Garret Dillahunt Is 'Raising Hope'

By Ben Trivett Posted Nov 19th 2010 03:29PM

Garret Dillahunt is a face you're sure to recognize, and he's definitely on his way to becoming a household name. While the actor's roles in both film and television have been mostly dark and serious, his latest role -- on Fox's 'Raising Hope' -- lets him show off his comedy chops.

We caught up with Garret to talk about his new roles, what it's like to work crazy hours and to figure out why he let a photographer talk him into shaving his head. Check out our exclusive interview, more amazing photographs and a behind-the-scenes video of Garret's photo shoot after the jump.

For people who haven't seen the show, what should they expect?
Well, it's by the creator of 'My Name is Earl,' Greg Garcia, who's kind of the David Milch of comedy, if you ask me. He's real creative, he's real on the fly and he has a real strong vision of what he wants. I really dig him and his sense of humor.

Me and Martha Plimpton play Burt and Virginia Chance and we had a kid together when we were about 15, which we don't recommend, but we stayed together and raised him – he's about 24 now – and he meets this hot girl one night and they have a one-night stand, which is a rare occurrence in Jimmy's life because he's kind of a homebody. He's kind of a directionless, slacker kid. Turns out she's a serial killer though and she gets the chair, and our family gets the baby, so we find ourselves young grandparents all of a sudden. And it's all about us having a second chance at doing a better job at raising a kid.

I think what I like about it is that it's like we're making a little film every week, a little 22-minute film. You know, it's single-camera, the frame is really deep. When you watch it, there's stuff going on in the background that you can notice or not notice, but usually it's pretty funny, and I really like that.

How is working with Martha on a funnier series?
Martha's great. I love her. I've known her a long time, but we've never worked together before. We kind of have similar trajectories here. We've done comedy before, but we're known mainly for doing sort of heavier s**t, you know, and this is a time when we get to flex a different muscle and it feels great. We sort of run in the same circles theatrically and film-wise, like her father played Wild Bill Hickok on 'Deadwood' and I played the assassin of Wild Bill Hickok, so I killed her dad and now I'm married to his daughter – "Hey, it's me." I really dig working with her

Tell me a little bit about your shoot with Tyler Shields. What was it like from your perspective?
I'd heard about him because of Aaron Paul, Sarah Paxton and Levin Rambin, who are all people I've worked with and stayed friends with. I remember seeing the shoots they had done and saying, "This guy's cool. I wish someone cool would take my picture." You know, I've never really had that thing. I'm not young and hot, you know what I mean? So I kind of was like, "I want to feel like that." So I got in touch with him and he got in touch with me and he's just game, you know what I mean. I think it took me a minute because it's hard when you meet someone who doesn't really have an agenda, you know? I couldn't believe it. I kept thinking, "What's in it for you, and when are you going to ask me for a huge paycheck or something? What's going on? Are you telling the truth?" But he has a really unique ability to make you do s**t. Do you know what I mean?

With all of the holidays coming up, do you have any big plans?
Well, we're on hiatus right now, which just started, which I'm really excited about 'cause we're tired. So I'm going away; I'm going to Jamaica for about a week just to swim and eat some langoustines and read. And then, just Thanksgiving in New York with the family.

If you could have anyone, what celebs would be sitting at your Thanksgiving table?
You know what, I'd love Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes at my table. Who else? It'd be fun to have folks, like, I don't know, Cormac McCarthy would be there, struggling for things to say. I think I'd fill it up with authors, which would be a terrifying dinner for me. I'd be so nervous.

Tags: garret dillahunt, martha plimpton, photos, raising hope, tyler shields

Comments

(12)

Friday 19 November

By Ansley

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I absolutely love everything about this. Garret is amazing and the video of him with Tyler is so awesome, I think it's the best behind the scenes video I've ever seen.

By Jenn

Garret is an incredible man. He is also a very talented actor, I haven't seen raising hope yet but Im gonna check it out. I never get enough of seeing Tyler Shields work great people like Garret. The photos are incredible on here and on Tyler's website, and the video is epic.

By Mylene

Ha! So funny! I can't believe Garret shaved his head I love it! this is one of the funniest videos I've ever seen it makes me want to watch Raising Hope just to see Garret's delivery in action

By Sarah Crespo

It's just so great to see people in the industry still having fun and still being genuine. If I ever make it to that level I hope I'm working with people like Garret Dillahunt, he is a living legend.

By Jessica

This behind the scenes video is awesome, Garret and Tyler make a good team!

By ylg

Raising Hope is one of the funniest shows on tv currently. The cast works well together.

By Joy

Raising Hope sounds awesome, but I just want to see garret and tyler make a movie toghether!

By Lewis

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This is hilarious, I love it! Garret and Tyler are holding down the masculine identity of show business, with all these nancy boys runnig around incapable of playing real men it's nice to see some men taking risks and throwing down.

By Michelle

This is my favorite article, all the people mentioned are awesome, thanks Ben!

By Lucy

HOw could you not love this article, there's handsome men, beautiful women, and intrigue galore...ahhh intrigue...

I think I'm Garret Dillahunt's new biggest fan. Garret is raising my hope in great men...thanks popeater for showing me the way.

Tuesday 26 April

By Judy Laaper

I love Raising Hope!! its so funny, and I love the cast they are all cute and funny I hope the show goes for a few years,I like to see what is going to happen.

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