1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. It's a hard business, but I never 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: lost faith. Well, a couple of times, I doubt it. 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: It's hard after about ten months of no work, but 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:13,120 Speaker 1: you persevere or you get out. 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 2: I'm buzz night and welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast. 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 2: And I'm honored to have a man who's appeared in 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: more than eighty films including I'm a Dais Inside, Lewin Davis, 8 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Scarface. Now he's on Broadway 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 2: in the Queen of Versailles. What an amazing talent he is. 10 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 2: I can't wait to talk to him next. It's f 11 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 2: Murray Abraham. I'm taking a walk, Taking a Walk. I 12 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 2: came up with taking a walk because I was literally 13 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 2: walking in Chicago. I was trying to figure out what 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: to do with my life. I had read a book 15 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: that was a reverse engineering book, and I'm just walking. 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: I literally was walking thirty thousand and steps in Chicago, 17 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: just having a great day. But I was trying to 18 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,279 Speaker 2: figure it out because I come out of the radio 19 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: business and that had sort of moved on for me, 20 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: and I started thinking, well, wait a minute, comedians and 21 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,639 Speaker 2: cars getting coffee is such a great concept that Jerry 22 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: Seinfeld came up. Yea, I know Jerry Seinfeld, but why 23 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: can't I come up with my take on storytelling and 24 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: interviewing because I always loved interviewing. So it was hatched 25 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 2: there a good idea. Yeah, and here I am. I'm 26 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: so lucky talking to f Murray Abraham. 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: My god, but you mentioned Chicago. That's one of my 28 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: absolute favorites cities home me too. I was there both 29 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: the summer and winter. I mean, I mean, of course 30 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: it's famous for its winners, but it's fine. It was different. 31 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: But that was a surprise too. That closes up early too. 32 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: I'll bet Pittsburgh closes up early these days. 33 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: Mary, What I'm taking my purview, my my take on 34 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: it is when I get out of the show, there's 35 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: no place to have dinner. You know, of course, get together, 36 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: but if you know where to go, you know, so 37 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: it's not just Boston or Poe Dunk, it's it's generally. 38 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 1: I'm not that's too bad. That used to be part 39 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: of the action going to the theater was getting together 40 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: after then hashing it out right. It's right, yes, exactly right? 41 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: Oh man, Well, okay, if you could take a walk 42 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: with someone living or dead. Who would you take a 43 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: walk with and where would you take that walk with them? 44 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: Ah, there's a bunch of Brando comes to mind right away. 45 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: But I just read that Edna Saint Vincent Malay's house, 46 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: little house, the smallest house in New York City, is 47 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: up for sale. And she was a big sponsor of 48 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: the theater. She was one of the people responsible for 49 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: the Cherry Lane Theater being established. So she's on my mind. 50 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: I'd like to walk around with her. I think that 51 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: that would have been nice to hear what she had 52 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: to say about some of the amazing people she hung 53 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: out with. But I mean, there's not this I'd like 54 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: to walk around with Charles Dickens. Wouldn't that be a treat? 55 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: It? Would it would? I'd love to be a fly 56 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 2: on the wall for any of them. Yeah, for sure. 57 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: So you had that incredible piece of your career in Amadeus, 58 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: and that that monologue that you have about hearing Mozart 59 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: for the first time as your as your character, which 60 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: was so unbelievably incredible. What was the first time f 61 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: Mary Abraham heard Mozart for the first time? 62 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: Oh, I guess I was in high school. I was 63 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: not a classical music fan, but I heard my first 64 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: piece of music is Mendels's Concerto D Minor, and I 65 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: was captivated because I was rock and roll. I mean, 66 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: I was rhythm and blues then in those days. But 67 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: that opened my eyes to some other music, and I 68 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: asked the teacher what she would suggest, and she came 69 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: up with a magic flute. Some people made fun of 70 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: the magic flute. They think it's trivial. I don't think so. 71 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: But aside from the fact that it was my first Mozart, 72 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: that's why I remember it so fondly. But there's there's 73 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: some wonderful stuff in it. 74 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 2: We are going to touch on your work currently, The 75 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: Queen of Versailles, but back to music for a second. 76 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 2: There was that incredible period in inside Lewyn Davis where 77 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: you're in the uh, the Gate of Horn, and it 78 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: was the i'd say honest assessment that you gave of 79 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 2: the musician that was on stage. How did you channel 80 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: that and had you personally gone through a similar experience yourself? 