Chris Diamantopoulos | A Sweet Toast to Dionysus


On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, Chris Diamantopoulos from the Prime Video show “The Sticky”, where he co-stars alongside Margo Martindale. Chris is known for roles in films such as “Red Notice”, “The Three Stooges”, and as the voice of Mickey Mouse. We chat about Chris’ career trajectory, his role in the Prime Video series “The Sticky”, and personal anecdotes about his family, his Greek heritage, and being able to be around his kids while doing voiceover work from his home studio. Additionally, he shares insights from working with George Clooney, his approach to acting, and his future aspirations as a performer.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS01:53 Chris's Role in Red Notice05:59 Voice Acting During COVID11:12 The Sticky: A Unique Show14:20 Greek Heritage and Family19:05 Early Acting Career22:13 Inspiration from Film and TV24:14 Landing the Role in The Three Stooges27:06 Reflecting on Career Shifts27:38 Voicing Mickey Mouse: A Dream Role29:49 Working with George Clooney32:51 Audition Insights and Mentorship39:56 Directorial Aspirations41:44 The Seven QuestionsListen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at www.storyandcraftpod.com...#podcast #ChrisDiamantopolous #Acting #AmazonPrime #PrimeVideo #Blumhouse #MargoMartindale #GeorgeClooney #JamieLeeCurtis #Greek #GreekActor #CanadianActor #Canada #MickeyMouse #Actor #Voiceover #storyandcraft
Don’t forget to like, subscribe and follow!
Show Site: https://www.StoryAndCraftPod.com/rate
Show Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod
Show Instagram: @StoryAndCraftPod
Show Bluesky: @storyandcraftpod.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@storyandcraft
Marc’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston
Marc’s Instagram: @airpreston
Marc's Bluesky: @marcpreston.com
And so I watched him as he talked and then the journalist
2
00:00:03,420 --> 00:00:04,270
asked him, would you do it, Mr.
3
00:00:04,270 --> 00:00:04,540
Disney?
4
00:00:04,540 --> 00:00:05,980
Would you, would you do
a little of the voice?
5
00:00:06,030 --> 00:00:06,360
And he went,
6
00:00:06,710 --> 00:00:07,210
oh boy.
7
00:00:07,750 --> 00:00:10,079
And I watched what he did
with his, with his body.
8
00:00:10,079 --> 00:00:11,339
I watched what he did with his face.
9
00:00:11,530 --> 00:00:12,959
I thought, oh gosh, maybe I could do that.
10
00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:15,689
Announcer: Welcome to Story and Craft.
11
00:00:16,250 --> 00:00:18,359
Now, here's your host, Marc Preston.
12
00:00:18,510 --> 00:00:19,439
Marc Preston: All right, here we go.
13
00:00:19,449 --> 00:00:20,439
Back again.
14
00:00:20,490 --> 00:00:21,019
Welcome.
15
00:00:21,249 --> 00:00:23,180
Thank you so much for stopping back by.
16
00:00:23,310 --> 00:00:25,380
Uh, if this is your
first episode, welcome.
17
00:00:25,390 --> 00:00:27,020
My name is Marc Preston.
18
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,180
And, uh, today we are sitting down with.
19
00:00:29,330 --> 00:00:33,420
Actor Chris Diamantopoulos, you might
know him from movies like George
20
00:00:33,430 --> 00:00:35,270
Clooney's The Boys in the Boat.
21
00:00:35,310 --> 00:00:40,490
He was also the bad guy in Red Notice
with Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson.
22
00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:41,890
He's been in The Three Stooges.
23
00:00:42,050 --> 00:00:44,920
Heck, he's even been the
voice of Mickey Mouse.
24
00:00:44,980 --> 00:00:49,330
And of course, we talk about that
as well as his new show, The Sticky.
25
00:00:49,340 --> 00:00:51,500
He co stars with Margo Martindale.
26
00:00:51,530 --> 00:00:53,040
It is on Prime Video.
27
00:00:53,260 --> 00:00:55,230
Watched a few episodes over the weekend.
28
00:00:55,519 --> 00:00:56,640
Very cool show.
29
00:00:56,779 --> 00:01:02,910
Chris is such a talented guy, uh, both
on stage and with a TV film, uh, also
30
00:01:02,910 --> 00:01:05,489
voiceover, he's done tons of animation.
31
00:01:05,620 --> 00:01:08,080
He is a great chat and
I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
32
00:01:08,370 --> 00:01:13,819
Uh, Hey, by the way, if you would do me
a favor, pop on over to storyandcraftpod.
33
00:01:13,820 --> 00:01:15,850
com slash rate.
34
00:01:16,309 --> 00:01:20,024
Hey, do me a favor, drop a review, if
you will, on your favorite podcast app.
35
00:01:20,195 --> 00:01:21,994
It helps folks to find the show.
36
00:01:22,054 --> 00:01:26,955
So, you know, leave some stars, a
review, but make sure to follow the show.
37
00:01:26,955 --> 00:01:30,475
That way you get notified every
time there is a new episode.
38
00:01:30,475 --> 00:01:31,584
And, of course, the website.
39
00:01:31,584 --> 00:01:35,514
We got everything up there from
past episodes to all of our guests.
40
00:01:35,514 --> 00:01:36,884
You want to find out more about them.
41
00:01:37,215 --> 00:01:39,274
Uh, and it's just a cool way to reach out.
42
00:01:39,285 --> 00:01:40,024
Drop me a note.
43
00:01:40,044 --> 00:01:41,985
You can even leave me a voicemail.
44
00:01:42,225 --> 00:01:44,024
So, let's go and jump right on into it.
45
00:01:44,244 --> 00:01:45,585
I really enjoyed this chat.
46
00:01:45,634 --> 00:01:46,884
Very talented actor.
47
00:01:47,770 --> 00:01:51,760
Is Chris Diamantopoulos day
right here on story and craft.
48
00:01:53,510 --> 00:01:53,840
Hey man.
49
00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:54,940
So good to connect with you.
50
00:01:54,940 --> 00:01:55,680
I just.
51
00:01:56,020 --> 00:01:57,170
Watched you the other night.
52
00:01:57,170 --> 00:01:58,770
I was watching a red notice.
53
00:01:59,340 --> 00:02:00,760
Love, love your character.
54
00:02:00,770 --> 00:02:04,500
You had this, uh, sexy Euro
forest Whitaker thing going on,
55
00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:06,389
which I just like that sound.
56
00:02:06,389 --> 00:02:06,519
Yeah.
57
00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:07,090
I love,
58
00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:08,240
Chris Diamantopoulos: you know,
where that voice comes from.
59
00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:12,520
Actually, that's a, it's the ultimate,
uh, this is a great actor story.
60
00:02:12,809 --> 00:02:16,540
Uh, when I auditioned for the
role, um, the character was okay.
61
00:02:16,700 --> 00:02:19,100
So originally the character was
supposed to be Antonio Banderas,
62
00:02:19,230 --> 00:02:22,050
but, uh, something happened from a
budgetary and schedule standpoint.
63
00:02:22,050 --> 00:02:22,559
He couldn't do it.
64
00:02:23,049 --> 00:02:23,489
So.
65
00:02:23,725 --> 00:02:27,375
When the audition came in, they wanted
a Spanish or a Latin American bad guy.
66
00:02:27,665 --> 00:02:30,275
And, uh, I didn't feel comfortable.
67
00:02:30,295 --> 00:02:31,135
They want to put some boots.
68
00:02:31,145 --> 00:02:34,754
Well, I didn't feel comfortable doing
that only because I knew that, you know,
69
00:02:34,754 --> 00:02:36,104
there are great Latin actors out there.
70
00:02:36,105 --> 00:02:38,294
And for me to go in and impersonate
that just didn't feel right.
71
00:02:38,294 --> 00:02:39,534
So I am Greek.
72
00:02:39,535 --> 00:02:40,424
I speak Greek fluently.
73
00:02:40,424 --> 00:02:41,234
It's my first language.
74
00:02:41,234 --> 00:02:42,665
So I went in and I made them Greek.
75
00:02:42,765 --> 00:02:46,355
And I changed all of the Spanish
stuff to Greek and director loved it.
76
00:02:46,355 --> 00:02:48,875
Ross and, Marshall Thurber
absolutely loved it.
77
00:02:48,925 --> 00:02:51,455
And so when we talked about when I got the
role, he was like, look, let's make this
78
00:02:51,455 --> 00:02:55,884
guy kind of portly and he'll make him kind
of a, you know, bloated Greek billionaire.
79
00:02:55,885 --> 00:02:56,915
And I love that idea.
80
00:02:57,355 --> 00:03:01,545
And then about two weeks in before
production started, I got a call
81
00:03:01,545 --> 00:03:03,024
from him saying flag on the play.
82
00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:05,630
And I think we're going to
have to find another actor.
83
00:03:05,630 --> 00:03:06,240
And I said, why?
84
00:03:06,589 --> 00:03:09,730
He said, well, Ryan just did a
movie and the main bad guy in
85
00:03:09,730 --> 00:03:11,649
his movie was a portly Greek guy.
86
00:03:11,890 --> 00:03:14,100
And when we went through the
script recently, and he just saw
87
00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:17,220
that change, he said, I it's, it's
just too close to something I did.
88
00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,719
So he said, I'm really sorry, Chris,
we're gonna have to find someone else.
89
00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:20,984
I said, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
90
00:03:21,434 --> 00:03:24,885
I was actually going to call you because I
thought, ah, the bloated Greek billionaire
91
00:03:24,885 --> 00:03:25,994
that's been done a million times.
92
00:03:25,994 --> 00:03:27,554
Let's make this guy a Viper.
93
00:03:27,575 --> 00:03:30,915
Let's make him of, uh, he said,
yeah, but what, where's he from?
94
00:03:30,915 --> 00:03:31,544
What's his voice?
95
00:03:31,584 --> 00:03:33,904
I said, well, he's of
indeterminate European origin.
96
00:03:33,904 --> 00:03:34,334
No one knows.
97
00:03:34,334 --> 00:03:35,624
He just popped on Interpol when he was 18.
98
00:03:36,284 --> 00:03:37,304
He goes, what does he sound like?
99
00:03:37,574 --> 00:03:38,834
I said, well, his vocal cords were cut.
100
00:03:38,995 --> 00:03:42,765
Paralyzed because his father tried
to strangle him when he was a boy.
101
00:03:43,285 --> 00:03:44,075
Marc Preston: Oh, that's right.
102
00:03:44,075 --> 00:03:44,285
Yeah.
103
00:03:44,285 --> 00:03:44,315
And
104
00:03:44,515 --> 00:03:48,565
Chris Diamantopoulos: so it was, it was
me trying to save my job and finding a
105
00:03:48,565 --> 00:03:54,714
way to make a non, non specific European
voice that, uh, uh, created that.
106
00:03:54,714 --> 00:03:56,354
So necessity breeds invention, Marc.
107
00:03:56,734 --> 00:03:58,475
Marc Preston: Well, the other
thing is I kind of dislike you
108
00:03:58,475 --> 00:03:59,745
because we're about the same age.
109
00:03:59,745 --> 00:04:01,715
I think I got like one or two years older.
110
00:04:01,715 --> 00:04:02,795
That was more than 73.
111
00:04:02,835 --> 00:04:03,145
Okay.
112
00:04:03,145 --> 00:04:03,484
75.
113
00:04:03,495 --> 00:04:05,565
Um, you, you're in way too good of shape.
114
00:04:05,575 --> 00:04:07,444
You're like the gym, man.
115
00:04:07,444 --> 00:04:10,685
I'm like, you're sort of like the totem
of where I'm trying to get to right now.
