Richard Kind Will Accept 93 Percent of Job Offers

As a seasoned actor with decades of experience under my belt, I find myself drawn to roles that offer me a chance to stretch and grow as an artist, while also providing a steady income and a modicum of fame – though not quite on the level of George Clooney or Brad Pitt!

Of course Richard Kind was going to appear in Only Murders in the Building, because Richard Kind will appear in almost anything that offers a craft services table. The salt shaker of an actor emerged last week as a pink-eyed potential murder suspect who lives in the Arconia’s west wing, the one inhabited by weirdos, loners, and renters. His nickname? Stink-Eye Joe. He can’t help it if the virus plaguing his corneas “jumps back and forth like hopscotch,” so try not to stare. Kind’s character comes to blows, quite literally, with Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) and a method-acting Eugene Levy this week; Stink-Eye Joe’s alibi turns out to be pretty strong — but not before he gives Levy a firm jab to the face for his failed interrogation techniques. “I can’t believe that you thought I killed your friend,” he offers afterward. “I can’t even kill this moderate-to-severe case of bacterial conjunctivitis.”

In a recent development, Steve Buscemi has concluded a humorous television trio with Kind, having recently appeared in his capacity as the announcer for the innovative live comedy show “Everybody’s in L.A.” and making an appearance in the season finale of “Girls5Eva” as a source of showbiz guidance. With over 30 years of experience under his belt (estimated to have amassed nearly 300 screen credits), Buscemi’s enduring career leaves both fans and industry insiders in awe, yet somewhat uneasy. “I have a massive ego with no self-confidence,” he shares. “I know my place in the business. I won’t ever strive to play Brick in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.’ It’s not my style.” Buscemi views himself as an open canvas when it comes to acting offers, and even manages to keep up with the high demand. “Have you ever taken an art-history course?” he queries. “You know how you study paintings for a test, only to forget the painter, the date, and everything else once the test is over? That’s what a script is like for me. You memorize it well, then go home that night and it’s all gone.

How did it feel for you, both emotionally and physically, to land a punch on the face of the cherished actor Eugene Levy?

During that time, Steve was battling antibiotic-resistant pink eye. Now let me share an interesting fact about him. Steve starred in a movie called “The Man With Two Brains”. He played the character Dr. Hfuhruhurr, known for his unique pronunciation. Recently, he had to create a name for a character in “Only Murders”, and it was Dr. Salazar Savage. After four decades, Steve was recapturing his old self, reminiscent of 1980’s Steve Martin. His silliness is not something we see often these days, but when he did that, I felt a strong urge to cry because the old Steve Martin was back. He doesn’t play “The Jerk” or “The Man With Two Brains” anymore. However, he’s not just silly; he’s not stupid either. This time, it was pure silliness without any intelligence. I have a reputation for being a giggler, and I didn’t want to spoil the takes when he went back to record that scene.

How many times did you have to perform spit takes in total?

Have you ever encountered a scenario with another performer where it seemed like there was mutual antipathy, but in reality, it was just an instance of unease or awkwardness? No, I haven’t. People are fantastic. They’re entertaining, straightforward, open-minded, and always eager to have a good time. It’s delightful to be around them. Sometimes, I might get annoyed with someone, like when they keep interrupting, saying things like, “Can’t you just focus on the scene and stop bothering the director?” But I don’t think I’ve ever genuinely disliked anyone on set. I appreciate everyone.

As a cinema enthusiast, hearing comments like “I can’t believe Richard Kind hasn’t been in this show yet, it would be great to see him” during the airing of Only Murders episodes is truly humbling. It’s an odd sensation when people express hopes for my involvement in projects. When I was acting in ‘Everybody’s in L.A.’, I never considered myself good enough. I used to ask myself, “Did I do okay? Was I right?” Now, Vulture seems to adore me, with comments like “Every show needs Richard Kind“. It’s a feeling that still leaves me bewildered. Isn’t it strange how one’s perception of self can differ so much from the view others have?

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I found myself questioning my actions on the show. Despite my instincts urging me to speak up and engage further with our guests, I chose to remain silent, allowing John to take center stage. Every now and then, I’d pose a single question, creating space for him to breathe. Truth be told, I desired to ask more but held back. I can’t quite pinpoint why I felt I didn’t measure up, but the doubts were there.

I wasn’t sure if I was doing well because my focus wasn’t on myself. Instead, I aimed to excel for the sake of the project and its lead, John. My question wasn’t about my own performance, but rather how I could improve the show or if I met your expectations, Larry. In other words, I was more concerned with whether I did a good job for you, not if I was any good.

