Exclusive: Kevin Carroll Talks HBO’s The LeftoversPosted by Wilson Morales
October 19, 2015
Currently airing on HBO is Season 2 of its critically acclaimed series, “The Leftovers,” which brings back regulars Jutin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Margaret Qualley, Chris Zylka, Carrie Coon, Liv Tyler and Christopher Eccleston. Newcomers include Emmy Award winner Regina King, Kevin Carroll, Jovan Adepo and Darius McCrary.
Created/executive produced by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, The Leftovers, is based on Perrotta’s book about the aftermath of a Rapture-type event that causes the sudden disappearance of 2% of the world’s population.
For Kevin Carroll, a veteran actor on the stage and screen, this is probably his biggest role that an audience will get to see him in. Over the last 15 years and more, the Salisbury native has acted in numerous films, plays and TV series in guest appearances. Outside of the theater world where he has had some leading roles, most will probably recognize him from his role as Calvin the drug dealer in the film Paid in Full opposite Wood Harris and Mekhi Phifer.
In The Leftover, Carroll plays John Murphy, a firefighter who is married to Regina King’s character. Together, the two are dealing with the disappearance of their daughter.
Blackfilm.com caught up with Carroll as he speaks about the show, his character and what this role has done for his career.
Can you talk about playing John Murphy? How did you get the role and how would you best describe him?
Kevin Carroll: Playing John Murphy is great because I feel like we’re getting a chance to see a whole person in film and television. As you know, I’ve come up through the ranks and a lot of times you get roles and you are playing that guy. It’s just that guy and you function in a story as apposed to playing a whole person. I think think Tom Perrotta, Damon Lindelof have done an amazing job at just putting a real person on the page. The challenge has been to fill it out and fill it in here and there emotionally. As the character is drawn out, you see it’s a total person. It’s really exciting for me.
I got involved in it through Vicky Thomas, she a casting agent in LA. I got a call to audition and it was one of those rare times when you have about 3 or 4 things that come in back to back after not having anything to do for a while. I saw this material and I was just struck by the writing. It’s no secret that Damon Lindelof is very secretive with the information that he gives out. When the audition came through it was just a scene. It didn’t have any other details about character, about time, place. It was just a scene between two people. I just took a wild guess as to who I thought it was or who John Murphy was at that point. I went in dressed in a suit and tie. Found out that when I got there that it was okay for the audition, but it wasn’t right for the role. That initial audition started the ball rolling and about three or four auditions later I found out that I would be joining the cast. I couldn’t be happier.
As we went along in the process, I got to understand more about what was going on and who was involved. It really worked out and the season 1 cast, they couldn’t have been more supportive, open, and just embracing. Here we are now and we’re working our way through it.
Had you watched season one when it was on or after you got the role?
Kevin Carroll: I have to be honest man, I didn’t have HBO. I was in one of those pockets where I was back and forth between LA and New York and doing theater and dealing with some family stuff. I was not up on the first season at all. After I got involved, I went back and I watched the first season as we went along and started working on the show. I wanted to catch up and get as much information as I could.
The whole process happened so quickly. I was able to cram the first season in and now … well, when we finish this season, I think I’m going to take a minute and regroup and then go back and watch it actually a couple more times. Just because I have become such a fan of the writing and season one players. I have a little more insight now.
As you know, this is dense material. Our writer’s room, they are just incredible people and they keep you on your toes. There’s things and references that I want to double check and look at again. I just couldn’t find time to do it in trying to keep up with season 2 and the shooting schedule. It’s just been amazing and it’s been a lot.
As you mentioned before, here’s a character arch in which people can see you grow in as apposed to just a scene here or two from the work you’ve done in past. Here’s something that they’ll recognize you from. What do you think makes the show interesting enough for HBO to green light it for a second season?
Kevin Carroll: I think a lot of that you have to look at the creators of a show. Anytime you have Damon Lindelof involved with something, I think you are going to gamble on him. He’s created Lost and how successful that series was. I think the way Tom Perrotta did the book and the way he wrote the book, there’s a symbiotic relationship between the way Tom’s writing works and the way Damon thinks. Then you get these two together and get them excited about what they’re doing and you turn them loose, you get all kind of this great stuff coming out of these two.