116
00:04:10,745 --> 00:04:11,285
You know, both.
117
00:04:11,475 --> 00:04:11,874
You're there,
118
00:04:11,875 --> 00:04:12,035
Chris Diamantopoulos: man.
119
00:04:12,035 --> 00:04:12,855
You look good to me.
120
00:04:12,865 --> 00:04:13,474
You look very good
121
00:04:13,474 --> 00:04:13,615
Marc Preston: to me.
122
00:04:13,615 --> 00:04:14,874
You eat well, you exercise.
123
00:04:14,925 --> 00:04:18,035
You know, it's funny, my youngest was,
went off to college, so now I'm an empty
124
00:04:18,035 --> 00:04:21,524
nester and I moved down to a little
Island in South Texas called South Padre.
125
00:04:21,555 --> 00:04:23,405
I'm kind of going for the
Jimmy Buffett lifestyle.
126
00:04:23,445 --> 00:04:23,955
I love it.
127
00:04:24,024 --> 00:04:26,684
And one of the reasons why I moved
down here is to be more active,
128
00:04:26,684 --> 00:04:27,945
literally walks on the beach every day.
129
00:04:27,945 --> 00:04:30,794
And I think that's really kind of
where I'm trying to get back to is just
130
00:04:30,794 --> 00:04:32,934
walking more and then get easing into it.
131
00:04:32,935 --> 00:04:34,875
And, uh, my kids are in way better shape.
132
00:04:34,875 --> 00:04:35,175
They're all looking.
133
00:04:35,630 --> 00:04:36,790
They're more athletic than me.
134
00:04:36,790 --> 00:04:40,860
So like, um, I was talking to my cousin,
like, I'm sorry, I've got, I got three,
135
00:04:40,860 --> 00:04:44,459
got a 21 year old daughter, uh, who's
about to graduate from, uh, uh, Loyola,
136
00:04:44,459 --> 00:04:45,700
New Orleans, going to be a teacher.
137
00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:46,490
My son's there.
138
00:04:46,490 --> 00:04:50,129
And I think he's moving and want to be
a psychologist and my, uh, baby diva, my
139
00:04:50,129 --> 00:04:53,859
18 year old daughter, Emma is going to
small university and, uh, Uh, Boca Raton.
140
00:04:53,909 --> 00:04:54,650
Oh, wait, wait a minute.
141
00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:55,070
Oh God.
142
00:04:55,070 --> 00:04:56,249
She's going to be 19 in a couple of weeks.
143
00:04:56,249 --> 00:04:58,749
When I'm thinking I'm staying the
same age, they keep getting old.
144
00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:00,189
I know you feel like a reverse.
145
00:05:00,189 --> 00:05:03,619
Uh, yeah, but, uh, but
no, I really enjoyed it.
146
00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,320
That's one of the things to me, you are,
I don't like to use the phrase chameleon.
147
00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:08,939
I don't think that's.
148
00:05:09,485 --> 00:05:13,415
But you really have a nice, to say
you have range would be a gross
149
00:05:13,415 --> 00:05:16,345
understatement, you know, going
from, uh, you know, three stooges
150
00:05:16,345 --> 00:05:20,664
to, to that, um, was that a, is
that like a Neumann you got there?
151
00:05:20,704 --> 00:05:21,275
It's a Neumann.
152
00:05:21,305 --> 00:05:21,545
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.
153
00:05:21,545 --> 00:05:21,845
Yeah.
154
00:05:21,845 --> 00:05:22,675
So I have a Neumann.
155
00:05:22,725 --> 00:05:25,324
I also have a Sennheiser,
uh, 416 next to it.
156
00:05:25,324 --> 00:05:26,494
Just depends on what I'm recording.
157
00:05:26,504 --> 00:05:29,165
I like the Neumann because And
I've got it on this sort of Omni,
158
00:05:29,165 --> 00:05:30,635
so that if I'm moving around,
159
00:05:30,655 --> 00:05:32,175
Marc Preston: that's, that's the
same thing I got in my booth.
160
00:05:32,225 --> 00:05:33,865
Actually, I've got a booth right here.
161
00:05:33,895 --> 00:05:36,914
Uh, I got a four 16 cause I do
mostly promo and actually it's funny
162
00:05:36,914 --> 00:05:40,515
cause I know you, uh, I saw you were
in, uh, the Kennedy's, you played
163
00:05:40,515 --> 00:05:42,854
Sinatra and I was actually the
voice of reels channel at the time.
164
00:05:42,864 --> 00:05:44,615
And that was like a really
big deal for the network.
165
00:05:44,615 --> 00:05:46,604
It kind of put them, it was over the edge.
166
00:05:46,625 --> 00:05:47,535
It was a big show for them.
167
00:05:47,950 --> 00:05:48,280
Yeah.
168
00:05:48,340 --> 00:05:48,970
And, uh, you have
169
00:05:48,970 --> 00:05:49,900
Chris Diamantopoulos: a great promo voice.
170
00:05:49,900 --> 00:05:51,100
I did promo all through.
171
00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:57,219
I mean, basically from:to 2008, I was, I did a ton
172
00:05:57,219 --> 00:05:58,150
of promo in New York City.
173
00:05:58,150 --> 00:05:59,559
That was my, my bread and butter.
174
00:05:59,770 --> 00:06:01,630
Marc Preston: During Covid, were
you doing a lot of the animation
175
00:06:01,630 --> 00:06:03,969
from home, you know, when you
couldn't go in, or did you have that
176
00:06:03,969 --> 00:06:05,619
set up and, uh, kind of a screen?
177
00:06:05,619 --> 00:06:06,039
Yeah, so
178
00:06:06,790 --> 00:06:10,360
Chris Diamantopoulos: yeah, I, um, I
did a lot of animation before Covid.
179
00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,659
Uh, we lived, you know, I
started doing animation.
180
00:06:14,185 --> 00:06:18,525
Quite regularly in about 2004 is
when it really sort of began for me.
181
00:06:18,885 --> 00:06:23,825
Uh, and I lived between New York and
LA and, uh, you know, between 2004 and
182
00:06:25,734 --> 00:06:29,555
2020, you really weren't doing stuff from
home booth, even if you had a studio,
183
00:06:29,555 --> 00:06:30,785
you were always going into studio.
184
00:06:31,254 --> 00:06:34,075
Um, because the producers were all
of a little bit different generation.
185
00:06:34,075 --> 00:06:35,605
They were still used
to wanting to see you.
186
00:06:36,405 --> 00:06:36,775
That's right.
187
00:06:36,775 --> 00:06:38,104
They wanted you, they wanted you there.
188
00:06:38,385 --> 00:06:39,534
Um, which was great.
189
00:06:39,565 --> 00:06:40,955
You know, there was a
great sense of community.
190
00:06:41,224 --> 00:06:43,034
Um, I was living in New York.
191
00:06:43,335 --> 00:06:46,844
And I had a few series going a few
animated series going at the time and
192
00:06:46,854 --> 00:06:51,634
COVID hit and I didn't have a booth
in my apartment in New York City and,
193
00:06:51,775 --> 00:06:57,555
um, I lost, I lost a bunch of work
because they needed to, to pivot to,
194
00:06:57,614 --> 00:07:01,744
uh, uh, a way where they had talent
that had, you know, studio space.
195
00:07:01,755 --> 00:07:03,234
So we moved.
196
00:07:03,780 --> 00:07:05,950
Not for this reason, but we
moved back to Los Angeles.
197
00:07:05,950 --> 00:07:08,510
And one of the first things
that I did was I took the risk
198
00:07:08,510 --> 00:07:10,040
of building a proper studio.
199
00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:11,780
I have a proper studio.
200
00:07:12,050 --> 00:07:12,420
Oh yeah.
201
00:07:12,510 --> 00:07:12,830
Yeah.
202
00:07:13,010 --> 00:07:13,360
You didn't,
203
00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:14,480
Marc Preston: you didn't
get a pre made booth.
204
00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,259
You actually kind of, uh,
retrofitted a space in your home.
205
00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:17,999
I took an
206
00:07:18,010 --> 00:07:19,440
Chris Diamantopoulos: actual building.
207
00:07:19,955 --> 00:07:23,905
And, and, and, you know, it was, I
guess, uh, I don't know, a guest house
208
00:07:23,905 --> 00:07:27,935
or something, but I turned the whole
thing into a proper studio, a recording
209
00:07:27,935 --> 00:07:32,965
studio, and also, um, a taping studio
for me to be able to make, you know,
210
00:07:33,065 --> 00:07:36,834
self tapes, you know, I'm an actor and I
have to get work and when George Clooney
211
00:07:36,835 --> 00:07:41,689
wants to see an audition and it's COVID
and you can't Go and do that someplace.
212
00:07:41,689 --> 00:07:43,299
You gotta, you know, I have speakers here.
213
00:07:43,299 --> 00:07:45,749
So I hire someone to be a reader and
it sounds like they're in the room
214
00:07:45,749 --> 00:07:47,510
and it looks like I'm doing a scene.
215
00:07:47,510 --> 00:07:51,999
So yeah, I and I and by virtue of
building this space, I was able to record.
216
00:07:52,375 --> 00:07:54,885
You know, probably 14 or 15
series over the last few years.
217
00:07:54,915 --> 00:07:55,785
Marc Preston: That is so awesome.
218
00:07:56,055 --> 00:07:59,975
The kids, when they were young, I just
wanted to be home with the kids and,
219
00:08:00,005 --> 00:08:04,365
uh, so, so my daughter, she is not
phased at all about the thing I do.
220
00:08:04,365 --> 00:08:08,075
She's not the least bit impressed,
you know, so I have four
221
00:08:08,075 --> 00:08:08,365
Chris Diamantopoulos: kids.
222
00:08:08,365 --> 00:08:10,704
I know, I know the drill
and being home is important.
223
00:08:11,105 --> 00:08:14,085
That's one of the reasons that the
studio was super important as well was,
224
00:08:14,195 --> 00:08:17,215
you know, making sure that if I'm going
to be, you know, doing recordings for
225
00:08:17,215 --> 00:08:20,665
six, seven hours, eight hours a day
that, you know, I could pop out and.
226
00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,120
Give them a squeeze, make them a
quick sandwich or whatever it is.
227
00:08:23,130 --> 00:08:23,950
Isn't that the greatest though?
228
00:08:23,969 --> 00:08:24,210
Isn't that
229
00:08:24,210 --> 00:08:25,690
Marc Preston: the greatest thing
where you can actually be doing your
230
00:08:25,690 --> 00:08:28,500
thing, but it's all kind of there,
you know, and it kind of gets.
231
00:08:28,630 --> 00:08:28,979
It's
232
00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:30,969
Chris Diamantopoulos: a, it's,
it's beyond a blessing, man.
233
00:08:30,969 --> 00:08:32,009
I mean, it's, it really is.
234
00:08:32,020 --> 00:08:34,559
It's a, it's a pinch me kind
of thing because it really
235
00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:35,620
doesn't, doesn't get much better.
236
00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:39,810
Although I will say that after doing
that for, A long time, you know,
237
00:08:39,810 --> 00:08:43,110
for a couple of years, you don't
mind going to a set occasionally.
238
00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,030
Oh, no, no, no, not in the least bit.
239
00:08:45,069 --> 00:08:45,640
No, no, no.
240
00:08:45,650 --> 00:08:46,770
Let's, uh, let's go.
241
00:08:46,830 --> 00:08:48,519
Let's, uh, how old are your kids?
242
00:08:48,650 --> 00:08:51,530
Uh, 14, 11, five and two.