Since you two are performing together on Broadway again, could you persuade him to bring “Everybody’s in L.A.” to New York City as well? We had a dress rehearsal for an entire episode before our first show. In John’s opening monologue, he mentioned something about doing only six shows and then moving on, even if they received ratings like the moon landing. I thought, “Great, okay,” it was fantastic, chaotic, interesting, and wonderful. I loved everything. And then he hinted that they might do it again. I asked him, “John, what?” He said, “Yeah?” And I replied, “Look, if you decide to do it again and want a new co-host or something like that, don’t feel obligated. I won’t be offended, I promise.” He responded, “Why would you be offended? I’d be very offended. Of course you’re coming.” I’d love the opportunity to do Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City together. Maybe we could make it a trilogy. I don’t know where exactly, but I’d love to see that happen. I didn’t ask him about it, so please don’t ask me either. But wouldn’t that be amazing?

Referencing your character’s portrayal this season on Girls5Eva, you playfully mentioned that your IMDb page is as long as a wizard’s beard, given it currently stands around 290 credits.

At this stage in my career, the key factor is if a role is offered to me. Jokingly speaking, I’ve even done low-budget movies with just five crew members where the director handled the clapboard! I enjoy acting and don’t have many other options on a typical Tuesday or Wednesday. I could play golf, but I’ve had enough of that already. This particular film had an appealing part and it gave me an opportunity to help out a budding director who might have used his last penny for the project. He told me he edits car commercials but dreams of writing, directing, and acting. So, I agreed to take on the role, which only took two days from my schedule. It allowed me to act, so that’s one reason why I accept roles.

The primary cause is my three children attending college. In order to finance their education, I’ve found myself accepting roles that some might find questionable. It’s crucial to recognize that I’m a character actor, and I have many acquaintances who star in major productions. A notable example is George Clooney. When George agrees to a film, it triggers an entire industry – laundry services, catering, hotels, other actors, writers, editors, special effects, the location itself, and investors in the studio who hope for profits. The weight of these expectations rests heavily on him. In comparison, I experience no such pressure. People often ask me, “Why would you do that? Didn’t you know it was bad?” I accepted the roles because they were not my burden to carry. I’m essentially a hired actor. They pay me, and it could boost my fame and open up new opportunities – these are the reasons I take on such roles. While I wish I could say the challenge was the driving factor, the truth is that roles are offered to me, and I enjoy acting. I accept nearly 93% of the offers presented to me.

What method is used for calculating 7%? If I lower it, there seems to be a problem. It might appear awkward or inappropriate, but it could also be because Parents’ Weekend is happening at my daughter’s school, so I can’t comply, but I’d like to if I could.

One memorable scene from Girls5Eva was when you expressed your thoughts on the concept of “medium time” fame, emphasizing that actors should aim to strike a balance. Do you resonate with this idea, similar to the fictional character Richard Kind?

It seems that you’re suggesting I aim for mediocrity, but I strongly disagree. In the world of television and films, there’s less room for me to fully express myself due to financial risks. However, when it comes to stage plays, I can take on leading roles where my performance might surprise you because they’re not playing it safe. I have a certain level of recognition in the theater world. People will say, “I know him! I’ll go watch him.” While I may not draw millions to a movie theater, I can certainly attract hundreds to a live stage. The film and television industries are high-stakes games. Have you seen a show called East New York?

The show indeed got canceled after running for a year on CBS. Since it was produced by Warner Bros., the distribution was handled by CBS, leading to a bit of a dispute regarding streaming platforms when you wanted to watch it – HBO Max or Paramount+. Unfortunately, they couldn’t reach an agreement, and in the end, both parties acted selfishly, cutting off what could have been a seven-year run for the show. Despite this, CBS took a risk by giving me a role that allowed me to explore my dramatic talents, moving away from comedy. The role wasn’t heavy all the time, but it did offer some intense moments. That’s why I was disappointed because I value roles that challenge and stretch me.

In a hypothetical scenario, who among Eugene, Steve’s acting counterpart, Zach Galifianakis, Martin Short’s acting counterpart, and Daniel Day-Lewis (who famously portrayed Abraham Lincoln), would you consider the most fitting to play your onscreen role?

I can see the doppelgäng-ing.
My daughter went to school in the Upper West Side. A few years ago, I’m sitting at parents’ night and look across the room and my eyes bug open. It’s Daniel Day-Lewis. He sees me look at him and nods to me, so he obviously recognized me. I went up to him when the thing was over and I said, “You know, I’m so fucking furious at you.” And he goes, “Why?” And I go, “Because I wanted to be the most famous father in the class.”

2024-09-13 20:54

Richard Kind Will Accept 93 Percent of Job Offers

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