TVSquad Interviews Denis O'Hare 'Russell Edgington' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 06-13-2010, 03:29 PM

That Guy! Denis O'Hare
by Allyssa Lee
posted Jun 13th 2010

He's worked with a galaxy of stars, including Clint Eastwood, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks and Sean Penn; and he's been in so many projects that while you immediately recognize the face it's hard to pinpoint what he's actually been in.

You know, that guy. The one who plays the no-nonsense boss or campaign manager or stuffy suit; who can be kind of a jerk; and hasn't he been on "Law & Order"?

His name is Denis O'Hare.

O'Hare is on the cusp of breaking out of his uptight suit niche with his latest role, as the undead and loving it Russell Edgington, the 2,800-year-old Vampire King of Mississippi, on season 3 of HBO's "True Blood", which premieres this Sunday.

"He's the oldest vampire we've met yet, and he's consequently also the most powerful vampire," says O'Hare on the phone from Los Angeles.

"He feels like he's entitled to run things because he has a better grip on the history, and he doesn't think that human beings are in charge, and he's going to go about and try and change that."

It's a great part for the veteran theater actor to really sink his teeth into.

"Russell has a great love of language, and as a theater actor, we have a different approach when it comes to big chunks of text: We eat it up," O'Hare says.

"So they kind of have written it to my strengths."

On Getting His "True Blood" Role:

[Creator] Alan Ball had actually seen me in ... Take Me Out in 2003, and he remembered me from that.

And Russell ... he is definitely not a comic character, but you've got to have a sense of humor to play a character like this.

His History With Vampires:

I've wanted to be a vampire since I was 5.

I grew up with all kinds of monster books, vampire books, Frankenstein books. I've been a vampire twice when I was a kid. At one point I was a vampire with crutches...

And that Halloween, I had a cape over my crutches, running around trying to get candy.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/13/that-guy-denis-ohare/

06-13-2010, 03:29 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,095	TVSquad Interviews Denis O'Hare 'Russell Edgington' That Guy! Denis O'Hare by Allyssa Lee posted Jun 13th 2010 He's worked with a galaxy of stars, including Clint Eastwood, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks and Sean Penn; and he's been in so many projects that while you immediately recognize the face it's hard to pinpoint what he's actually been in. You know, that guy. The one who plays the no-nonsense boss or campaign manager or stuffy suit; who can be kind of a jerk; and hasn't he been on "Law & Order"? His name is Denis O'Hare. O'Hare is on the cusp of breaking out of his uptight suit niche with his latest role, as the undead and loving it Russell Edgington, the 2,800-year-old Vampire King of Mississippi, on season 3 of HBO's "True Blood", which premieres this Sunday. "He's the oldest vampire we've met yet, and he's consequently also the most powerful vampire," says O'Hare on the phone from Los Angeles. "He feels like he's entitled to run things because he has a better grip on the history, and he doesn't think that human beings are in charge, and he's going to go about and try and change that." It's a great part for the veteran theater actor to really sink his teeth into. "Russell has a great love of language, and as a theater actor, we have a different approach when it comes to big chunks of text: We eat it up," O'Hare says. "So they kind of have written it to my strengths." *On Getting His "True Blood" Role:* [Creator] Alan Ball had actually seen me in ... Take Me Out in 2003, and he remembered me from that. And Russell ... he is definitely not a comic character, but you've got to have a sense of humor to play a character like this. His History With Vampires: I've wanted to be a vampire since I was 5. I grew up with all kinds of monster books, vampire books, Frankenstein books. I've been a vampire twice when I was a kid. At one point I was a vampire with crutches... And that Halloween, I had a cape over my crutches, running around trying to get candy. http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/13/that-guy-denis-ohare/ Attached Images