81 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 2: Do you know? 82 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: It's true? It's like that thing where they say, in 83 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,799 Speaker 1: other words, get out of here, you know, telling bum. 84 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: I mean, that's what it amounts to. But I saw 85 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: that for the first time that movie with a you know, 86 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: a much of it was a It was a preview showing, 87 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: so it was all people in the business, and that 88 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: line got this huge laugh because everybody really understood and 89 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: it was a good line. By the way, that that 90 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: whole scene we shot that lesson half a day. Those 91 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: guys are great to work with, by the way, the 92 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: Kong brothers, I mean, boom boom. They know what they're doing, 93 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: and their scripts are finished scripts. You know, it's it's done, 94 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: it's ready to do as this. That was true, obamadeus. 95 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: It's you can't go wrong with a good piece of 96 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: work like that. You shouldn't just say the words. 97 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 2: For those that don't know the line I'm referring to. 98 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: And if I do fall off my chair when you 99 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 2: give the line, will you forgive me? First of all, 100 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: what was that line? Again? 101 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: I don't see any money here, very straight, very honest. 102 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: Oh man, that guy I played, by the way, was 103 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 1: I don't know. If you know, I'll bet you do that. 104 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: In this tough business called the show business, the toughest 105 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: of the tough or in the music business, I'm not 106 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: talking about the gangsters and all that crap. I'm talking 107 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: about hard, hard people, and this guy I play but 108 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: was the hardest. He was really tough, and so that 109 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: was very straight ahead of him. But he didn't have 110 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: a lawsuit problem with Dylan anyhow. It's easy to play him. 111 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: But isn't that line true of like the restaurant business 112 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 2: as an example, when people, you know, get all wild 113 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: eyed and enthusiastic about the restaurant business as well. 114 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, of course you're right, you know you're right. 115 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 2: So how does it feel now that you're you're in 116 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: New York City and the Queen of Versailles is happening? 117 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: Tell me, first of all, how that all came together. 118 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: That's one of those lucky things. That's all the people 119 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: thought of me for this thing. I don't know, you know, 120 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: I'm saying that I'm not a singer like these people 121 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: I'm on the stage was I can you know? I 122 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: can carry my own I've done to think Benny Opera. 123 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: I shouted it out doing children's theater musicals for ten 124 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: bucks a show and one of the piano players was 125 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: Steven Schwartz. That interesting, But so that's not why I 126 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: got into the show. Someone suggested me for it, and 127 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: they all said, that's a great idea. Would he do it? 128 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: That's what I heard later. But when you were, you know, 129 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: offered something like this with the people involved, of course 130 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: you're going to take it. If they believe you can 131 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: do it, then you can. And they've been faithful to me. 132 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: But I'm on stage with some I guess, some of 133 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: the best in New York. I think it's become one 134 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: of the best experiences in my career sixty years. It's 135 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: remarkable a show this size, with this many people, and 136 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: everyone gets along so well. It reminds I'm carrying on 137 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: and on how I got involved in this is just 138 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: one of those things that happens, and I'm very grateful. 139 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: There's no way to who came up with thinking of me. 140 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: I don't know, but I'm grateful. That's all I can say. 141 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: Did you know Kristin chenoworths before? 142 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: No? I didn't, but we fell in love with each 143 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: other right away, but I think everyone does. She's what 144 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: you see is what you get. She's the real McCoy. 145 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: She's a hard and soul of this production. 146 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: So I had Charles Brown from the Do Wop Project 147 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 2: on the podcast and I told him I couldn't contain 148 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: my excitement that I was going to be speaking with you. 149 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 2: And I asked him, I said, Charles, as a Broadway artist, 150 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: do you have a question for f Murray Abraham? And 151 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 2: he didn't even blink. He said, yes, I do have 152 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 2: a question for him. He said, please ask him? What 153 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 2: is his ritual when he's performing on Broadway. 154 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: Well, I stretch, I vocalize. I don't eat much at 155 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: all before the show, if anything at all, and I 156 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: just stretch out and lay on the bed. It's very easy. 157 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: The vocalizing is very important to me, whether I'm singing 158 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: or not. But I remember doing the show with Helen 159 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: Mirren and I would vocalize every day before the show 160 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: and she would come out and look at me and 161 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: go and then go back into dressing room. That was 162 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 1: her warm up. So everybody has a different warm up. 163 00:09:58,440 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: Mine is pretty mundane. 164 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 2: And the first time that you walk on stage after 165 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 2: rehearsals have happened and everything, can you describe to someone 166 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 2: what that feeling is on opening night? 167 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: There's no way you can describe it to anyone who 168 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 1: hasn't experienced it. It's I mentioned that I've been doing 169 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: it for sixty years. That's not an exaggeration. That's the truth. 170 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: And even as I say it, it's hard to believe. 171 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: But I was trying to explain to someone that this 172 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: opening night, which is within six days, I suppose on Sunday, 173 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: it feels the same as it's always felt, and that 174 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: surprives me. It hasn't become off hand or it's just 175 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: as exciting and thrilling and by the way, anxiety producing 176 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: as it ever was. And that's hard for people to believe. 177 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: Because I'm made six years old. You would think I 178 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: would become jaded. That ain't me. And if you do, 179 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: I think you better get out of the business. 180 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 2: Could you have imagined, as a rough and tumble character 181 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 2: in El Paso, Texas, that your career path would have 182 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 2: taken you to Broadway. 183 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: There's a funny thing about your imagination. Everybody has a dream. 184 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: I think, whatever, I shouldn't say that, I shouldn't. I 185 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: take that back. A lot of people have a dream 186 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: and some of them come true. And I thought there 187 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: was no limit. I wasn't aware of what it would take. 188 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: I had heard it was hard, but I had no 189 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 1: idea it was as hard as it was because I 190 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: don't think you're an actor unless you're acting, and that 191 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: can be long periods where you don't act. You've got 192 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: to do something to keep your chops up and keep 193 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: your your sense of yourself. Do you lose yourself? So 194 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: you continue to take classes or you study on your own. 195 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: You do whatever it takes to keep this here and 196 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: your physically your body in good shape for when the 197 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: opportunity presents itself. And too many actors don't do that. 198 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: I think too many artists don't. It's it's a hard business. 199 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: But I never lost faith. Well, a couple of times 200 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: I doubt it. It's hard after about ten months of 201 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: no work, but you persevere or you get out. And 202 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: the other thing, you know, I teach from time to time. 203 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: I'm a good teacher, but oh whenever I can, I 204 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: gather a class at the Atlantic Theater Company, and I 205 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: tell them, if you are dedicated to doing the work 206 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: as you should, honest work, which means searching yourself for 207 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: the character, your own traits finding out the truth about yourself. 208 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: If you can't make it in this business, you haven't 209 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: lost any of that time. You've examined yourself, and it's valuable. 210 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: Leave the business for a while because you can always 211 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: come back to it, because it's all there. I'm carrying 212 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: on because I think it's important to know that any 213 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: endeavor in art, if it's an honest endeavor in search, 214 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: nothing is lost. 215 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 2: I love when you carry on, by the way, absolutely, 216 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: I love it. Now. Is it true you play a 217 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 2: little game that is sort of like a Where's Waldo 218 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: sort of game with your Academy award, the actual award, 219 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 2: And if so, is that happening at the Queen of Versailles? 220 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, every show I've done since I'm since I 221 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: want it. He's responsible a great deal for my success, 222 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: a lot. Anyhow, I give it to stage management and 223 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: they put it, hide it on the stage from different 224 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: places they don't tell me, and then it ends up 225 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: in the wardrobe department and they make little costumes. He 226 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: has all these little costumes. As a two two. He 227 00:13:54,520 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: has a surfer board outfit. I mean it's fun. The 228 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: idea of putting it someplace and shrining it, it's silly 229 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: to me because not many people going to have a 230 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: chance to hold that trophy and play with it. And 231 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: I do let them do it, and they they're delightful. 232 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,319 Speaker 1: They're just like kids. Oh can I hold it? I mean, yeah, well, 233 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: of course you can hold it. And the old they 234 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: and they all want to make a speech. 