Tim Matheson portrayed a president and a vice president. A policeman and a soldier. And more than a few doctors. He has worked with Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Jackie Gleason, Clint Eastwood, Kurt Russell and Steven Spielberg. He’s appeared in episodes of everything from “Leave to Beaver” and “My Three Sons” to “This is Us” and “CSI.”

The 76-year-old has hundreds of acting, directing and producing roles under his belt during a career that began when John F. Kennedy was president. (Yes, Matheson I played it on screenAlso.)

Matheson transports readers to the sets of many of his Hollywood gigs in his enjoyable and illuminating memoir, “Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Trenches of Hollywood.”

The book’s title is a nod to the recurring phrase Matheson utters as Eric “Otter” Stratton, the president of Delta Rush in the all-time comedy “Animal House.”

The section on the making of the classic 1978 film is almost worth the purchase price of the book alone. Spoiler alert: some of the actors who played the members of Delta House engaged in their own detours while on location at University of Oregonthe replacement for the fictional Faber College. The description of the actors’ visit to a real fraternity party in Eugene is a particular highlight.

However, “Damn nice to meet you” isn’t all fun and games. It offers helpful tips and tricks for acting/directing and navigating the Hollywood jungle, as well as some poignant moments. Matheson talks about the time he spent with some actors/comedians who were taken away too soon, including John Candy, Chris Farley and Sam Kinison — as well as his “Animal House” co-star John Belushi.

“You came for Belushi stories,” Matheson writes. “I know. He’s the one I get asked about more than anyone I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with almost everyone.

These days, Matheson works north of the border, where his hit Netflix show, “Virgin River” is shot down.

This is just the latest in a very long line of roles that the California native has taken on during his long and productive career.

“I was lucky. I know that,” Matheson writes. “I have always found a place to tell a story.”

And now he tells us his stories. We should be damn happy he did.

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