Sunday Sitdown With Willie Geist

Keanu Reeves has been a Hollywood powerhouse since Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure put him on the map three decades ago, going on to star in movies like The Matrix, Speed and Point Break. Through it all, Reeves has stayed grounded and kept his personal life private. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown" Willie Geist talks with the actor about his role in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and coming full circle with the new film Bill and Ted Face the Music. (Original broadcast date: May 12, 2019)

Viola Davis’ journey to the top of Hollywood’s A-list began on a former plantation in South Carolina, where she was born. She moved to Rhode Island at a young age and grew up poor, but found her way out through acting. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actress about her extraordinary life and career, as well as a project that’s close to her heart - a documentary about the diabetes crisis in the United States. (Original broadcast date: May 5, 2019)

It’s been over 30 years since Lenny Kravitz released his breakthrough first album “Let Love Rule.” Since then he has sold more than 40 million albums and at one point won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the rock star about his long career in the industry and the interesting way he came up with his most recent album “Raise Vibration.” (Original broadcast date: September 9, 2018)

Chris Evans is best known for his role as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his latest projects are a change of pace for the Hollywood star. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the actor for a virtual conversation about his role in the new Apple TV series Defending Jacob and his step off the screen into public policy.

Jennifer Hudson’s big, unmistakable voice has carried her from the pews of a Chicago church to stardom on “American Idol,” then to an Oscar and a pair of Grammy Awards. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the singer and actress about that journey, her role in Cats, and how she moved forward after unthinkable tragedy in her life. (Original broadcast date: December 15, 2019)

Since leaving her native South Africa as a teenager, Charlize Theron has worked her way to the top of Hollywood’s A-List. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the Oscar winner for a virtual conversation about that journey, her new Netflix movie The Old Guard, and life at home with her two daughters.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s role in the blockbuster hit Spider-Man: Far From Home was a first for the Oscar-nominated actor, who over the last twenty years has earned his place among Hollywood’s elite. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to Gyllenhaal about pivoting from that big-budget superhero film to his role in a critically-acclaimed Broadway play. (Original broadcast date: July 28, 2019)

At 41 years old, John Legend has already joined the most exclusive club in show business – earning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony, and becoming the first African-American man to achieve the elusive EGOT. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the award-winning singer over Zoom to talk about his latest album and these times in which it’s being released.

Samuel L. Jackson’s breakthrough in the cult classic Pulp Fiction came at the age of 45, after he had already lived a full life both professionally and personally. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the legendary actor about his prolific movie career since then and the road to becoming the most bankable star in Hollywood. (Original broadcast date: June 16, 2019)

Kerry Washington has a habit of playing strong women, from Anita Hill in the 2016 film Confirmation to her seven-season run as Olivia Pope on the hit show Scandal. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist talks to Washington about how starring in that show changed her life, her role in the Broadway play turned Netflix movie American Son, and why her parents didn't want her to become an actor. (Original broadcast date: November 10, 2019)

Before Ben Stiller became one of the most famous actors and directors in Hollywood, he was a kid growing up in New York City with a pair of comedy legends for parents: Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with Stiller over Zoom to talk about his beloved father, Jerry, who passed away in early May at the age of 92.

Tiffany Haddish has been on a whirlwind run since her breakout role in the box office hit Girls Trip. She has appeared in movies, television, commercials, her own stand-up comedy special and even a historic hosting gig at Saturday Night Live. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the actress to talk about her incredible journey from homelessness to Hollywood’s A-list. (Original broadcast date: August 11, 2019)

Ina Garten is a beloved chef in part because she seems like one of us – she has no formal training and she taught herself how to make a great meal by experimenting with cookbooks. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to the Hamptons for lunch with the television host and bestselling author to talk about her life before “The Barefoot Contessa,” her down-to-earth approach in the kitchen and the release of her 11th cookbook “Cook Like a Pro.” (Original broadcast date: October 28, 2018)

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant athletes in the history of sports. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the basketball legend to talk about his success on and off the court, including his second act as a prolific businessman and analyst on “Inside the NBA.” (Original broadcast date: April 21, 2019)

Over a 35-year career in Hollywood, Woody Harrelson has remained Woody: the one-of-a-kind guy you want to hang out with. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the legendary actor in Austin, Texas to talk about his long run in show business, from the early years on Cheers to big budget turns in The Hunger Games to his latest Netflix film The Highwaymen, and he opens up about his biggest influences along the way. (Original broadcast date: March 17, 2019)

With her breakout hit song “All I Wanna Do,” Sheryl Crow quickly went from talented backup singer to household name. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to the musician’s Nashville home to talk about her journey from a tiny town in Missouri to the top of the music charts, and why she says her most recent album “Threads” will be her last. (Original broadcast date: September 8, 2019)

Chip and Joanna Gaines have built something of an empire with their Magnolia lifestyle brand and sparked a renaissance in their hometown of Waco, Texas. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to Waco to talk to the “Fixer Upper” stars about walking away from the show that made them famous, keeping life normal for their five children, and their latest projects – renovating a hotel and launching a television network. (Original broadcast date: October 27, 2019)

The “Deadpool” franchise gave Ryan Reynolds the signature role of his 20-year career, but its success was far from a sure thing. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the Hollywood superstar about his decade-long fight to bring that character to the big screen, plus his new life as a businessman and majority owner of American gin company, Aviation Gin. (Original broadcast date: October 21, 2018)

Kristen Bell returns to the big screen as the voice of Anna in Frozen 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the original Frozen movie which became a billion-dollar sensation six years ago. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Bell to talk about reprising that role, the final season of her hit show The Good Place and her marriage to fellow actor Dax Shepard. (Original broadcast date: November 24, 2019)

Octavia Spencer's rise to fame may seem like overnight success, but she actually worked for over 15 years in Hollywood before her breakout, Oscar-winning performance in The Help. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actress about her journey from Production Assistant to three-time Academy Award nominee, and her latest leading role in the Netflix series Self Made about the life of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire.