Still Here Hollywood
Still Here Hollywood
Steve Kmetko, Still Here Network
Gail O'Grady "NYPD Blue" Encore
35 minutes Posted Aug 31, 2026 at 10:00 am.
Gail O’Grady on Still Here Hollywood
Success and Emmy Recognition on NYPD Blue
Why Gail O’Grady Left NYPD Blue
The Decision She Now Regrets
Remembering Steven Bochco
How Gail Landed NYPD Blue
Sharon Lawrence and the NYPD Blue Cast
Leaving Los Angeles
Advice for Young Actors
Becoming a Mother in Her 40s
Behind the Scenes of Desperate Housewives
Working on Law & Order: SVU
The Career Gail Might Have Chosen
Moving Home to Care for Her Father
Career Highs and Lows
How NYPD Blue Changed Everything
Meeting Anne Bancroft
Gail's Favorite Childhood Memories
Bad Habits and Belinda Carlisle
Advice for Her Son
Getting Robbed in Rome
Fame and Fan Encounters
Her Hilarious Henry Winkler Encounter
Near-Death Experiences
Her Favorite NYPD Blue Storyline
The Confidence She Wishes She Had
Her Father Became Her Scene Partner
Gail Talks About Duster
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Show notes
Gail O’Grady became one of television’s most recognizable faces as Donna Abandando on the groundbreaking ABC drama NYPD Blue. In this encore episode of Still Here Hollywood, Gail joins Steve Kmetko for a candid conversation about the role that changed her career, why she decided to leave the hit series, and why she now wishes she had stayed longer.
Gail also remembers legendary producer Steven Bochco, reveals the unusual way she created Donna for her NYPD Blue audition, talks about working with Sharon Lawrence, and shares stories from Desperate Housewives, Law & Order: SVU, Boston Legal and more.
She opens up about becoming a mother in her 40s, moving back to Chicago to care for her father, the confidence she wishes she had when she was younger, and the advice she has passed along to her son.
Plus, Gail recalls getting actually slapped while filming Desperate Housewives, being starstruck by Henry Winkler during her first days in Hollywood, meeting one of her acting heroes, Anne Bancroft, and working on J.J. Abrams’ Duster.