243
00:08:51,779 --> 00:08:52,259
Oh, okay.
244
00:08:52,260 --> 00:08:52,949
So you've got a good spectrum.
245
00:08:52,949 --> 00:08:54,479
Mine is all kind of packed in there.
246
00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,990
We, we were, we had a, we had a couple of
couple, a couple of false starts there.
247
00:08:57,990 --> 00:09:00,040
And, uh, But, uh, yeah, no, it's lovely.
248
00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,480
There's sort of an act one and an act two.
249
00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,120
The older two are good pals and
the younger two are good pals.
250
00:09:04,130 --> 00:09:04,810
So yeah,
251
00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:06,900
Marc Preston: my, my, my
oldest two get along famously.
252
00:09:06,900 --> 00:09:11,109
The youngest one is just, she is,
she is a, uh, she is a man out.
253
00:09:11,750 --> 00:09:12,729
She does her thing.
254
00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,089
That's the best way to put it
in, but you're in LA right now.
255
00:09:15,089 --> 00:09:15,549
Correct.
256
00:09:15,599 --> 00:09:16,319
That's where you live in.
257
00:09:16,370 --> 00:09:16,630
Yep.
258
00:09:16,849 --> 00:09:17,159
Okay.
259
00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:17,449
Yep.
260
00:09:17,490 --> 00:09:18,140
In Los Angeles.
261
00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:18,410
Yep.
262
00:09:18,660 --> 00:09:22,030
I also saw, and I, this was not a
deep dive in your resume, but I did
263
00:09:22,030 --> 00:09:24,670
see, uh, my kids loved watching 24.
264
00:09:24,670 --> 00:09:28,770
I cannot for the life of me, why
I can't lock in and remember.
265
00:09:29,410 --> 00:09:30,610
What you did on 24,
266
00:09:30,660 --> 00:09:32,150
Chris Diamantopoulos: I was
the chief of staff to, uh,
267
00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:33,860
Cherry Jones's, uh, president.
268
00:09:33,870 --> 00:09:36,060
It was, it was in the last season of 24.
269
00:09:36,060 --> 00:09:39,899
And I, uh, I mean, I was, uh,
instrumental in trying to basically
270
00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:41,479
trying to bring it all down.
271
00:09:41,499 --> 00:09:43,600
I was a pretty, pretty hateful guy.
272
00:09:43,810 --> 00:09:44,050
Fun.
273
00:09:44,060 --> 00:09:44,909
That was a lot of fun to do.
274
00:09:44,910 --> 00:09:45,340
Actually
275
00:09:45,410 --> 00:09:49,780
Marc Preston: seemed like a fun show to
shoot, you know, because we had a ball.
276
00:09:50,225 --> 00:09:54,585
So as far as what you're doing right
now, uh, what's kind of the mix kind of
277
00:09:54,615 --> 00:09:59,435
compared to on camera, uh, film and TV
to VO stuff you're doing for animation.
278
00:09:59,435 --> 00:10:01,324
Or do you, do you all, by the
way, do you also do video games?
279
00:10:01,324 --> 00:10:02,574
Have you found yourself in that realm?
280
00:10:02,684 --> 00:10:04,754
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, I
just did a star Wars video game.
281
00:10:04,755 --> 00:10:06,895
Uh, I, I do a little of everything.
282
00:10:06,925 --> 00:10:13,485
I, I, you know, Broadway and, uh,
you know, um, feature films and
283
00:10:13,525 --> 00:10:18,535
television and streaming and animation
and commercials and endorsement and
284
00:10:18,545 --> 00:10:20,495
promos and the whole nine yards.
285
00:10:20,504 --> 00:10:20,874
If.
286
00:10:20,935 --> 00:10:25,575
If I can add value and I have time,
then I'll find a way to do it.
287
00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:27,625
Um, yeah, I agree with looking at it.
288
00:10:27,725 --> 00:10:28,045
Marc Preston: Yeah.
289
00:10:28,125 --> 00:10:28,405
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.
290
00:10:28,455 --> 00:10:29,345
Yeah, no, truly.
291
00:10:29,345 --> 00:10:34,134
And, and, and it's, uh, it's just a matter
of, uh, it's really sort of what's out
292
00:10:34,135 --> 00:10:37,675
there and it all sort of shifts, you
know, sometimes it's very animation heavy.
293
00:10:37,675 --> 00:10:42,115
Sometimes, uh, it's, you know,
time is more spent doing work
294
00:10:42,115 --> 00:10:43,555
as a series regular on a show.
295
00:10:43,955 --> 00:10:45,315
Sometimes it all sort of.
296
00:10:45,930 --> 00:10:49,089
Takes a beat and there's not much
happening and it's time to sort of
297
00:10:49,089 --> 00:10:51,699
reflect on what I really want to be doing.
298
00:10:51,699 --> 00:10:56,030
I mean, I think in all facets
of life control is an illusion.
299
00:10:56,030 --> 00:11:01,210
So the notion that I can control
what comes to me in this chaotic
300
00:11:01,690 --> 00:11:06,050
and amorphous business is
that's a very special illusion.
301
00:11:06,060 --> 00:11:09,980
So I try to just not take
myself too seriously and I try
302
00:11:09,980 --> 00:11:11,850
to allow myself to be open.
303
00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,005
Um, And, uh, you know,
oftentimes, you know, the sticky
304
00:11:16,005 --> 00:11:17,035
is a really great example.
305
00:11:17,375 --> 00:11:19,315
When I first saw the script,
I thought it was great, but
306
00:11:19,355 --> 00:11:20,445
there was nothing in it for me.
307
00:11:20,695 --> 00:11:24,835
The character that I ended up playing
was written just slightly differently, a
308
00:11:24,835 --> 00:11:27,524
little older, and I didn't see him as me.
309
00:11:27,955 --> 00:11:32,085
When I read a second draft, I thought,
Oh, You know, this is interesting.
310
00:11:32,085 --> 00:11:34,865
I want to be a part of this world and
maybe there's a world where that character
311
00:11:34,865 --> 00:11:36,535
adapts a little bit and I could play him.
312
00:11:37,065 --> 00:11:39,575
But then I realized they didn't,
they weren't interested in seeing
313
00:11:39,585 --> 00:11:42,165
me because they had, they had an
idea that was completely different.
314
00:11:42,535 --> 00:11:45,414
And so it took like a year and a
half for me to finally say, Hey, you
315
00:11:45,415 --> 00:11:46,844
guys really need to meet me on this.
316
00:11:46,845 --> 00:11:47,574
All right, we'll meet you.
317
00:11:47,585 --> 00:11:47,964
We'll meet you.
318
00:11:47,964 --> 00:11:51,035
And, and they met me and we
all sort of clicked and it was
319
00:11:51,045 --> 00:11:52,565
like, Oh my gosh, this is right.
320
00:11:52,620 --> 00:11:54,149
Blumhouse,
321
00:11:54,329 --> 00:11:56,579
Marc Preston: this, this is
more of the horror genre.
322
00:11:56,579 --> 00:11:57,130
Am I right?
323
00:11:57,510 --> 00:11:58,349
I'm looking at Blumhouse.
324
00:11:58,359 --> 00:11:58,620
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.
325
00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:04,309
So Blumhouse, uh, definitely made their
name in the horror genre, but they, you
326
00:12:04,309 --> 00:12:09,149
know, they go from horror into intriguing
into dramatic and, you know, they, they've
327
00:12:09,150 --> 00:12:13,459
got, they've, I think, look, Blumhouse is
a, is a fascinating and innovative studio
328
00:12:13,709 --> 00:12:19,020
and it's Blumhouse through Jamie Lee
Curtis, um, which, which is also just this
329
00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,850
extra beautiful little spice on this show.
330
00:12:22,090 --> 00:12:26,600
Not only is she in the show and she's
terrific, but as a producer and as a voice
331
00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:31,179
on the show, um, she was instrumental
in making sure that the vibe of this
332
00:12:31,630 --> 00:12:36,279
world that we haven't seen before this
criminal underbelly in Northern Canada,
333
00:12:36,289 --> 00:12:41,130
this notion of maple syrup, these ne'er
do wells, these buffoons, this insanity,
334
00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:42,780
that it all sort of comes together.
335
00:12:42,780 --> 00:12:45,750
And I think there's something really
special about a show like this in
336
00:12:45,750 --> 00:12:48,700
a 30 minute format in six episodes.
337
00:12:49,145 --> 00:12:51,655
It gives us everything we want
without feeling like we have to commit
338
00:12:51,655 --> 00:12:53,795
to something that's just going to
take weeks and weeks and weeks to
339
00:12:53,795 --> 00:12:54,275
Marc Preston: watch.
340
00:12:54,475 --> 00:12:56,855
Did you tap into your Canadian
roots with a little bit of
341
00:12:56,895 --> 00:12:59,064
Canadian dialect as a character?
342
00:12:59,385 --> 00:13:00,204
Chris Diamantopoulos: No, no, no.
343
00:13:00,205 --> 00:13:03,115
If you see the show, you'll realize I'm
actually playing an American on the show.
344
00:13:03,365 --> 00:13:06,295
Uh, so yeah, not playing
a Canadian on the show.
345
00:13:06,535 --> 00:13:10,535
Um, I play a low level.
346
00:13:11,425 --> 00:13:13,125
mobster esque guy.
347
00:13:13,135 --> 00:13:17,695
Who's, you know, uh, finds himself in
the, from the Boston area, up in Northern
348
00:13:17,695 --> 00:13:21,405
Canada, collecting, uh, you know,
the, uh, milk money for his employer.
349
00:13:21,735 --> 00:13:27,594
And, um, Margo Martindale plays
a local maple syrup farmer.
350
00:13:27,825 --> 00:13:33,384
And we realize in the show and from
this show that in, in fact, in reality,
351
00:13:33,664 --> 00:13:37,775
there is an association, a maple syrup
association that controls the global
352
00:13:38,275 --> 00:13:45,215
Supply and demand of maple syrup,
and they store these giant vats and
353
00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:49,905
giant oil drums of maple syrup that
are priced at thousands of dollars
354
00:13:49,905 --> 00:13:54,365
a drum, uh, in, in this, in these
warehouses that are largely unguarded.
355
00:13:54,734 --> 00:14:01,205
And so, uh, through desperation,
greed, and, you know, just a general
356
00:14:01,245 --> 00:14:05,335
feeling of larceny, our characters
get involved in the scheme to steal.
357
00:14:05,725 --> 00:14:07,635
Millions and millions of
dollars worth of maple syrup
358
00:14:07,635 --> 00:14:08,705
and sell it on the black Marcet.
359
00:14:08,985 --> 00:14:10,535
Marc Preston: You mentioned
something that they come up with
360
00:14:10,715 --> 00:14:12,285
a Blumhouse, like different ideas.
361
00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:14,955
And yeah, that's, I like being pleasantly
surprised by something like that.
362
00:14:14,965 --> 00:14:16,255
I haven't seen something like this before.
363
00:14:16,255 --> 00:14:17,405
That's always fun.
364
00:14:17,405 --> 00:14:17,735
Yeah.
365
00:14:18,175 --> 00:14:18,475
Yeah.
366
00:14:18,475 --> 00:14:19,195
That'll be, it'll be fun.
367
00:14:19,195 --> 00:14:20,085
You, I think you'll enjoy it.
368
00:14:20,305 --> 00:14:23,424
As far as, uh, the Greek heritage, which
of course, me being a Jewish kid from
369
00:14:23,425 --> 00:14:27,785
Texas, for whatever reason, in my family,
uh, for everybody's birthdays and events,
370
00:14:27,785 --> 00:14:29,095
we always went to Greek restaurants.
