Richard Schiff on Good Doctor and West Wing
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Mortality is on Dr. Glassman’s mind. Has exploring this on the show affected your own thinking about it? Yeah. As your work tends to do when you explore a subject. I mean, my politics were certainly affected from seven years of playing Toby, no doubt about that. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > You just starred with Alfre Woodard, 66, in Clemency, which explores the moral context of death row. Can movies have a positive impact on social debate? I believe that Clemency will initiate very, very profound discussions about the death penalty. It’s a brilliant movie. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of a project. I absolutely adore the writer-director [Chinonye Chukwu], who spent five years researching people on death row and its effects not only on the condemned, but on wardens and the prison guards who have to literally execute the execution, and their PTSD, and the way it can destroy lives other than the one that they’re targeting. Does social activism ever factor into your choice of roles? Let’s put it this way: I have to keep working. I don’t think Ballers positively affects the world in any way except that it provides some good entertainment, and I enjoy those roles. But whenever I’m a part of a project that has a positive effect on people, it feels good. The Good Doctor fits into that category, and The West Wing, of course. All the President’s Men famously caused an influx of journalism students. I wonder how many people went into politics because of The West Wing.
Everyone. Not only Democrats but Republicans, too, who wanted to make a positive difference in the world. There’s not a person I meet in Washington, D.C. — and I’m there quite often — that doesn’t say, “You’re the reason I’m doing this.” To which I respond: “I’m so sorry.” AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS
Richard Schiff on Why Grownups Love The Good Doctor
Costarring on a hit with viewers over 50 Schiff is out to revive another fan favorite The West Wing
Stuart Pettican/ABC Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. For viewers over 50, The Good Doctor is TV’s fourth-most popular show. Why do you think so many grownups connect with a drama ostensibly centered on a young doctor, Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore)? So much of this relationship between Shaun and Dr. Glassman has to do with mentoring and, essentially, parenting. Everyone at some point feels that we’re challenged beyond our capabilities and wish we had someone who would oversee our goals and dreams. All fields have their consiglieres. Al Pacino [Schiff’s Broadway costar in Glengarry Glen Ross] always used to talk to Charles Laughton about his work. I certainly wished I had that when I was younger. I’m guessing that people appreciate it because they mentor people, or are mentees themselves, or they wish they had that relationship. Is it a feeling of wanting to pass on their wisdom? No doubt. No matter how wise, no matter how many years we’ve been on this earth, we all become in need — a little lost. In many ways, Shaun was the parent figure this year, because Glassman had gotten lost in his battle [with cancer] and become despondent. When you have a close relationship, if it’s real and true, then both parties benefit because you learn from each other.Mortality is on Dr. Glassman’s mind. Has exploring this on the show affected your own thinking about it? Yeah. As your work tends to do when you explore a subject. I mean, my politics were certainly affected from seven years of playing Toby, no doubt about that. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > You just starred with Alfre Woodard, 66, in Clemency, which explores the moral context of death row. Can movies have a positive impact on social debate? I believe that Clemency will initiate very, very profound discussions about the death penalty. It’s a brilliant movie. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of a project. I absolutely adore the writer-director [Chinonye Chukwu], who spent five years researching people on death row and its effects not only on the condemned, but on wardens and the prison guards who have to literally execute the execution, and their PTSD, and the way it can destroy lives other than the one that they’re targeting. Does social activism ever factor into your choice of roles? Let’s put it this way: I have to keep working. I don’t think Ballers positively affects the world in any way except that it provides some good entertainment, and I enjoy those roles. But whenever I’m a part of a project that has a positive effect on people, it feels good. The Good Doctor fits into that category, and The West Wing, of course. All the President’s Men famously caused an influx of journalism students. I wonder how many people went into politics because of The West Wing.
Everyone. Not only Democrats but Republicans, too, who wanted to make a positive difference in the world. There’s not a person I meet in Washington, D.C. — and I’m there quite often — that doesn’t say, “You’re the reason I’m doing this.” To which I respond: “I’m so sorry.” AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS