As I delve into the captivating journey of Christopher Lloyd, a true chameleon of an actor, I can’t help but be awestruck by his ability to breathe life into such a diverse array of characters. From the quirky Reverend Jim to the brilliant Doc Brown, the eccentric Uncle Fester, and the menacing Klingon Commander Kruge, Lloyd has left an indelible mark on popular culture that continues to resonate with generations.
It’s quite evident from Christopher Lloyd’s extensive, diverse collection of roles: each character he plays seems to transcend reality when he breathes life into them, making them more captivating than their written counterparts. His recent portrayal as Larry, the grandson of silent film legend Fatty Arbuckle in “Hacks,” follows this pattern and marks his first Primetime Emmy nomination (in the category of outstanding guest actor in a comedy series) in 32 years.
In the “Hacks” episode under consideration, Lloyd is portrayed as a quirky character residing in a house filled with collectibles and personal reminiscences, including a pet falcon. The scene was filmed on-site at the Andrew McNally House, a grand Queen Anne-style property constructed in 1887 within Altadena. This expansive nine-bedroom residence features a three-story rotunda and an aviary.
“Lloyd describes Larry as someone who prefers solitude; he’s not fond of unexpected visitors peddling goods or similar situations. According to Lloyd, Larry is not sociable by nature. He becomes uncomfortable and restless when he’s in a setting where he can’t manage things. It seems likely that Larry spent his childhood in this house and feels secure here.”
Lloyd’s exceptional character and witty banter on “Hacks” are nothing new for him; he first made his mark with the eccentric Reverend Jim Ignatowski on “Taxi” during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In this series, his character was a laid-back cabbie with a huge heart and simple mind, who had a fondness for drugs that bordered on casual. Despite winning two Emmys for this role, sitcoms were not the career path he initially envisioned for himself.
“In the early or mid-60s, New York held a certain prejudice against going to Hollywood and performing in a sitcom. It was seen as compromising one’s integrity if you were a serious actor, a true actor. However, he, being a theater enthusiast, decided to challenge this mindset when he moved to Los Angeles, albeit with a hint of skepticism. Upon arriving in L.A., he made his agent aware of his reservations towards sitcoms. His agent then arranged occasional sitcom auditions for him, primarily as a means of networking with casting directors. ‘You never know,’ his agent would say, ‘when that could prove useful down the line.’ This strategy eventually led to his role in ‘Taxi.'”
“He found the role captivating even before reading it, and when given an opportunity to observe the cast during filming for their second season, his admiration only grew. “Wow, these actors are fantastic!” he recalled thinking. In New York, he was always hearing about the perfect theater being an ensemble. He felt that what he was witnessing right there on set was the epitome of that ideal. To this day, his enthusiasm for the cast has not waned. He was thrilled to be a part of it all. He quickly overcame any reservations he had about sitcoms and realized this was a positive development, as he put it with a grin, “I really don’t have much to complain about.””
Reverend Jim was undeniably an unusual individual, often unkempt, high, and oblivious due to his state. As soon as he uttered a word or made any statement, it was impossible not to chuckle. (If you’re looking for something fun to do, search for clips of Jim on YouTube with his “Taxi” colleagues Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, and Jeff Conaway. You won’t regret spending your time this way.)
Lloyd expressed, “I had a sense of familiarity with him. I could grasp his character. Back then, there were individuals similar to him on the streets. So, I simply watched them, my instincts guiding me, and it paid off. … A large portion of that performance was born out of the liberation I felt collaborating with that cast and the exceptional writing team. They made it effortless.”
As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always found it fascinating to delve into the diverse roles Lloyd has brought to life. His characters, such as Reverend Jim from “Taxi,” Doc Brown from the “Back to the Future” series, Judge Doom from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” Uncle Fester in the “Addams Family” films, and Klingon Commander Kruge in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” share a remarkable commonality – they all make exceptional Halloween costumes!
Lloyd is humbled by the longevity of the love for Doc Brown, the brilliant, benevolent, oddball inventor of the flux capacitor (“great Scott!”). “I’ve done my share of work, and nothing compares to the way ‘Back to the Future’ is ingrained in people’s minds,” he says. “It’s phenomenal. Every day practically — and certainly I go to Comic-Cons — people come up and say, ‘You made my childhood.’ And another reference equal to that, where ‘Back to the Future’ fills the gap in a lot of lives of young people, who have gone on to become doctors, scientists and what have you. So a lot of gratitude and I feel real good about that. I feel very fortunate to be part of that.”
In the “Addams Family” movies, Uncle Fester held a unique significance to him. He shared an interesting backstory about his childhood, where his family used to subscribe to The New Yorker magazine. Despite not reading the articles as a child, he was captivated by the cartoons, particularly those of Charles Addams. Interestingly enough, there were instances when a cartoon would feature Uncle Fester alongside the rest of the Addams Family.
“Lloyd expresses his fondness for it,” Lloyd mentions. “It wasn’t wicked but naughty, much like Uncle Fester. He simply had a knack for fun. Later on, that phase of my life ended, only to be revived years later when I received a call asking if I’d consider playing Uncle Fester in a movie. What are the chances? The opportunity to embody the character I adored as a child was thrilling.”
In the past, it’s unlikely that the kid would have imagined himself as an action figure, but Lloyd has reached that status. Fans of Star Trek will understand my reference – the 12-inch Klingon Commander Kruge figurine bears a striking resemblance to Lloyd. From the moment director Leonard Nimoy asked him to wear the character’s prosthetic forehead, eyebrows, and goatee, a supervillain was created instantly.
“He would arrive at Paramount Studio at four in the morning for makeup application and costume fitting, which enhanced his forehead significantly. This transformation made him feel like he was embodying the character. He marveled at this process and aimed to discover aspects of the character that audiences could connect with on a personal level. Even if the character wasn’t someone you’d invite to dinner, he wanted the audience to recognize themselves in this individual – not an alien – someone they could converse with.”
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2024-08-20 00:47