Ed Begley Jr
Posted: March 1, 2004
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TV fans will know ED from his numerous guest appearances. He has been in 7th Heaven as Dr. Hank Hastings as well as Hiram Gunderson in Six Feet Under. He has also appeared in Scrubs, Dharma & Greg and The West Wing. Movie fans will recognize him from such movies as Homicide: The Movie, Not in This Town and World War II: When Lions Roared.Lilja: I looked you up in Internet Movie Database and I was stunned by how much you have done. The list goes on and one. I especially noticed that you have been a guest star in very many TV series. How do you do it? How do you find the time?
Ed Begley Jr: I feel lucky to still be busy after 37 years. I will always find the time for good projects.
Lilja: Have you always wanted to be an actor?
Ed Begley Jr: Since I was 3 years old, I'm told.
Lilja: This fall you directed an episode of NYPD Blue called It's to Die For and now your directing Coming In. Is directing something you want to keep doing?
Ed Begley Jr: It is even more exciting than acting, if that's possible. I want to do it more than anything.
Lilja: You have done a lot of voice-overs as well. How does that differ from "regular" acting except the fact that you don't have to be seen? Are the preparations the same?
Ed Begley Jr: It's a great deal easier. No wardrobe or make-up. AND, you don't have to learn your lines. You just read them!
Lilja: How did you get involved with Kingdom Hospital?
Ed Begley Jr: I got a call from my agent. We started filming the next week.
Lilja: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?Ed Begley Jr: I didn't audition but it was not written for me.
Lilja: Your character, Dr. Jesse James, is very similar to the character Professor Moesgaard (played by Holger Juul Hansen) in The Kingdom. Is this something you did or is it the way the script is written?
Ed Begley Jr: It's the way the script was written.
Lilja: Had you seen the Danish version, The Kingdom, that Stephen King is basing Kingdom Hospital on and if so, what do you think of it?
Ed Begley Jr: I still haven't seen it, but I'd love to.
Lilja: Can you describe the character Dr. Jesse James? He seams to be quite lost and also a bit odd if you don't mind me saying so.
Ed Begley Jr: He's quite lost. His idea of hospital administration is to brighten up the hallways. I love him.
Lilja: How would you feel if Kingdom Hospital was renewed for another season? Would you be back as Dr. Jesse James? It must be hard to get the time to do other things while doing a weekly series, right?
Ed Begley Jr: I was only contracted for the first 13 episodes.
Lilja: But would you be interested if they asked you?
Ed Begley Jr: Perhaps.
Lilja: Speaking of that. How much of the 13 episodes will be done when the series premiers?
Ed Begley Jr: All but one month of filming. We started last August.
Lilja: I got the chance to see the pilot the other day and I must say that this is one of the best pilots I have ever seen. How do you rank it among the rest of your work?
Ed Begley Jr: I haven't seen it yet, so I don't know.
Lilja: Are you (or where you) a fan of Stephen King's work?
Ed Begley Jr: I have been a fan for years. And, now more than ever.
Lilja: What's up next for you?
Ed Begley Jr: I'm spending time with my family after this 7 month job.
Thanks Ed for taking the time of to do this interview it was fun and I which you all the best in the future!