371
00:14:29,095 --> 00:14:29,375
So.
372
00:14:29,820 --> 00:14:29,960
Great.
373
00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,300
When I think of my comfort food
as a kid, it's always Greek food.
374
00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:32,840
I love that.
375
00:14:33,060 --> 00:14:33,620
I love that.
376
00:14:33,630 --> 00:14:33,920
I think,
377
00:14:34,070 --> 00:14:35,820
Chris Diamantopoulos: I think the
Greeks by and large would feel
378
00:14:35,940 --> 00:14:38,930
happy to hear that statement because
the Greeks all over the world
379
00:14:38,940 --> 00:14:41,529
Marc Preston: just want to
feed people pure comfort.
380
00:14:41,529 --> 00:14:44,900
And I remember the guys that, uh, and
Dallas's Costas cafe, the brothers,
381
00:14:44,970 --> 00:14:49,970
uh, there was a guy Zissy and they
owned it, but it's all one big family.
382
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,620
So every Greek restaurant in the Dallas
area in one way or another, they're
383
00:14:52,620 --> 00:14:54,140
all related from what I understand.
384
00:14:54,405 --> 00:14:54,635
Yeah.
385
00:14:54,635 --> 00:14:58,194
Now are your folks, uh, kind of
first generation in Canada or?
386
00:14:58,194 --> 00:14:58,454
Yeah.
387
00:14:58,454 --> 00:14:59,824
I spoke, I spoke Greek
388
00:14:59,824 --> 00:15:00,295
Chris Diamantopoulos: in the house.
389
00:15:00,295 --> 00:15:01,225
It's my first language.
390
00:15:01,565 --> 00:15:07,095
Um, my mother and father emigrated
from Athens in the, uh, early 1970s.
391
00:15:07,465 --> 00:15:14,005
My dad, uh, went to Toronto, Canada
to, um, to, uh, study business
392
00:15:14,005 --> 00:15:15,334
and get his master's in business.
393
00:15:15,714 --> 00:15:21,745
Um, and my folks were sticklers
for us learning proper.
394
00:15:22,725 --> 00:15:26,465
grammatically accurate Greek,
both modern and ancient, actually.
395
00:15:29,175 --> 00:15:34,705
It was very, very important to them
that we, um, identified culturally as
396
00:15:34,715 --> 00:15:39,065
Greek, as well as embrace, you know,
living in Canada and being Canadian.
397
00:15:39,394 --> 00:15:46,275
Um, and it was, I think, by virtue
of speaking Greek first, that my ear,
398
00:15:46,275 --> 00:15:54,015
um, Was given the opportunity to train
itself to recognizing different sounds,
399
00:15:54,365 --> 00:15:57,155
different timbres, different textures.
400
00:15:57,435 --> 00:16:01,765
And I think that's sort of where
my mimicry and my understanding of
401
00:16:01,775 --> 00:16:05,009
tone and pitch and voice came from.
402
00:16:05,270 --> 00:16:07,210
Uh, manipulation really sort of began.
403
00:16:07,510 --> 00:16:10,430
Marc Preston: I don't know any Greek
at all, except for what's on the menu.
404
00:16:10,530 --> 00:16:14,750
It was always great hearing the guys talk
to one another, you know, it always felt
405
00:16:14,750 --> 00:16:18,800
like, uh, even if they were arguing, it
always felt, that's just the way it hit
406
00:16:18,809 --> 00:16:21,769
my ear, you know, but I got it, but I
got to know, I ended up talking food at
407
00:16:21,770 --> 00:16:23,409
least once or twice, but I got to know.
408
00:16:23,469 --> 00:16:26,800
Did you inherit the recipes
and the cooking vibe, or,
409
00:16:26,819 --> 00:16:28,060
you know, Oh, my, my parents
410
00:16:28,060 --> 00:16:28,900
Chris Diamantopoulos:
are both great cooks.
411
00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:30,420
Now we weren't in the restaurant business.
412
00:16:30,420 --> 00:16:32,850
My dad actually ran a Greek radio station.
413
00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:35,849
He advertised for all the local
companies and he did a radio show.
414
00:16:36,169 --> 00:16:38,010
Beautiful voice, Malifluous voice.
415
00:16:38,390 --> 00:16:41,859
Um, it's really where I, I probably
got a lot of my, my vocal talent from.
416
00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:46,939
Um, but my mother and father are great
cooks, very simple, what they call spitiko
417
00:16:46,940 --> 00:16:51,970
fajito, which means, uh, like home cooked
stuff, nothing fancy, but, uh, Oh, yeah.
418
00:16:51,970 --> 00:16:52,670
Everything delicious.
419
00:16:52,670 --> 00:16:56,670
I mean, look, simple hand cut French
fries and olive oil, a little bit of
420
00:16:56,710 --> 00:17:02,099
oregano and thick, uh, coarse sea salt,
um, lamb chops with just a squeeze
421
00:17:02,099 --> 00:17:04,829
of lemon, uh, coarse black pepper.
422
00:17:05,060 --> 00:17:10,010
Um, a perfect, uh, horiyaki salata, the
village salad, which is just, you know,
423
00:17:10,349 --> 00:17:17,339
vine ripe tomatoes, a nice healthy dose of
olive oil, um, uh, cucumbers, big kalamata
424
00:17:17,349 --> 00:17:20,470
olives, feta cheese, uh, red onion.
425
00:17:21,045 --> 00:17:21,595
Marc Preston: Fantastic.
426
00:17:21,974 --> 00:17:24,545
They talked about the Mediterranean
diet as being really good for you.
427
00:17:24,545 --> 00:17:27,145
But I used to, uh, I still, I,
I'm trying to pick it back up down
428
00:17:27,145 --> 00:17:28,835
here, but grew all of my own herbs.
429
00:17:28,845 --> 00:17:29,254
That's one thing.
430
00:17:29,274 --> 00:17:30,905
I got that from Greek cooking.
431
00:17:30,905 --> 00:17:31,955
Cause there's always freshers.
432
00:17:32,384 --> 00:17:33,965
And that's really the kind
of thing that set it off.
433
00:17:34,395 --> 00:17:35,615
And my favorite, one
of my favorite things,
434
00:17:35,615 --> 00:17:36,944
Chris Diamantopoulos: Avogadro Lemona.
435
00:17:36,944 --> 00:17:40,749
That means it's, it's a, it's an, it's
an egg lemon basically where they beat
436
00:17:40,750 --> 00:17:42,890
The egg white, the lemon is delicious.
437
00:17:43,130 --> 00:17:44,590
We would have that when we were sick.
438
00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,570
It was the kind of thing that would,
you know, nurse you back to health.
439
00:17:46,570 --> 00:17:48,450
It's sort of the Greek,
you know, chicken soup.
440
00:17:55,610 --> 00:17:57,209
Marc Preston: What about
your wife's heritage?
441
00:17:57,210 --> 00:17:58,900
Is she by any chance Greek as well?
442
00:17:58,970 --> 00:18:01,789
Chris Diamantopoulos: Well, she is
now, but she was, she was born and
443
00:18:01,789 --> 00:18:03,470
raised in Guilford, Connecticut.
444
00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:05,900
We met, um, 22 years ago.
445
00:18:05,900 --> 00:18:09,010
Um, Uh, she, uh, she's a polyglot.
446
00:18:09,090 --> 00:18:12,970
She studied, uh, European history
at Penn and she, so she speaks
447
00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:14,500
fluent Spanish and fluent German.
448
00:18:14,819 --> 00:18:18,620
Uh, and she took a course of, uh,
modern Greek at Columbia while we were
449
00:18:18,620 --> 00:18:20,509
dating and now she speaks fluent Greek.
450
00:18:20,530 --> 00:18:20,919
Really?
451
00:18:20,970 --> 00:18:28,865
Um, Yeah, I married up Marc . Um, uh, she
is, um, she converted to Greek Orthodoxy
452
00:18:28,865 --> 00:18:32,435
when we got married, and so we could
raise our kids in, in the faith as well.
453
00:18:32,795 --> 00:18:35,885
And, um, but she's, no, she's
as American as Apple pie.
454
00:18:35,885 --> 00:18:38,885
Becky Newton, you know, she's on a
show right now called the Lincoln
455
00:18:38,885 --> 00:18:40,175
Lawyer, and she's about as good as
456
00:18:40,175 --> 00:18:41,285
Marc Preston: someone
can be on television.
457
00:18:41,315 --> 00:18:43,235
That's one of the shows that's
on the list, you know, there's
458
00:18:43,235 --> 00:18:44,195
so much stuff out there now.
459
00:18:44,195 --> 00:18:46,745
I got my little list of things
I, uh, that I, that I wanna see.
460
00:18:46,745 --> 00:18:46,835
Sure.
461
00:18:46,835 --> 00:18:47,945
And it's, it is definitely one of them.
462
00:18:48,215 --> 00:18:51,044
And, uh, I think, yeah, my kids
always loved going in new Orleans,
463
00:18:51,054 --> 00:18:53,695
uh, the, every year they'd have the
Greek food festival at the church.
464
00:18:54,044 --> 00:18:58,444
And my daughter, uh, loved the,
the ice cream and the, uh, uh, the,
465
00:18:58,504 --> 00:19:01,714
with the baklava, you know, they
kind of, so you can tell I haven't
466
00:19:01,714 --> 00:19:02,684
had anything to eat today yet.
467
00:19:02,684 --> 00:19:05,414
So, you know, you're killing me
over here, but, um, all right.
468
00:19:05,434 --> 00:19:09,444
So, so when did the acting thing, when did
all the creative stuff kick off for you?
469
00:19:09,444 --> 00:19:12,975
Was that kind of in high school, was
that all on already on the agenda
470
00:19:12,975 --> 00:19:14,284
or did that come a little later?
471
00:19:14,284 --> 00:19:14,344
Yeah.
472
00:19:14,575 --> 00:19:15,055
No, Marc,
473
00:19:15,055 --> 00:19:16,125
Chris Diamantopoulos: I started acting.
474
00:19:16,215 --> 00:19:18,265
I've been acting for 40
years professionally.
475
00:19:18,265 --> 00:19:19,935
I started acting when
I was nine years old.
476
00:19:19,945 --> 00:19:24,964
Uh, I displayed, uh, an affinity
and a proficiency with regard
477
00:19:24,965 --> 00:19:26,695
to performance and entertaining.
478
00:19:26,695 --> 00:19:31,505
And so my parents, uh, despite their
lack of knowledge of within the field
479
00:19:31,824 --> 00:19:34,924
decided that, you know, they should
try and help nurture that talent.
480
00:19:34,924 --> 00:19:38,324
So they signed me up for a
kid's acting class on weekends
481
00:19:38,324 --> 00:19:39,815
and an agent found me there.
482
00:19:39,815 --> 00:19:42,605
And I started doing some, uh,
television work in Toronto.
483
00:19:42,605 --> 00:19:47,605
And, uh, shortly thereafter, I, uh,
really started getting involved in
484
00:19:47,615 --> 00:19:49,635
music and singing and stage performing.
485
00:19:50,055 --> 00:19:54,215
Um, and so I started, um, auditioning
for professional productions in Toronto
486
00:19:54,215 --> 00:19:57,805
and then quickly started doing some
big national tours in the States.
487
00:19:57,824 --> 00:20:01,294
And I landed on Broadway, uh,
worked on Broadway for several
488
00:20:01,294 --> 00:20:05,344
years and I met my wife, uh, while
I was working on Broadway, but.
489
00:20:05,539 --> 00:20:07,600
She was not working on Broadway.
490
00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,389
We met on the subway in
the middle of rush hour.