I think that part of it was probably, to HBO’s credit, that they would say, “Let’s give this guy a chance to continue with what he’s doing and see what he comes up with.” I think season one was critically appreciated and may have taken a little while to find it’s audience. I think the way the writing is Damon and Tom, and they will not answer questions quickly. They’re posing mysteries. They make you wait to get answers to the questions that they pose, if they are going to give answers at all. I think some people can get antsy. We are at that “I want it now” culture and if you don’t get the answers right away, then some people want to give up. If you really appreciate the wrestling with answers as we do in life, then I think you have a bigger appreciation for their writing and what they’re doing.
They may drop seeds in episode one and maybe not really answer them until episode five. You have to have a little bit of faith, stick with the show. Fill in the blanks during the week in terms of something you may think it will be. Guessing. Maybe take some guesses at some things. Then you’ll see it unfold if you have some trust and faith in the way they think and the way they write.
How was working with Regina King and playing the father to two teenagers?
Kevin Carroll: I have to tell you man, this Emmy award given to Regina King, they gave it to the right person. She is just a walking lesson, if you know what I mean. You show up and she has a strength about her and also a sensitivity. To watch that work, watch her work and see the times when the strength is called and then to see the sensitivity that she brings as well, it’s beautiful man. You couldn’t ask for a better partner to work with. She’s patient, she’s always there if you need help. She understands as much as anybody does about the process of filming. She’s done it for so long. When you mix her professionalism with her sense of openness, fun, and support on the set, man, I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to go through something like this with.
Then we have two incredibly great young actors on board, Jovan Adepo and Jasmine Savoy Brown. I just know that the industry and the role, you going to hear and see a lot of these two in the future. They both are wonderful. Jovan has that personality that is thirsty for knowledge and he’s looking to develop to be the best that he can be. Jasmine is so open to the process and she getting a lot of appreciation for just a small amount of work thus far. It hasn’t stopped her from being plugged in. She’s not caught up in a lot of what’s going on around her. She’s showed up and worked, still being about the work. I think for young actors at that age, it’s great.
For you as an actor, it’s a chance to get this high profile. People can see you. This is something they’ll recognize you in as apposed to, “Oh. I remember him from …” and they can’t really place you at. What does this do for your career thus far and the opportunity to play a character arch for such a period of time on a fantastic network.
Kevin Carroll: I’ve spent years in the theater and I guess in a sense you get spoiled because you get a chance to do the kind of roles in theater that maybe don’t pop up too often in film and television. They’re expansive roles that you get to play in theater. You can do everything from Hamlet as an actor to an August Wilson play that is just as expansive in it’s own way. The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars or any number of plays. In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, I played the lead role of Walter, which is incredible.
To come to film or television and be supported by HBO, play a role like John Murphy where I feel he’s just as expansive and has the potential to grow even more. I couldn’t ask for a better role. I don’t necessarily walk around thinking about whether it makes me more recognizable or not. My career thus far has always been about the writing and the work. I think if you start with that, stick with that, then the work carries you. People knowing you is just a by product of the choices you make. I couldn’t have … I couldn’t be prouder to be associated HBO and Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta and our writers.
For anybody who either is just catching up on the season now and for those that want to know, what’s a good reason to watch the show?
Kevin Carroll: Well, I think there’s some story telling at a high level. For those people who enjoy mystery, who enjoy being challenged, who want to actually think about the world at large this is a show that is going to grab you on all of those levels. There’s a great mystery in the show and I think you’re watching families grapple with a universal truth which is that at some point everybody experiences a departure of some sort, in some way. Really on a daily basis. Somehow we all have people taken away from us in an instant. Everyday somebody experiences that. This show it poses the idea what would happen if we all experienced that as a collective if 2% of the world’s population disappears at the same time. How would we all deal with that as a collective?
While we watch that happen collective on the show, we all know that it happens for us individually. With someone, for someone, to someone on a daily basis. I think there’s a universality in the conversation of the show. Why not tune in and check it out and see what we up to?
Until next time.
Kevin Carroll: It’s been a pleasure and check me out @kevintcarroll on twitter and aboutkevincarroll.com if you can.
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