Here’s our exclusive interview with actor Jasper Cole, who recently starred in the comedy “MacGruber” from director Jorma Taccone and co-starring Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer. Jasper’s twenty plus year career has spanned television, stage and film productions.
1. Tell us about the plot of “Macgruber” and your role in the film.
JC: I play Val Kilmer’s side kick ZEKE PLESHETTE. We are out to takeover a nuclear missile that could destroy the planet. Comedy ensues… naturally. My role is something out of a Tarantino Movie and was a lot of fun..
2. Having appeared in almost 100 movies and TV shows, tell us a little bit about your favorites and your not so favorites.
JC: Honestly, I am so grateful to still be working after 23 years. With almost every job, I have fun and have made life-long friends and connections. Most of my favorite roles have been on the stage: A FEW GOOD MEN, THE NORMAL HEART, just to name a few. On the TV side, I loved doing EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, CSI and many other series over the years. The series PROM QUEEN was also one of my favorites because I was able to play a really BAD GUY. It’s always great when you can take a hold of a character and add your own spin to it.
3. You have been in all sorts of different genre films, from horror to comedy and everything in between, Whats your favorite and why?
JC: I really love the sit-com format and schedule but also enjoy the feel of one-hour TV shows because they are shot just like a films, but in less time. Features are great because you generally have the luxury of more time and money.
4. There are quite a few SNL alumni as well as other comedians in “Macgruber”. Does having that many comedians on a set make it hard to work?
JC: It was so much fun to have Will and Kristin there and the director Jorma, who is a writer on SNL and also an actor himself. They all know comedy SO WELL and have so much fun when they work. The whole team was true pleasure to work with.
5. Tell us about your upcoming horror flicks “Road Kill” and “Whatever Happened to Barker Daniels”
JC: ROAD KILL is a horror film I did some time back that is trying to find distribution. I play a DERANGED HITCH HIKER (What a stretch, huh?). It has a great director, Barry Michael and a young talented cast. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARKER DANIELS? has had an interesting journey. A waiter, who has worked for years at my favorite diner in West Hollywood, gave me his script one day and wanted my company to possibly produce it and although the script was a mess, because he had never written one before, there still was a great story there. It is a homage to classic horror films like PSYCHO. I did extensive rewrites on the script and gave it to my manager and he took it out there and has been repping it on my behalf for a few years. I used my connections and there have been several great actors interested, including Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland and a veteran director, Alex Wright but we will see. Ironically, we may be saying……..”WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT FILM ABOUT BARKER DANIELS? P.S. The waiter is still at the diner, welcome to Hollywood!!!
6. Who is one of your favorite people to work with and, who do you really want to work with that you haven’t yet?
JC: Timing is everything, but Will Forte is by far my new favorite. He’s the best. Also Sam Elliott who I worked with on TEXARKANA is an all time favorite. I would love to work with Willem Dafoe, Harry Dean Stanton and Jackie Earl Haley. I like the real character actors.
7. Being a big fan of the Friday the 13th franchise, I am always curious about moments behind the scenes. Can you give us a standout moment from Part 8 as well as the TV series?
JC: WOW, I was just a baby then! I remember, it was COLD on both shoots, in fact so cold that I ironically ended up sick with the flu after both. Not sure what that means but there you have it. It is a fantastic franchise and I am grateful to forever have my name anywhere near it.
8. Finally, You have had over 20 years experience working in the film industry and have seen alot of changes. Give your fans some advice on becoming an actor and how to deal with the film industry.
JC: For what it’s worth, and believe me, it’s just my opinion, but I would say that if you can do anything else besides acting and be genuinely happy, then do it instead. BUT, if acting is truly your passion, then GO FOR IT! Never take no for an answer. Everyone’s path is different so enjoy the ride. It has definitely been quite a journey, but one that I wouldn’t change for the world.
