Anthony Tyler Quinn (Mr. Turner) Talks "Boy Meets World" and New Spin-Off

[JamesG]

"Boy Meets World" Alum Anthony Tyler Quinn Talks "Girl Meets Wolrd", Michael Jacobs and More
11/12/2012


Are you excited about the "Boy Meets World" spinoff series?

If it's done right, I think it'll be wonderful. I think Michael Jacobs is a great writer and producer, and I think if anybody can do it right, he's your man ...

I'm really excited it's getting so much buzz.







Would you appear on "Girl Meets World" if given the opportunity?

Of course! "Boy Meets World" was and continues to be these beautiful brushstrokes in my life.

It was a wonderful experience, and I think Michael's going to create something fresh. I'd love to be a part of it.







What do you think Mr. Turner's role would be like after all these years?

There's a lot of different of different ways you could go with it. He could watch [the characters] from a distance as a teacher might do. Or maybe they've been in touch this whole time and never really talked about it.

Obviously, I think my character would have grown in the eduction field, maybe become an administrator.







You played a teacher for so long. What advice would you give to Ben Savage about taking on that role since Cory will reportedly be a history teacher in the sequel?

Obviously, focus on your work and try to relate to the kids. Try to find some kind of common ground, but be a leader. You want them to follow and respect you.

It's a difficult balance, to reach them on your level and say, "Come and follow me because I'm more experienced and know more than you. You have to take my lead."







Have you kept in touch with the cast?

Ben [Savage] and I have kept tabs on each other on Facebook, and I'm still very close with Will Friedle [Eric Matthews]. He and I became like family. We're in constant communication and so forth, and some of the other cast members have gone their own way.

That's part of the process when you're on a show sometimes. You come together for a certain amount of time and become a family, and when it's done, you just kind of move on and do other things.







Has watching them grow up been weird for you?

No, not really. I think when it gets weird is when they grow up and take a left turn and become something completely different from what they were. They were great kids when they were doing the show.

From what I see and what I know, they've become the wonderful adults I always knew they could be. It's great to see them progress and experience success in their lives.







When people recognize you on the street do they still call you Mr. Turner?

All the time. What amazes me about this show is that people are always coming up to me and not only telling me how much they love the show, but how much the show means to them, and how much my character means to them.

Even my daughter has people all the time that geek out and say, "Your dad was the teacher on 'Boy Meets World?' I love that guy!"



Even as recently as this year I had a casting director tell me I've always been one of her favorite actors. She said, "My son chose his career path based on your character in 'Boy Meets World.'" That brought me to tears.

It's everything you dream about when you're on a TV show. And to have something like that come true is a magic moment.







I feel like there was so much focus on the teachers in "Boy Meets World" with you and Mr. Feeny, and I don't feel that's true of most shows. Why do you think that was?

For me -- and I could be wrong about this -- but "Boy Meets World" was one of the last shows, if not the last show, where adults on the show were still wiser than the kids, even though the kids were the stars. It seemed like if the kids were the stars in every show after that, the adults weren't really present. The kids were in charge.

So what really stood out for me was that the adult figures on the show were leaders. People the kids could trust and follow.







You've had a series of guest roles over the past few years like "Pretty Little Liars" and "House". What's been your favorite?

For me, it's not the size of the role -- it's the people I've always admired. I've never been able to lose that sense of wonder. When I did a guest role on "House" -- I really loved that show, and in my opinion, the hours of "House" have been the finest hours of television ever -- so to be put on a show like that and to share the screen with those people was a dream come true.

I was able to work with Dick Van Dyke, who I think is the epitome of a leading man on a show. He showed people how to be charming, likable and funny. To be able to talk with and share a scene with him was just absolutely wonderful.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1..._2119078.html?

[PrettyinPink55]

Thanks for sharing this interview!!! He sounds like a great guy!!