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Interview: Michael Kostroff
The great character actor talks about his TV and theater career
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Usually when writing a profile, you mention the person’s name (obviously), followed by “best known as…” In the case of Michael Kostroff, he isn’t really known for one particular role more than any other, but rather he’s known as arguably the finest active character actor. Kostroff has appeared in The Wire, Veronica Mars, Party Down, Boston Legal, Weeds and many other great TV shows. He’s also an extremely accomplished writer (check out his book, Letters from Backstage) and theater actor, including his current role as a lawyer in The Tenth Floor, now running at the American Theatre of Actors as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Oh yeah, and he sings.
Encore recently spoke to Mr. Kostroff about The Tenth Floor (which you can read more about here), the life of a character actor and The Wire.
Can you talk about your character in The Tenth Floor?
I have a smaller role in the show. I’m the lawyer for this young man who’s locked up, and the purpose of my character is to be the cold, harsh establishment. In fact, the director and I were talking about the fact that my character doesn’t know he’s in a musical. There’s all this passion and desperation going on, and this guy is not a part of it at all. That’s why the character’s important.
Was it a bit of an in-joke casting you as a heartless lawyer?
Ever since The Wire, I’ve played a lot of lawyers. No one would ever guess that my background is in musical theater and, primarily, musical comedy. My career just took this turn and never came back. It doesn’t even faze me anymore. I’ve been cast as lawyers, doctors and even once a judge, which is a great gig for an actor because you just sort of sit there and disapprove. It’s a lot of fun.
When did you first become interested in theater?
Out of the womb, I’d say. As soon as the umbilical cord was cut, I was pretty much ready to do a sing and a dance.
Do you feel more natural working in theater as opposed to TV or film?
I do. It’s interesting, in my years of this profession—and this may sound strange because I’ve been pretty lucky in the TV department—I feel more at home in the theater. In fact I’ve discovered that the more broken down and old the theater is, the more I go, “Ah, I’m home!” I like them all, but I think I’m wired for stage.
Earlier you mentioned you’re often cast as “cold, harsh” characters, but you seem like such an optimistic person. Do you enjoy playing these darker roles?
Oh, it’s like chocolate, it’s so much fun. My friends who know me would watch The Wire and just call me laughing. It’s so not my personality. People are often surprised when they meet me. I’ve had fans come up and tell me that they had a 20 minute discussion whether even to come and “say hello to you because you’re so disgusting on the show [The Wire].” All kidding aside, I find that to be a tremendous compliment. I spent all five seasons just delightfully baffled that I was getting away with it.
Does that happen with a lot of actors on the show? Getting mistaken for their roles?
Oh, I could tell you a dozen stories just off the top of my head. Gbenga Akinnagbe, the actor who played Chris, had a gangster come up to him and offer to kill anybody he needed killed. And Gbenga is a classically trained Shakespearean actor; he’s not interested in killing anybody [laughs]…But we bought into it also. The first time I met Michael K. Williams [Omar Little], we were scared to say hello to each other. We had been on the show for, I think, a full season and had never met. We knew each other’s work and I was intimidated by him and he was intimidated by me because both our characters were so intimidating. Meanwhile, he’s the sweetest guy in the world.
Do you enjoy being designated as a character actor?
I love being a character actor—and I don’t have a choice [laughs]. That’s how you get that designation; if I were stunningly attractive, I’d be a leading man. There are a couple of things that are great about being a character actor. One is you play the more interesting role. If my agent calls me and tells me that I’m playing a witchdoctor, it won’t shock me, or a bellhop with delusions of grandeur. The other thing that’s great is you never get too old. If you’re a leading man type actor, after a certain age, there aren’t as many parts for you. Your job is to be young and handsome. So, I never have to be young and handsome.
Does the quality of the show you’re offered a role on matter?
It does. I’ve done a couple of TV roles that I’ve regretted—I won’t tell you what they were. It’s changed through your career. When you’re young and hungry, you say yes to things. It’s really only recently that I’ve started to evaluate projects a little more carefully. Truth is, actors need to work. That’s our biggest challenge. It’s often harder than the work itself. In general, you take a job when it’s offered.