235 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 2: You have had this remarkable ability to reinvent yourself across decades. 236 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 2: What is the secret to staying relevant and hungry as 237 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 2: an actor? 238 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, It's a gift. I suppose, I 239 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: don't know. I wish I could. I don't know. Then 240 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: capsulize it. I wish I could bottle it, because it's 241 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: a great gift and I have it, and I'm again grateful. 242 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: I don't know where these gifts come from, these things, 243 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: but I do know that if you do have any 244 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: kind of a gift, it's your responsibility to nurture it. 245 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: That's easy to say because I work. But where you 246 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: are gifted and you can't work, it's killing and it 247 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: can embitter people, and it does, and that's too bad, because, 248 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: as I say, you can always come back to the 249 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: business and you will be a better actor if you do. Anyhow, 250 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: I'm carrying on because I know so many people who 251 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: haven't made it, and I'm mourn for them, you know, 252 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: But you know, keep punching baby. 253 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 2: Homeland the White Lotus, Marvel projects. You keep showing up 254 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 2: in these surprising places. How do you choose roles now 255 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 2: versus twenty thirty years ago. 256 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: Well, you make it sound as though I have all 257 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: these offers that I can select from, and in fact, 258 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: the ones that are offered are are interesting, and so 259 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: I do them. But there's a lot of crap out 260 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: there too. I don't know how I still let them 261 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: because they're interesting and because other people involved sometimes, but 262 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: those that you have mentioned were really a lot of fun, 263 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: and that's important to have a good time. It's hard 264 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: enough work. You may as well have a good time. 265 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: Is there a performance that you haven't been part of 266 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 2: that you sort of dream and think maybe this could happen. 267 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: It's always the next part. By the way, I was 268 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: very proud of my performance. They're not a lot that 269 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: I think were great. But I think my roy comb 270 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: was wonderful, and so does my shylock that was wonderful. 271 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: I liked my leer and my bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream, 272 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: but the shylock and the roy come were superior. Until recently. 273 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: I did crap in craps last day and not I think. 274 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: Finally is my best performance. That was very good. We'll 275 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: have to get it to discover it. But I did it, 276 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: I think, And to answer your question, it's the next 277 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: one I'd like to do, Edipus. I think it's I'm 278 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: too Long in the tooth, But I think it's an 279 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 1: important play, a very important play. It talks, it speaks 280 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: to the responsibility of political leaders, and I don't think 281 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: political leaders understand the word responsibility. Now they understand the 282 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: word cop out, but they don't understand how to take 283 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: the heat well. 284 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: In closing, though, I want to ask you community is 285 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:41,439 Speaker 2: so important more than ever these days, and certainly Broadway 286 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 2: when you attend, is this amazing community that you're part of? 287 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 2: Why is it more important than ever? 288 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: Because it is one of the last venues where a 289 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: whole bunch of strangers gather in one place and they all, 290 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: especially with laughter, They all are collected, no matter what 291 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: their religion, their color, their politics. When they all laugh, 292 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: what it does is promote and remind them of their 293 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: common humanity. And that I think all this red state, 294 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 1: Blue states stuff people forgetting is called the United States 295 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: of America. Remember that united? Yeah, make America united again. 296 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: But that's the value of it because there's no electronic 297 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: media between you and anyone else. It's you and that 298 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: living creature up there who is just like you. That's 299 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: a reminder of our common humanity and I think that's 300 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: very important. 301 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful for everything you continue to do for 302 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 2: us and everything in your career, and for the opportunity 303 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 2: to talk to you on Taking a Walk f Mary Abraham. 304 00:18:56,280 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 2: Folks to check out the Queen of Versailles. It's a 305 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 2: hot ticket. They're gonna they're gonna have some challenges getting them, 306 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 2: but they're available, and I wish you only the best, sir. 307 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: Thank you, buzz. It was a pleasure, man, really was. 308 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 309 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 310 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 311 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 312 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.