491
00:20:09,579 --> 00:20:09,899
Really?
492
00:20:09,909 --> 00:20:14,090
And then, um, Well, when you met on the
subway, did you both know what each other
493
00:20:14,090 --> 00:20:15,929
Marc Preston: did or was it
just, you had no clue about what,
494
00:20:16,249 --> 00:20:17,239
Chris Diamantopoulos: Oh, we were kids.
495
00:20:17,289 --> 00:20:19,009
I was, I was 25.
496
00:20:19,019 --> 00:20:20,679
She was 21 straight out of college.
497
00:20:20,679 --> 00:20:25,264
And we just started chatting and, uh,
And, and then we ended up moving to Los
498
00:20:25,264 --> 00:20:27,225
Angeles together and pursuing this career.
499
00:20:27,624 --> 00:20:28,274
Marc Preston: That is awesome.
500
00:20:28,274 --> 00:20:29,044
It's very symbiotic.
501
00:20:29,054 --> 00:20:33,064
You know, that thing where she, you know,
y'all both could do your thing together.
502
00:20:33,064 --> 00:20:34,305
That's, that's really wonderful.
503
00:20:34,305 --> 00:20:37,884
I mean, the fact that especially you
being able to work at home and she,
504
00:20:37,885 --> 00:20:40,914
she understands your workflow and if
you've had a not great day, you know,
505
00:20:40,915 --> 00:20:44,284
creatively or so, you know, so it's
probably like a lot of unspoken stuff.
506
00:20:44,305 --> 00:20:47,784
You can kind of read each other as
creatives, you know, are your, any
507
00:20:47,784 --> 00:20:50,534
of your kids kind of aiming in this
direction you think, uh, or are
508
00:20:50,534 --> 00:20:52,345
they like, no, It's hard to tell.
509
00:20:52,355 --> 00:20:52,815
You know, they
510
00:20:52,815 --> 00:20:57,405
Chris Diamantopoulos: definitely, uh,
the great thing about kids is every day
511
00:20:57,534 --> 00:21:00,794
they discover something new and then
they allow you to discover something new
512
00:21:00,794 --> 00:21:02,564
about them, particularly at these ages.
513
00:21:02,984 --> 00:21:10,194
Um, they're showing, uh, uh, desire
and skill in so many different facets.
514
00:21:10,194 --> 00:21:10,879
So it's, it's hard to tell.
515
00:21:11,020 --> 00:21:12,380
It's really hard to say.
516
00:21:12,380 --> 00:21:15,780
I think, you know, Becky and I
will sort of nurture whatever
517
00:21:15,780 --> 00:21:17,090
direction they end up going.
518
00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:22,010
Um, you know, we have both of us having
been in this business as long as we have
519
00:21:22,010 --> 00:21:25,450
been, have a healthy understanding of
how challenging this can be, but you
520
00:21:25,450 --> 00:21:27,309
know, every business has its challenges.
521
00:21:27,309 --> 00:21:29,359
Every endeavor has its challenges.
522
00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,779
So as long as their heart's in it for the
right reasons and, uh, they, you know,
523
00:21:34,180 --> 00:21:36,510
They go into it with, with a clear mind.
524
00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:36,820
I'm,
525
00:21:37,010 --> 00:21:37,900
Marc Preston: I'm open to it.
526
00:21:38,340 --> 00:21:41,490
A lot of luck in that your folks
were at the outset, very, uh, they're
527
00:21:41,490 --> 00:21:44,030
encouraging out of the gate, you know,
a lot of, you know, a lot of folks have
528
00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:45,460
parents like, why are you doing this?
529
00:21:45,460 --> 00:21:47,110
You know, very rare, very
530
00:21:47,110 --> 00:21:48,500
Chris Diamantopoulos: rare
for Greek immigrants to, to,
531
00:21:48,549 --> 00:21:50,260
to feel that way as well.
532
00:21:50,269 --> 00:21:53,700
They, you know, they would have wanted
me to be a doctor or a lawyer or an
533
00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:59,900
accountant, but they were, uh, to their
credit, they were very, very, um, uh,
534
00:22:00,535 --> 00:22:02,195
Marc Preston: They were very
open, which was terrific.
535
00:22:02,205 --> 00:22:05,645
So how did you make that
segue on stage to on camera?
536
00:22:05,645 --> 00:22:08,414
Was that something that was
a seamless thing or was, was
537
00:22:08,414 --> 00:22:09,595
that kind of your North star?
538
00:22:09,615 --> 00:22:13,475
Was that ultimately where you were wanting
to go or just kind of ended up that way?
539
00:22:13,645 --> 00:22:19,649
Chris Diamantopoulos: So I always
knew, uh, that I wanted I knew I
540
00:22:19,649 --> 00:22:20,879
wanted to perform and entertain.
541
00:22:20,879 --> 00:22:22,540
I mean, when I was a kid, I
wanted to be a movie star.
542
00:22:22,540 --> 00:22:23,459
I didn't know what that meant.
543
00:22:23,509 --> 00:22:25,469
I just watched movies and I
knew how they made me feel.
544
00:22:25,469 --> 00:22:27,530
I'd go to the movies with my
father and I felt something.
545
00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,489
You know, when you watch TV at home,
it's just kind of, but when you go to
546
00:22:31,490 --> 00:22:33,730
the movie, there's something special.
547
00:22:33,730 --> 00:22:34,609
We're all in that room.
548
00:22:34,609 --> 00:22:38,719
It goes dark and it's, it's loud and,
and you're in the world and you're
549
00:22:38,739 --> 00:22:41,820
in the story and then you, the movie
finishes and, and it's just There's so
550
00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:43,920
much to talk about and how you felt.
551
00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,130
And, and then for weeks I'm
play acting at what I saw.
552
00:22:47,130 --> 00:22:48,330
And I'm now that person.
553
00:22:48,330 --> 00:22:51,790
And that experience is just,
that's, that's a holy experience.
554
00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,450
Marc Preston: Well, that, well, at
that age, no, when you were young and
555
00:22:54,470 --> 00:22:57,810
when you were, you were, your juices
were flowing, what were you watching?
556
00:22:57,810 --> 00:23:01,039
What were the things that were like
grabbing you actors or films or directors?
557
00:23:01,089 --> 00:23:01,709
Yeah, I was.
558
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,389
Chris Diamantopoulos: Greatly
inspired by the works of Danny
559
00:23:04,399 --> 00:23:07,980
Kaye, the court jester, the secret
life of Walter Mitty, five pennies.
560
00:23:08,350 --> 00:23:11,760
I love Darryl Flynn, uh, the
adventures of Robin Hood.
561
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,790
Uh, obviously, you know,
anything Harrison Ford did.
562
00:23:14,790 --> 00:23:18,989
I remember seeing, uh, Roger Moore
and Moonraker and thinking, wow,
563
00:23:19,579 --> 00:23:21,030
I want to, I want to do that.
564
00:23:21,370 --> 00:23:25,350
Um, but then I remember my father
coming home with a, a beta.
565
00:23:25,605 --> 00:23:28,795
Uh, tape of Amadeus and he said, you
know, this isn't really a kid's movie
566
00:23:28,815 --> 00:23:31,895
and he left it there and the next
night my brother and I watched Amadeus
567
00:23:31,895 --> 00:23:33,734
and I remember just thinking that F.
568
00:23:33,735 --> 00:23:37,345
Marie Abraham's performance was
marvelous, One of the greatest, most
569
00:23:37,355 --> 00:23:38,825
terrifying things I'd ever seen.
570
00:23:39,205 --> 00:23:44,925
So my inspirations were as varied as
the roles that I've ended up playing.
571
00:23:44,975 --> 00:23:46,115
It's why I've never,
572
00:23:46,514 --> 00:23:48,264
Marc Preston: Abraham was the
first to kind of get you feeling
573
00:23:48,264 --> 00:23:51,414
something like it, like there was
a, there was a visceral reaction.
574
00:23:51,425 --> 00:23:54,195
Chris Diamantopoulos: I mean, it
was certainly from a, from a, uh,
575
00:23:54,225 --> 00:23:56,054
massively dramatic standpoint.
576
00:23:56,125 --> 00:23:57,054
Uh, sure.
577
00:23:57,074 --> 00:24:00,245
But there, I mean, the inspirations
came from so many different
578
00:24:00,245 --> 00:24:02,485
places and so many odd places.
579
00:24:02,485 --> 00:24:06,234
I mean, one of my biggest
influences were the three stooges.
580
00:24:06,424 --> 00:24:09,654
Their level of humor, their
level of timing and commitment
581
00:24:09,664 --> 00:24:11,534
to the bit, it was fantastic.
582
00:24:11,804 --> 00:24:14,784
Marc Preston: Um, well, that's a
full arc of experience for you.
583
00:24:14,784 --> 00:24:17,794
I mean, did you have to chase
that role to be, you know, uh,
584
00:24:17,804 --> 00:24:19,524
mo, uh, did you, did you chase it?
585
00:24:19,534 --> 00:24:21,884
Or did they look at you going,
you're the guy, you're the guy.
586
00:24:22,294 --> 00:24:22,974
What do you think, Marc?
587
00:24:22,975 --> 00:24:23,924
You think I walked in and they
588
00:24:23,924 --> 00:24:25,099
Chris Diamantopoulos: looked
at me and said, you're the guy.
589
00:24:25,260 --> 00:24:26,500
I think you're talented enough.
590
00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:30,290
They might've been, took me about,
took me about six months and about 14
591
00:24:30,290 --> 00:24:32,159
auditions, a lot of begging and pleading.
592
00:24:32,159 --> 00:24:35,069
And there was, there was really,
there was no way that that was going
593
00:24:35,069 --> 00:24:36,829
to happen, but, but somehow it did.
594
00:24:37,090 --> 00:24:38,949
I was an unknown actor at that point.
595
00:24:38,949 --> 00:24:40,689
The biggest thing I'd ever done was 24.
596
00:24:41,090 --> 00:24:42,909
And I certainly wasn't the lead of 24.
597
00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:44,340
I'd never done anything comedic.
598
00:24:44,699 --> 00:24:48,885
Uh, Although I knew that I was, you know,
I could, I could work as a comedy actor.
599
00:24:48,885 --> 00:24:50,255
It just hadn't happened at that point.
600
00:24:50,265 --> 00:24:53,695
So it was a big leap of faith on
the fairly brother's part, huge
601
00:24:53,695 --> 00:24:55,925
leap of faith on the studio part.
602
00:24:56,255 --> 00:24:58,015
That was when Tom Rothman was running Fox.
603
00:24:58,544 --> 00:25:03,265
Uh, and it was a confluence of my
strange history with the Stooges,
604
00:25:03,284 --> 00:25:12,905
my, um, encyclopedic knowledge of
their Uh, shorts and, um, and then my
605
00:25:13,305 --> 00:25:19,705
lack of guile and naivete to believe
that they would allow me to pull a
606
00:25:19,705 --> 00:25:23,164
face and morph to play this role.
607
00:25:23,194 --> 00:25:24,779
And it just, it ended up being me.
608
00:25:24,780 --> 00:25:27,260
It ended up happening and two
other actors were offered the role.
609
00:25:27,260 --> 00:25:30,730
They fell out one of them because
he couldn't do the, the impression
610
00:25:30,730 --> 00:25:32,899
of Mo and the other one, because
he wanted too much money.
611
00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:34,730
Marc Preston: I got to say, I remember
growing up, like you said, the
612
00:25:34,730 --> 00:25:37,210
shorts, the ones that were just kind
of in and out is just a few minutes.
613
00:25:37,410 --> 00:25:37,819
I like that.
