Tony Hale, “I always want to be in a place just being grateful for being a full time actor”

Tony Hale strives to find roles that are both comedic, but have an element of substance, as well.

“After I did “Arrested Development,” people weren’t obviously going to hire me and be like, “let’s make him a lawyer!” Because that’s all they knew, a neurotic man child. It did take time to go into rooms and really kind of show people what I am cable of – or not, which is to say what I can bring to the material. So it’s taken time, but thankfully with movies like “The Informant” or “Stranger Than Fiction” or “Happythankyoumoreplease,” I’m so thankful that I’ve been given these opportunities to kind of showcase other stuff. Even though I love playing the neurotic characters and stuff like that, its just fun to do a range.”

Hale says that while he is known for comedy, he will not pass when an opportunity arises to challenge himself with a dramatic role.

“I think the older I get, the more I’m just so grateful to be working. This pilot I’m doing right now is with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and here I am working with a lady that is so talented, comedically, just a talented actress, and I’m so thankful to have this gig. But I’m not saying, “I want to do this, I don’t want to do this.” It’s all about taking it gig to gig and whatever presents itself; what I’m saying is I just always want to be thankful. And I always want to be in a place just being grateful for being a full time actor, so I’d love to do whatever. Last spring I was able to do “Law and Order” where I play this father who lost his child, and that was just a challenge, doing heavy drama. I’m just really thankful to have the variety; whether it’s comedy or drama, I’m just thankful for the gig.”

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