Former West Wing Actor Richard Schiff
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-02-04/former-west-wing-actor-richard-schiff
For seven years ending in 2006 "The West Wing" was one of the hottest shows on television. It won four consecutive Emmy Awards for outstanding drama series. Richard Schiff played the role of White House communications director Toby Ziegler. He brought a brooding sense of seriousness and purpose to the role, which earned him an acting Emmy. Among his post-"West Wing" work, Schiff recently finished a run on Broadway in "Glengarry Glen Ross" with Al Pacino. Now he's in Washington to star in Eugene O'Neill's play "Hughie." Schiff joins Diane to talk about his career on film, stage and TV - and why he did not set out to be an actor.
Guests
Richard Schiff
Emmy Award-winning actor.
Video: Inside The Studio
Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Schiff discusses what's behind the success of "The West Wing" television show. "It was a perfect storm of good luck, I think," says Schiff. He goes on to explain why he almost didn't show up at his audition for the role of White House communications director Toby Ziegler.
Comments
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"liberal" shows are not tolerated by the rulemakers controling the public domain.
Thanks Toby.
Ask Richard to please tell listeners this morning how he obtained his current theater role - did he seek the position - does he have an agent who found it for him - what makes this character right for him?
This guy's arrogance is off-putting.
Recently, a friend commented that there has not been a TV drama of the quality of West Wing since the final season. I agree. Do you think most efforts to appraoch TV drama have been less successful and too often focused on violence and crime? Jane
Named our firstborn Toby. Will leave to you to imagine why. Thanks for your work on "The West Wing." My husband and I still watch it nightly, having seen the entire season start to finish many, MANY times - always something new to enjoy and learn!
Cheers,
Susan
I do appreciate the intellectual depth to the characters played by this laid back actor, Richard Schiff. My favorites are his role on West Wing and most recently on NCIS. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
Another West Wing lover here...my son and daughter-in-law loved your character so much, they named their son..Toby.
Sharon
Ann Arbor
The "guy" has a sore throat this morning, and a limited vocabulary like most actors without a script, that's all.
It is hard to swallow the sanctimony of one Richard Schiff who extols his wife's accomplishments as the individual most responsible for the cultural phenomenon of pole dancing as exercise/path to sensuality for American women and then poses as a disappointed purist who would have preferred Beyonce's Super Bowl halftime show to have been her simply singing a heartfelt rendition of Halo (to him no doubt) without the "fireworks." Maybe just a grand piano and a pole?