614
00:25:37,820 --> 00:25:39,700
I thought there was something
kind of cool about that.
615
00:25:40,249 --> 00:25:42,970
But I remember this kind of the rhythm,
the physicality, the physicality.
616
00:25:43,850 --> 00:25:44,270
Really?
617
00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:45,139
And you nailed it.
618
00:25:45,139 --> 00:25:45,969
I mean, that was just like
619
00:25:45,970 --> 00:25:46,250
Chris Diamantopoulos: that.
620
00:25:46,370 --> 00:25:46,720
Thanks.
621
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,100
No, I mean, the thing about the Stooges
that was fascinating was that they, they
622
00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:53,340
perfected their craft on the vaudeville
circuit and the borscht belt too.
623
00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:56,810
You know, I mean, they, they did
live performances for years and years
624
00:25:56,810 --> 00:25:59,599
and years and years and years before
they ever put anything on celluloid.
625
00:25:59,850 --> 00:26:01,384
So the daunting task for, for me.
626
00:26:01,385 --> 00:26:05,785
Us, but when we made the movie was
we had five days of prep, there
627
00:26:05,785 --> 00:26:07,275
was no, there was no rehearsal.
628
00:26:07,275 --> 00:26:12,304
There was no, Oh yeah, it was, it
was, we were shot out of a cannon.
629
00:26:12,335 --> 00:26:17,935
And so, um, I, again, through my
own naivete, not knowing that this
630
00:26:17,944 --> 00:26:19,584
is what I wasn't supposed to do.
631
00:26:19,875 --> 00:26:23,995
I just, uh, uh, uh, uh, took the
bull by the horns and, and, and,
632
00:26:23,995 --> 00:26:25,495
and Sean and will, and I would meet.
633
00:26:25,690 --> 00:26:29,290
The morning before a shoot and talk
about what we might do in a physical
634
00:26:29,290 --> 00:26:32,170
standpoint to supplement what it
says in the script, the Stooges
635
00:26:32,180 --> 00:26:34,659
fight, you know, what does that mean?
636
00:26:34,670 --> 00:26:35,520
What does that look like?
637
00:26:35,530 --> 00:26:38,470
And so we would create these bits
and then show up on set ready to go.
638
00:26:38,799 --> 00:26:41,030
It was really, it was, um, a reMarcable
639
00:26:41,030 --> 00:26:41,650
Marc Preston: experience.
640
00:26:47,045 --> 00:26:48,175
Uh, great actor.
641
00:26:48,205 --> 00:26:48,815
Good guy.
642
00:26:48,905 --> 00:26:49,205
Yeah.
643
00:26:49,205 --> 00:26:49,894
Yeah.
644
00:26:49,895 --> 00:26:51,735
It was interesting
watching the physicality.
645
00:26:51,735 --> 00:26:52,975
Cause that's what I remember as a kid.
646
00:26:52,975 --> 00:26:55,035
I don't really remember
plot lines as much.
647
00:26:55,035 --> 00:26:58,414
I just remember the seeming absurdity,
but the heart in it, you know, but I
648
00:26:58,415 --> 00:27:02,004
know some people are really, really,
really into the three stooges.
649
00:27:02,004 --> 00:27:04,664
It was an inspiration, but to be able
to be in a movie that had to be a
650
00:27:04,665 --> 00:27:06,645
cool full, a full circle thing for you
651
00:27:06,655 --> 00:27:07,175
Chris Diamantopoulos: beyond.
652
00:27:07,445 --> 00:27:08,175
It really was.
653
00:27:08,175 --> 00:27:10,705
It was, it was on an earnest.
654
00:27:11,020 --> 00:27:12,520
Marc Preston: Uh, literal dream come true.
655
00:27:12,620 --> 00:27:13,870
You'd been on 24.
656
00:27:13,870 --> 00:27:17,810
So this is kind of like 180 degree
shift, but that's, did you kind of feel
657
00:27:17,810 --> 00:27:20,220
that was when the momentum just started
kind of picking up for you, do you
658
00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:21,760
think, did you use that kind of win?
659
00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:21,990
I don't
660
00:27:21,990 --> 00:27:22,429
Chris Diamantopoulos: think so.
661
00:27:22,430 --> 00:27:22,709
No.
662
00:27:22,709 --> 00:27:23,439
And you know, it was funny.
663
00:27:23,450 --> 00:27:24,899
It was hard to bill me after that.
664
00:27:24,919 --> 00:27:28,039
You know, my, I did a, you know,
it was a 50 million movie for
665
00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:29,534
Fox and I was the lead of it.
666
00:27:30,305 --> 00:27:32,425
I looked like Mo, I didn't look like this.
667
00:27:32,425 --> 00:27:34,595
And if you look at the posters
or any of the trailers or any of
668
00:27:34,595 --> 00:27:36,385
it, you just, it's not this guy.
669
00:27:36,405 --> 00:27:37,945
So how do they sell that?
670
00:27:37,955 --> 00:27:38,245
Right.
671
00:27:38,245 --> 00:27:42,915
So, uh, no, it wasn't necessarily the,
I mean, one thing that it did do was
672
00:27:43,014 --> 00:27:45,975
it caught the attention of someone at
Disney when they were looking to start
673
00:27:46,964 --> 00:27:52,185
a new show based on the original Walt
Disney Mickey mouse, where they wanted
674
00:27:52,185 --> 00:27:56,305
to go back to the root of what Mickey
sounded like, which was Walt himself.
675
00:27:56,345 --> 00:27:59,425
And, um, someone had seen me do.
676
00:27:59,675 --> 00:28:03,845
The Stooges and the Stooges
had that intrinsic thirties era
677
00:28:05,065 --> 00:28:08,105
cadence to it, just by virtue of
the ways that the Stooges talk.
678
00:28:09,285 --> 00:28:11,394
And so they wanted to bring
me in to voice Mickey.
679
00:28:11,464 --> 00:28:16,424
And, um, I was reticent at first because
I have a deeper voice and I, I, you
680
00:28:16,424 --> 00:28:17,865
don't mess with an icon like Mickey.
681
00:28:18,895 --> 00:28:23,065
By sheer luck, um, Tom Hanks had
been promoting his, uh, Finding Mr.
682
00:28:23,065 --> 00:28:25,095
Banks, uh, movie.
683
00:28:25,385 --> 00:28:29,225
And they had all of these, um, Walt Disney
documentaries on television at the time.
684
00:28:29,285 --> 00:28:29,965
And I watched.
685
00:28:30,429 --> 00:28:33,310
A particular documentary where it
showed Disney talking to a journalist
686
00:28:34,159 --> 00:28:36,550
and his voice was very similar to mine.
687
00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:39,969
Very, he had a, there was a base
to his voice, but where his voice
688
00:28:39,969 --> 00:28:44,850
resonated, um, aside from his
regionalism was, was similar.
689
00:28:44,850 --> 00:28:48,150
And I found that intriguing and so
I watched him as he talked and then
690
00:28:48,150 --> 00:28:50,184
the journalist asked him, would
you do it, Mr Disney, would you?
691
00:28:50,495 --> 00:28:51,525
Would you do a little of the voice?
692
00:28:51,525 --> 00:28:53,115
And he went, Oh boy.
693
00:28:53,355 --> 00:28:56,245
And he sort of, and I watched what
he did with his, with his body.
694
00:28:56,245 --> 00:28:59,395
I watched what he did with his face and
I saw what, what, where his larynx went.
695
00:28:59,395 --> 00:29:01,535
And I thought, Oh gosh,
maybe I can do that.
696
00:29:01,624 --> 00:29:07,205
And so, you know, uh, I went in and I
gave it, I gave it the old college try.
697
00:29:07,215 --> 00:29:13,545
And, uh, I mean, that really was, that
was a shift in my life that I would never
698
00:29:13,545 --> 00:29:16,965
have expected that, uh, that is really
just a beautiful blessing in my life.
699
00:29:16,995 --> 00:29:17,965
Uh, You know,
700
00:29:17,975 --> 00:29:19,845
Marc Preston: voicing Mickey
Mouse, you mentioned the
701
00:29:19,855 --> 00:29:20,875
thing about like the thirties.
702
00:29:20,905 --> 00:29:25,015
I always wondered as a VO guy, how
much of that was affected or how much
703
00:29:25,015 --> 00:29:26,655
of that's the way people spoke back
704
00:29:26,655 --> 00:29:26,935
Chris Diamantopoulos: then?
705
00:29:27,105 --> 00:29:29,445
Marc Preston: I've, you know, I can't
get it at a time machine and go hear it.
706
00:29:29,485 --> 00:29:31,735
They're kind of like, uh, those people,
they talk like, you know, the, the,
707
00:29:31,745 --> 00:29:35,005
that if there's that an, an affected
thing that they did, or if that was
708
00:29:35,005 --> 00:29:36,345
just part, it's a great question, right?
709
00:29:36,345 --> 00:29:36,355
I
710
00:29:36,395 --> 00:29:38,615
Chris Diamantopoulos: mean, it's all,
it's like, uh, how, how much of what
711
00:29:38,615 --> 00:29:41,489
they showed us of anything was affected,
you know, how many people spoke?
712
00:29:41,630 --> 00:29:44,680
Slept in twin beds and full
nighties and buttoned up pajamas.
713
00:29:44,690 --> 00:29:45,400
Do you know what I mean?
714
00:29:47,380 --> 00:29:49,260
Who knows what it was
really like back then?
715
00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:53,280
I did, I did, uh, the boys in the
boat with George Clooney last year.
716
00:29:53,340 --> 00:29:59,315
And, um, that was a thirties, uh,
period piece and threading that Needle.
717
00:29:59,315 --> 00:30:02,445
And I played a journalist actually,
uh, and a radio announcer and the
718
00:30:02,455 --> 00:30:03,895
fellow who was announcing the races.
719
00:30:04,185 --> 00:30:08,945
So finding the right balance of what
would have been reasonable back then.
720
00:30:08,965 --> 00:30:11,165
And also what would work
cinematically for today.
721
00:30:11,195 --> 00:30:11,855
That was fun.
722
00:30:12,105 --> 00:30:14,775
Finding that with George, you
know, how far do you want to go
723
00:30:14,775 --> 00:30:17,280
into You know, the year was 1935.
724
00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:17,760
You know what I mean?
725
00:30:17,770 --> 00:30:20,050
How far do you want to go into that, uh,
726
00:30:20,830 --> 00:30:21,420
Marc Preston: to, to thread
727
00:30:21,420 --> 00:30:22,070
Chris Diamantopoulos: that balance?
728
00:30:22,340 --> 00:30:23,540
Marc Preston: He directed it, correct?
729
00:30:23,550 --> 00:30:23,900
He did.
730
00:30:23,970 --> 00:30:24,810
Thank you for reminding me.
731
00:30:24,810 --> 00:30:25,820
Cause I wanted to ask you about that.
732
00:30:25,980 --> 00:30:27,310
That is a, it's a true story.
733
00:30:27,340 --> 00:30:27,640
Correct?
734
00:30:27,650 --> 00:30:27,980
It is.
735
00:30:27,980 --> 00:30:30,140
It's a beautiful, if you haven't
read the book, I would say
736
00:30:30,550 --> 00:30:32,610
Chris Diamantopoulos: that's, that's a,
that's, you should put that on your list.
737
00:30:32,610 --> 00:30:33,600
It's a beautifully written book.
738
00:30:33,610 --> 00:30:33,770
Okay.
739
00:30:33,790 --> 00:30:35,170
Read the book first before singing.
