Tim Matheson is holding nothing back about his Hollywood career in a new book.
The actor, 76, has shared, exclusively with PEOPLE, that he will publish a memoir about his storied career on screen. Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches is forthcoming from Hachette Books this fall.
“I’m excited to share these wonderful stories with a wide audience,” Matheson says in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “And beyond the stories, I am pleased to provide FILM SCHOOL BOOT CAMP lessons so that readers can learn from the various ways I’ve stepped in it over the years. (None of which are actually taught in film school, so far as I know).”
Fans will recognize Matheson from a variety of roles, starting from his early days on shows like Leave it to Beaver and Bonanza to his humorous lead as Eric “Otter” Stratton in Animal House — where the iconic quote used as the book’s title comes from. Matheson is also a two-time Emmy-nominated actor for his role as Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing, and plays Dr. Vernon Mullins on Netflix series Virgin River.
Damn Glad to Meet You details the actor’s career, as well as the people he’s encountered over the years — from Chris Farley to Chevy Chase and Steven Spielberg to Penny Marshall. Matheson won’t shy away from interesting anecdotes either, like the lessons he learned from Lucille Ball and a NSFW shoutout given by Mel Brooks during a cast party.
“Technically my career only spans six and half decades so far,” he says. “However, I think this book will be on the bestseller list for a while and Doc Mullins isn’t getting killed off any time soon, so we rounded up.”
Overall, Damn Glad to Meet You is a tribute to Matheson’s respect for his peers and his love of the acting craft, per the book’s description.
“I can’t wait for audiences to get to know Tim Matheson the way we have over the last 12 months,” says Hachette Books publisher Mary Ann Naples in a statement. “His incredible stories are sure to delight film and TV fans of all ages.”
