REMOTE CONTROLLED
Richards tackles third lawyer role
By Gerald M. Gay
ggay@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.28.2008
J. August Richards isn't a lawyer, but he's played one repeatedly on television.
From 2000 to 2004, Richards took on the role of Charles Gunn, a streetwise vampire hunter turned attorney for the Apocalypse-loving law firm Wolfram & Hart on Joss Whedon's WB series "Angel."
His next role was Assistant District Attorney Billy Desmond on Dick Wolf's one-season wonder, "Conviction," on NBC.
Richards will tackle his third lawyer role as Marcus McGrath in the Steven Bochco series, "Raising the Bar," premiering at 10 p.m. Monday on TNT.
The show, a fast-and-furious look at the legal system, pits McGrath against Jerry Kellerman (Mark-Paul Gosselaar of "Saved by the Bell"), a public defender, Judge Trudy Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek) and others.
Richards spoke to Caliente from Beverly Hills last week.
Your last three major television roles have had you playing lawyers. Do you enjoy being the legal eagle?
"It is funny because even in college, when I took a law course, my professor said to me at the end of the semester, 'Richards, when you are done with that acting crap give me a call.' That class had, like, 300 students, but when it was in session, it was just like him and me. He would bring up a point and I'd argue with him. It was like no one else was in the room. I really loved the law. I loved the concept of the law. I loved the Constitution. I am intrigued by those concepts. I am intrigued by a lot of other concepts too, though."
Do you worry about being typecast?
"Two people can do the same job and have completely different personalities. Every lawyer I have played has been so different than the last, so I try to really play to the character and not necessarily the profession. I am sure I'll play more lawyers in the future because that is how Hollywood works. And I'll be happy to. Hopefully, I'll be able to explore that person's character."
What were your first impressions of this show?
"From the beginning, I felt like I really got it. I understood what they were trying to present, a compelling, no-holds- barred look at the legal system and how oftentimes it is rigged against the poor and minorities. Having studied law in college and having played a lawyer before, I knew how compelling that could be. I knew it was going to be great and I couldn't wait to be a part of it."
What was the atmosphere like on the set?
"It was very easygoing. The level of confidence that Steven puts into the people that he hires creates a platform where you can really soar. I loved working with this group of actors. Mark-Paul and I really connected because we have a very similar work ethic. We are never satisfied. We are constantly pushing ourselves to be better and to learn something that we didn't expect. We bonded over that quality.
"There were times when this one felt like more than just a job. Usually you go. You memorize your lines. You only worry about yourself. For this one, at times I felt I was carrying the banner of something more important. I'm sure the audience is going to really enjoy the show."
0 Comments on this story
