The Importance of Being Ernie: My Three Sons to Mad Men, A Hollywood Survivor

A true Hollywood survivor, Barry Livingston is one of the few child stars who turned early success into a lifelong career. As “Ernie” on the 1960s sit-com My Three Sons—which also featured his real-life brother Stanley as “Chip”—Barry become instantly recognizable for his horn-rimmed glasses and goofy charm. Five decades later, after working on TV shows like Mad Men and Desperate Housewives, and in feature films like Zodiac and The Social Network, Barry Livingston is one actor who knows The Importance of Being Ernie . . .
 
In this fascinating and funny memoir, Barry reveals his most unforgettable anecdotes: Working on set with Fred McMurray, Ozzie and Harriet, Lucille Ball and Dick Van Dyke. Riding a limousine with Elvis Presley. Trying to upstage Ron “Opie” Howard. Even shooting a Superbowl beer commercial with Brad Pitt. At first, Barry’s lazy eye and horn-rimmed glasses nearly derailed his career, getting him kicked off his first major film starring Paul Newman. Eventually, his “nerdy” look became his biggest asset, landing Barry a recurring role on Ozzie & Harriet and a regular part on My Three Sons. Fifty years later, Barry is still going strong—from the stage and small screen to to featured film roles opposite Adam Sandler and Robert Downey, Jr.. Like most Hollywood actors, Barry experienced some incredible highs and lows along the way, but he never gave up. “I’ve been around for more than six decades,” he affirms. “And I’m not going away.”
 
This is how one child star beat the odds and survived the dark side of the Hollywood dream factory—with charm, wit, determination . . . and big horn-rimmed glasses. This is The Importance of Being Ernie.