740
00:30:35,170 --> 00:30:37,100
I mean, it's not necessary,
it's not necessary, but it's
741
00:30:37,100 --> 00:30:38,660
such an homage to America.
742
00:30:38,660 --> 00:30:45,530
It's such a, a love letter to what
this country really about to, to the.
743
00:30:45,890 --> 00:30:54,740
The, um, the pain and struggle resulting
in an exaltation of the American spirit.
744
00:30:54,900 --> 00:31:01,190
It's a, it's a really beautiful homage
to what it means to be American.
745
00:31:01,270 --> 00:31:02,070
It's it's lovely.
746
00:31:02,870 --> 00:31:07,000
Marc Preston: It'd be nice if something
old was new again right now, you
747
00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:11,000
know, bring, bring some of that vibe
back would be glorious right now.
748
00:31:11,690 --> 00:31:12,790
So the, you know, so.
749
00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:16,519
As you're progressing, were you thinking,
okay, I'm doing this, uh, you know,
750
00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,290
you work at George Clooney and I hear,
you know, I love everything he does.
751
00:31:19,290 --> 00:31:21,870
In fact, when I, when I coached
voiceover students, I always mentioned
752
00:31:22,250 --> 00:31:25,690
thing I love about him is we talk about
brand and who you are, your signature.
753
00:31:25,690 --> 00:31:29,000
We think of Danny Ocean, swab, Devin
air, modern day, Cary Grant, you
754
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,740
know, but the things he's really
notable for, he's a total dolt like
755
00:31:32,770 --> 00:31:37,120
the Coen brothers movies, or when he
steps outside of being a handsome,
756
00:31:37,335 --> 00:31:39,225
Charismatic dude, you know, absolutely.
757
00:31:39,645 --> 00:31:40,695
That had been a great
758
00:31:40,695 --> 00:31:41,405
Chris Diamantopoulos: experience.
759
00:31:41,435 --> 00:31:42,565
Uh, it was reMarcable.
760
00:31:42,605 --> 00:31:45,465
It was reMarcable watching him
work, listening to him, seeing how
761
00:31:45,485 --> 00:31:50,885
confident he was with regard to having
already, uh, sort of seen how he
762
00:31:50,885 --> 00:31:52,585
wants the story to unfold on screen.
763
00:31:52,915 --> 00:31:56,585
It gave the actors a tremendous
sense of peace showing up on set,
764
00:31:56,585 --> 00:31:57,665
knowing that he's got the reins.
765
00:31:58,025 --> 00:31:59,965
Um, and just a lovely guy.
766
00:32:01,105 --> 00:32:01,915
Marc Preston: How does he direct?
767
00:32:01,925 --> 00:32:05,855
Cause I know like a Clint Eastwood's very,
as I say, kind of directs in the camera,
768
00:32:05,865 --> 00:32:08,045
he's like, he gets a scene done moving on.
769
00:32:08,045 --> 00:32:10,215
You know, what, what's
George Clooney as far as, I
770
00:32:10,215 --> 00:32:10,475
Chris Diamantopoulos: mean,
771
00:32:10,485 --> 00:32:10,835
Marc Preston: he's
772
00:32:10,835 --> 00:32:14,635
Chris Diamantopoulos: very casual, uh,
uh, very much in favor of the actors.
773
00:32:14,635 --> 00:32:18,145
Uh, you know, he loves actors
and he, he is an actor.
774
00:32:18,475 --> 00:32:20,875
Um, I never felt like we were.
775
00:32:21,245 --> 00:32:23,965
Chasing the clock like we
were in trouble for time.
776
00:32:24,225 --> 00:32:26,705
It never felt like we were belaboring
something and doing multiple
777
00:32:26,705 --> 00:32:28,235
takes when they were unnecessary.
778
00:32:28,625 --> 00:32:33,745
You know, it also didn't feel like he
was doing prototypical wide medium close.
779
00:32:33,895 --> 00:32:36,815
He knew how a scene was going
to play if the whole thing was
780
00:32:36,815 --> 00:32:37,825
going to play in the close.
781
00:32:38,265 --> 00:32:40,025
He would eschew the wide
and say, I don't need it.
782
00:32:40,025 --> 00:32:41,295
I know I'm going to come right in here.
783
00:32:41,585 --> 00:32:45,715
So there's a, there was something
really beautiful about that.
784
00:32:45,715 --> 00:32:50,905
He, you know, he was really a mentor to
me during those several weeks in London.
785
00:32:51,295 --> 00:32:54,665
Um, and I asked him a lot of just,
you know, business questions and
786
00:32:54,665 --> 00:32:56,715
he was always ready with a story.
787
00:32:57,065 --> 00:32:59,465
Um, but one of the things that stuck
with me, one of the things that
788
00:32:59,465 --> 00:33:03,915
he said to me that I found very
profound and very liberating was
789
00:33:03,915 --> 00:33:08,905
that when you're an actor and you're
auditioning, playing with house money.
790
00:33:09,765 --> 00:33:12,645
The casino has given you 10, 000 and
they say, do with it what you will.
791
00:33:13,195 --> 00:33:15,175
Now you may lose it, but
you're not losing anything.
792
00:33:15,535 --> 00:33:17,875
They gave you the 10, 000, who cares?
793
00:33:18,735 --> 00:33:21,775
You may turn it into 20 and you
could turn it into a million.
794
00:33:21,805 --> 00:33:23,185
And that's what an audition is.
795
00:33:23,565 --> 00:33:24,885
You've got nothing to lose.
796
00:33:25,055 --> 00:33:25,755
So go for it.
797
00:33:26,465 --> 00:33:29,675
And, and I, I thought that that
was very simple, but very profound.
798
00:33:29,945 --> 00:33:35,785
And it's definitely indicative
of his casual, but you know,
799
00:33:35,795 --> 00:33:37,275
Marc Preston: hardworking nature, right?
800
00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,700
Yeah, I think that's the
hard thing to do as an actor.
801
00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:44,460
And like I say, I work in voiceover folks
and I'm like, go in there, do your thing.
802
00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:45,950
You don't know what they're looking for.
803
00:33:45,950 --> 00:33:48,730
And it's a fool's errand to kind
of assume, you know, but you do,
804
00:33:48,740 --> 00:33:51,500
you try to get down in the middle,
but did you audition for George
805
00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:53,520
or is it like, okay, it was just
kind of like, okay, you're the guy.
806
00:33:53,530 --> 00:33:54,940
I That that works.
807
00:33:54,940 --> 00:33:55,000
No,
808
00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:55,240
Chris Diamantopoulos: Marc.
809
00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,420
I, I love, I love the notion that
you think that it ever happens
810
00:33:58,420 --> 00:34:00,970
where someone says, you're
the guy, you know, I, I'm sure
811
00:34:00,970 --> 00:34:01,475
Marc Preston: that a lot of actors,
812
00:34:01,595 --> 00:34:03,250
Chris Diamantopoulos: I think you
were, I think you were that talented.
813
00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:06,040
I've seen you do your thing and I saw
he is like, I know he can do that thing.
814
00:34:06,045 --> 00:34:08,770
I want him, you know, I don't think
it's ever happened for me in life
815
00:34:08,770 --> 00:34:10,470
that someone went, you're the guy.
816
00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:15,200
No, I, I made a tape actually in
this studio, um, for that role.
817
00:34:15,260 --> 00:34:18,665
And look to his credit,
uh, he watched the tape.
818
00:34:19,475 --> 00:34:21,745
And then he gave me the role.
819
00:34:21,935 --> 00:34:24,635
Uh, there wasn't anything
fussy about George.
820
00:34:25,055 --> 00:34:27,995
A lot of directors will see a tape and
then decide that they want to meet with
821
00:34:28,005 --> 00:34:32,405
you or meet with you on zoom or read
again or give you notes for George.
822
00:34:32,405 --> 00:34:36,125
I think I would venture to say that
every aspect of his life is this way.
823
00:34:36,585 --> 00:34:37,495
He's decisive.
824
00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:38,840
That's the guy.
825
00:34:38,990 --> 00:34:39,890
Call him, tell him he got the
826
00:34:39,890 --> 00:34:40,190
Marc Preston: part.
827
00:34:40,340 --> 00:34:44,090
Now is his directing style verbose
giving you lots of exp explanations
828
00:34:44,090 --> 00:34:46,760
or is he very pithy with just a
few words just to get you there?
829
00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:47,720
It's interesting, I found him,
830
00:34:48,050 --> 00:34:52,040
Chris Diamantopoulos: um, you mentioned
the word chameleon early on in this, in,
831
00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:55,250
in this interview, and I think George
is a chameleon in some ways as well.
832
00:34:55,250 --> 00:34:59,590
And his directorial style I think has
a chameleonic essence to it because
833
00:34:59,590 --> 00:35:02,170
there would be some big boisterous
scenes where there are hundreds and
834
00:35:02,170 --> 00:35:06,040
hundreds of extras outside and he
would use his megaphone and use humor.
835
00:35:06,495 --> 00:35:07,855
to motivate and direct.
836
00:35:08,395 --> 00:35:12,965
And then there were some really intimate
sequences where he would ask the crew to
837
00:35:13,275 --> 00:35:17,405
be politely, pleasantly, almost not even
have to, but the crew would recognize
838
00:35:17,405 --> 00:35:19,525
that they would need to sort of bring
it all down as they were setting up.
839
00:35:19,855 --> 00:35:23,665
And he would sort of come
quietly next to the actor.
840
00:35:23,665 --> 00:35:29,145
And I remember them doing this with me and
sitting and sort of sitting with me you
841
00:35:29,145 --> 00:35:30,985
know, just like What do you think, Chris?
842
00:35:31,005 --> 00:35:35,095
You want to, you want to sort of just like
jump into it or, you know, just very like
843
00:35:35,095 --> 00:35:37,865
a paternal, like, take your time, pal.
844
00:35:37,885 --> 00:35:41,715
We, we can do this any way you want, like
almost an arm around the shoulder and,
845
00:35:42,115 --> 00:35:46,605
and I believe in you sort of thing that
just, it just took all insecurity and
846
00:35:46,605 --> 00:35:50,795
evaporated and just allowed me to just be.
847
00:35:51,180 --> 00:35:53,500
I joked with my wife, I was
like, she's like, how was it?
848
00:35:53,500 --> 00:35:57,820
I was like, I just wanted him to, to put
his arm around me and say, I got your son.
849
00:35:58,750 --> 00:36:00,580
Just, just a really, really look, man.
850
00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:02,020
You know, they say,
don't meet your heroes.
851
00:36:02,020 --> 00:36:04,650
Well, if you're heroes, George
Clooney, meet him because he's
852
00:36:04,650 --> 00:36:05,410
not going to let you down.
853
00:36:06,050 --> 00:36:07,780
Marc Preston: I can imagine being
in a room with him and Brad Pitt.
854
00:36:07,780 --> 00:36:08,970
I think that, I don't
think you can go in there.
855
00:36:08,970 --> 00:36:09,820
There's too much charisma.
856
00:36:09,830 --> 00:36:10,900
Oh, it's insane.
857
00:36:11,060 --> 00:36:11,710
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, no.
858
00:36:11,710 --> 00:36:14,110
And, and, and they also,
I haven't met Brad, but.
859
00:36:14,305 --> 00:36:15,825
They seem like good dudes too.
860
00:36:15,845 --> 00:36:16,505
That's the other part.
861
00:36:16,505 --> 00:36:17,435
So there's all that charisma.
862
00:36:17,435 --> 00:36:18,805
There's all that handsomeness.
863
00:36:18,815 --> 00:36:21,105
There's all the talent experience.
864
00:36:21,105 --> 00:36:24,945
And, but, but then add to that, that
they, they seem like good natured fellows.
