Recently I saw "O Pioneers!" with Jessica Lange. In the movie, she had a younger brother named Emil. Who is the actor who played Emil and what had he been in previously?

A: That was Reed Diamond in the 1992 telefilm based on the Willa Cather's novel. Diamond is best known as Det. Mike Kellerman on "Homicide: Life on the Street." He also starred in the Danielle Steel TV movie "Full Circle."

Send your questions about TV to: TV Week, The Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265. Sorry, no personal replies. E-mail: tvq&a@dallasnews.com