Dan Schneid as Dr. Phil ~ What were you thinking?

Dan Schneid as Dr. Phil (Photo/courtesy)

Everyone knows him as Dr. Phil (McGraw). Not only from being a special guest on Oprah, but also from his own TV show. This time it's not Dr. Phil who will be interviewed, but rather a "Dr. Phil."

Dan Schneid is an impersonator or lookalike to Dr. Phil. He will share with us what it is like to be such a "doctor" in his own life as "him" and in real life as himself. If that is confusing, then it's okay, as we have "Dr. Phil" to confide in and help make us better understand as you can't change what you don't know!

Phillip Calvin McGraw, known as Dr. Phil, is a television personality, author, and former psychologist, currently the host of his own television show, Dr. Phil, which debuted in 2002. McGraw first gained celebrity status with appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the late 1990s.

Dan Schneid, on the other hand, has 18 years of experience in ascertaining the difference from what a person wants to hear and yet really needs to hear. The real fun is when they receive a wink from “Phil” as he puts his finger up to his lips and motions for them to be quiet-like its part of a show or something.

Take it away "Dr. Phil."

Hi Dan, may I call you that? And, by the way, what is your stage name and the character whom you portray?

Most definitely (you can call me Dan). My character is Dr. Phil."

When did you first begin being Dr. Phil?

I was approached by a friend of mine, Greg Chelew, who impersonates David Letterman, about two and a half years ago, in the Home Depot where I work. He shopped there regularly, so I was usually informed when he was in the store. He and I started talking one day and he said I looked like Dr Phil. I said I didn't think so and that was that. The following nine months he would see me and we would talk and he finally convinced me to grow out my sideburns and bush out my mustache. I did and noticed several people looking at me and taking second glances. Greg took me to the Reel Awards in Las Vegas and I had to get some business cards together and a bio, all in 48 hours.

So with the help of Kinkos and my computer I did it. The business card looked (to me) like an amateur did it and my bio was what you're reading here. The events at the Reel Awards in Las Vegas were surreal to say the least. I saw people that I had to ask Dave if they were the real deal or an impersonator, they were that damn good!! as the days went on I had some agents ask me how long I had been doing the doctor. I replied 'Oh about 32..." They said 'Oh 32 months?' I replied then laughed and said, 'No 32 hours.' Then I told them the story about Dave and myself. Since then I have been perfecting the good doctor and his mannerisms. I have been on his show, not with issues, but in the audience. I went backstage after the show and had a nice conversation with the doctor. He was very surprised that I looked so much like him and his wife,Robyn, was very shocked that her husband had a double. After that the rest is fun and history."

Have you had any training, either as a lookalike, actor or in any other field?

The only training I have had is four years as a United States Marine Corps Drill Instructor and as a hand to hand combat instructor, as well as a Home Depot associate up to Manager. I do have B.S. Degree in Business Management, so I can counsel you on your home issues, finances or your love life and marriage. :)"

Do you have family and/or friend support?

My girlfriend and family support me 100%."

Where do you live now? And will you travel anywhere to work as Dr. Phil?

I currently live in Orange County California, and yes I am open to travel anywhere in or outside of the US."

What is an example of what you do as "him?"

I can listen to your problems and give you realistic advise as to why you are in the situation or why you can't get out. Then I'll proceed to give you the tough questions that you have to answer and between the whole bunch of answers make you see that my advise is the best and that you need to follow it if you want to change the situation you're in - 'cause you can't change what you don't know!!!"

Share with us one of your most funniest, scariest or embarrassing moments as Dr. Phil.

Funniest - I was walking in the John Wayne airport coming back from a convention and I was wearing a pair of jeans a T shirt and sneakers pulling my luggage. A man in a three piece suit walking towards me says 'May I approach?' I thought, I'm in jeans and t-shirt, and he's in a three piece suit, and he's asking me for permission to approach?? I said sure.

He (the man) walks up and starts telling me how much he enjoys my show and how I help a lot of people and that I should be proud to know I help so many. I stop him and apologize and tell him I am an impersonator not the real Dr Phil. He says oh sure I understand you have to tell people that, so they don't bother you. I tell him, no really I'm an impersonator. he again says 'I understand you have to dress down so no one would know its you.' At this point I'm really trying to convince him so I pull out my California drivers license and show it to him. He looks at it and says 'It's okay, I know they have to give you this so people will leave you alone.' At this point I knew it was useless so I thanked him for watching my show and said I hope I do him proud, we shook hands and I walked to my car shaking my head.

Scariest - haven't had any.....yet. :)

Embarrassing - I was on my way to a Home Depot managers meeting, and I was in the airport with other managers awaiting our plane. I was going to get a coffee and I asked my friend if he wanted one too. He said yes then waits until I was about ten feet away and yells out 'Hey Phil make mine a grande!' There were two little old grandma types right next to me and their eyes lit up and they got up and started hugging me saying how much they loved my show and wanted to take a picture with me. I insisted my friend take the picture and he did. Later on my friend told me he heard the ladies talking about me and neither one had the nerve to ask me so he thought he would help them out."

Does your work take you on travels?

Yes we (Home Depot) have meetings in different places during the year, and it is always interesting in the airports and restaurants when people see me with a few of my big friends, they look like body guards and so the saga starts."

How long did it take to prepare as "him?"

[It took] about a year to be good."

Anything else you'd like to share, including advice to those new in the biz?

Have fun and be respectful of your character as well as (to) yourself, and remember that when you make someone else smile you are sharing valuable commodity. Share it don't hoard it!!!!!"

Dan, too, has a great amount of energy and a great sense of humor. The real Dr. Phil, as seen on Oprah or his own show, is usually seen as the serious logical thinking man who can analyze your issues and have an answer for you within minutes. So if you have issues or know people with issues, that you want to have some fun with, then let Dan take them down that avenue for laughs as well as insights to their issues.

Remember, as both Dr. Phils will tell you,