865
00:36:24,945 --> 00:36:27,155
Yeah, it would be, uh, it'd be too much,
866
00:36:27,395 --> 00:36:32,205
Marc Preston: too much for a mere, well,
I think you Hold your own very well and
867
00:36:32,205 --> 00:36:33,635
the stuff I've seen you without a doubt.
868
00:36:33,645 --> 00:36:39,605
I mean, I mean you and in the red notice
Are in red notice without you that the
869
00:36:39,605 --> 00:36:42,235
scene would have been as electric, you
know Cuz you've got Ryan Reynolds who's
870
00:36:42,325 --> 00:36:46,885
I mean, he's an okay looking guy, I guess
and You've got the physicality of Dwayne
871
00:36:46,895 --> 00:36:52,244
Johnson, but it without you it didn't
really have that tension, you know And
872
00:36:52,245 --> 00:36:56,205
it's I love watching people Who don't
have dialogue, but you'd love watch it.
873
00:36:56,205 --> 00:36:57,835
You just like, okay, you kind of lean in.
874
00:36:57,835 --> 00:36:58,965
Okay, what's going to happen?
875
00:36:59,015 --> 00:37:02,235
And that's, I think they did a really
wonderful thing shooting you from
876
00:37:02,235 --> 00:37:05,225
behind without even showing your
face for a good moment to moment.
877
00:37:05,225 --> 00:37:07,045
It's like, okay, what's going on?
878
00:37:07,045 --> 00:37:08,445
And it kind of built up the tension.
879
00:37:08,445 --> 00:37:10,754
So I'm glad you enjoyed it, man.
880
00:37:10,755 --> 00:37:11,525
I really appreciate it.
881
00:37:11,525 --> 00:37:13,075
I love making that now.
882
00:37:13,505 --> 00:37:18,085
You talk about George Clooney talked
about on the, on the menu of guys
883
00:37:18,085 --> 00:37:19,375
and gals you'd like to work with.
884
00:37:19,395 --> 00:37:24,035
Is there, is, is there a director, is
there a type of film, a type of project
885
00:37:24,035 --> 00:37:26,945
that's been itching and you know,
like, okay, this is where I need to
886
00:37:26,955 --> 00:37:29,155
add this to the recipe of my career.
887
00:37:29,615 --> 00:37:30,495
That's a great question.
888
00:37:30,495 --> 00:37:31,025
I mean, look, I
889
00:37:31,025 --> 00:37:32,925
Chris Diamantopoulos: love all
of Paul Thomas Anderson's films.
890
00:37:32,935 --> 00:37:36,595
So, uh, a chance to work with
Paul Thomas Anderson would be a
891
00:37:36,595 --> 00:37:39,755
real, um, a real dream come true.
892
00:37:40,475 --> 00:37:41,845
You know who his dad is, right?
893
00:37:42,430 --> 00:37:43,280
I know who his dad is.
894
00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:43,630
Yeah.
895
00:37:43,660 --> 00:37:43,930
Yeah.
896
00:37:43,930 --> 00:37:44,570
I know his dad.
897
00:37:44,670 --> 00:37:47,190
And I know his wife is, you know, I've
worked with his wife on a few projects.
898
00:37:47,190 --> 00:37:49,620
Uh, Maya and I have done
a few things together.
899
00:37:49,940 --> 00:37:51,180
No, I know all about him.
900
00:37:51,180 --> 00:37:56,270
I've been a, you know, uh, uh, a
distant student of his, if you will.
901
00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:56,810
You know what I mean?
902
00:37:57,250 --> 00:37:57,980
Um,
903
00:37:58,690 --> 00:38:00,740
Marc Preston: His dad has
the greatest outtake reel.
904
00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,680
It's 11 minutes of, uh, Yes.
905
00:38:02,780 --> 00:38:03,100
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yes.
906
00:38:03,950 --> 00:38:04,480
I know what you're
907
00:38:04,490 --> 00:38:05,050
Marc Preston: talking about.
908
00:38:05,050 --> 00:38:05,560
Actually.
909
00:38:05,610 --> 00:38:07,050
I, I, I have seen this.
910
00:38:07,370 --> 00:38:07,730
Yeah.
911
00:38:07,810 --> 00:38:08,910
Well, I remember hearing it.
912
00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,510
My voice of record back
in 1990, it was our 92.
913
00:38:11,510 --> 00:38:14,309
He said, uh, just go listen
to this as 11 minutes.
914
00:38:14,310 --> 00:38:16,430
He was the voice of, uh,
some different TV stations.
915
00:38:16,450 --> 00:38:19,880
Just the video he did when he was
the voice of America's funniest
916
00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:24,760
home and ABC, uh, he, he used
the Sennheiser four 16 because he
917
00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:26,470
wanted to sit in the booth with.
918
00:38:26,820 --> 00:38:30,210
And this, the, the, the, the banter,
it's like anybody who does voice
919
00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:31,710
or any kind of creative thing.
920
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,650
I remember hearing a story that one time
for Paul, uh, Paul Thomas Sanders for
921
00:38:35,650 --> 00:38:40,560
this, I think he had other kids, um, for
Christmas, he wanted them to have snow.
922
00:38:40,630 --> 00:38:43,230
Cause he was, I would think originally
from Cleveland or something and
923
00:38:43,250 --> 00:38:45,930
being in Hollywood, he actually
paid to have snow machines brought
924
00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:47,290
an overnight cranking out snow.
925
00:38:47,290 --> 00:38:50,100
So the kids woke up Christmas morning,
they had snow on their front yard,
926
00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:51,930
courtesy of a movie studio snow machine.
927
00:38:51,930 --> 00:38:52,910
That's pretty cool.
928
00:38:52,910 --> 00:38:53,563
That's lore.
929
00:38:53,563 --> 00:38:54,543
That's pretty cool.
930
00:38:54,543 --> 00:38:55,100
That's Yeah.
931
00:38:55,100 --> 00:38:55,440
I like that.
932
00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:56,000
I like that a lot.
933
00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,630
Besides Paul Thomas Anderson,
who else is kind of on your
934
00:38:58,640 --> 00:38:59,730
Mount Rushmore, if you will?
935
00:38:59,740 --> 00:39:03,300
Chris Diamantopoulos: You know, did
you watch, um, did you watch Shogun?
936
00:39:03,370 --> 00:39:05,690
It was really, really beautifully done.
937
00:39:05,740 --> 00:39:10,030
And um, there's a director that
won the Emmy this year for his work
938
00:39:10,030 --> 00:39:11,810
on that show called Frederick E.
939
00:39:11,810 --> 00:39:11,940
O.
940
00:39:11,940 --> 00:39:12,410
Toy.
941
00:39:12,860 --> 00:39:15,130
And he and I have actually worked
together before on a couple of
942
00:39:15,140 --> 00:39:20,300
things, but he's the kind of guy that
I love on a TV set as a director.
943
00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:23,810
Um, this is a guy with a
specific vision and such a.
944
00:39:24,410 --> 00:39:27,640
Um, calm and quiet.
945
00:39:28,380 --> 00:39:31,470
Way of leading with that vision.
946
00:39:31,830 --> 00:39:34,690
Um, it's guys like that, that
I, that I want to work with.
947
00:39:34,690 --> 00:39:37,940
There's a show, uh, if you watch the
show, slow horses with Gary Oldman
948
00:39:37,950 --> 00:39:39,660
Marc Preston: recently,
that's an Apple TV show.
949
00:39:39,690 --> 00:39:41,480
You know, it's one of
those, you know, yes or no.
950
00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:43,390
I started watching and I
was working on the computer.
951
00:39:43,390 --> 00:39:45,240
I was sitting on my sofa and
I was like, this is one of the
952
00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:46,230
shows I need to pay attention to.
953
00:39:46,230 --> 00:39:46,760
Totally.
954
00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:48,030
I can't like half pay attention.
955
00:39:48,410 --> 00:39:48,710
Yeah.
956
00:39:48,860 --> 00:39:48,980
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.
957
00:39:49,070 --> 00:39:49,790
You got to pay attention.
958
00:39:49,850 --> 00:39:51,630
You got to pay attention
to that one for sure.
959
00:39:52,060 --> 00:39:54,600
But it's, it's a brilliant show
and that's the kind of material
960
00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:56,100
that I would absolutely love
961
00:39:56,100 --> 00:39:58,050
Marc Preston: to, You talk
about George Clooney directing,
962
00:39:58,050 --> 00:39:59,020
but what about you directing?
963
00:39:59,030 --> 00:40:02,160
Have you thought about, okay, this, this
is a muscle I haven't flexed yet that I
964
00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:03,840
want to try it out and see how it works.
965
00:40:03,950 --> 00:40:05,330
Chris Diamantopoulos:
Yeah, I have definitely.
966
00:40:05,330 --> 00:40:08,920
And Stooges was sort of the first
time that that came onto my radar.
967
00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:15,510
Um, my involvement in that movie was
much more than just acting as Moe.
968
00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:20,885
Um, because of my Knowledge of the
Stooges in my understanding intrinsically
969
00:40:20,885 --> 00:40:29,015
of what the task was, um, I got my
first taste of what it might be like
970
00:40:29,025 --> 00:40:32,435
if I were to, uh, direct something
that I, that I really believed in.
971
00:40:32,435 --> 00:40:33,885
And I think that's really
what it's going to take.
972
00:40:33,885 --> 00:40:38,945
I think it's going to, I'm going to need
to find a story that I think is the most
973
00:40:38,955 --> 00:40:40,475
compelling story that needs to be told.
974
00:40:40,475 --> 00:40:43,465
And then I'm going to have to tell
it, um, you, you, you had your wife.
975
00:40:43,675 --> 00:40:44,925
Is she right at all?
976
00:40:45,045 --> 00:40:45,745
We both do.
977
00:40:45,755 --> 00:40:47,305
Yeah, we both, we both right.
978
00:40:47,325 --> 00:40:49,305
And, and it's one of those things where.
979
00:40:49,825 --> 00:40:54,595
We're not in any rush, you know, we're
still so, uh, beautifully motivated
980
00:40:54,595 --> 00:40:57,625
by the work that comes to us by
virtue of other, you know, gifted
981
00:40:57,625 --> 00:41:01,625
screenwriters and producers that
were happy doing that work right now.
982
00:41:01,655 --> 00:41:05,295
And I feel like in every aspect of my
life, like when I transitioned from the
983
00:41:05,295 --> 00:41:09,615
theater into television and then when
film found me and then when animation
984
00:41:09,615 --> 00:41:11,155
found me, it was all rather organic.
985
00:41:11,375 --> 00:41:15,345
So I feel like, um, the next step,
uh, with directing will, will
986
00:41:15,345 --> 00:41:17,005
probably also follow in that path.
987
00:41:17,085 --> 00:41:18,385
Marc Preston: Cause it sounds
like you're kind of been more.
988
00:41:18,510 --> 00:41:22,050
Surfing kind of taking it as is the wave
moves and you can't, you kind of have
989
00:41:22,050 --> 00:41:26,780
done a reMarcably wonderful job writing
it because I didn't realize how deep your
990
00:41:26,780 --> 00:41:28,570
resume was and the diversity of stuff.
991
00:41:28,570 --> 00:41:30,790
And you can't, you know, you
gotta be one hell of a talented
992
00:41:30,790 --> 00:41:32,220
guy to, to, to ride that wave.
993
00:41:32,230 --> 00:41:33,540
So good on you, my friend.
994
00:41:40,690 --> 00:41:43,360
Now, as we kind of wrap up here,
I throw my, Seven questions out,
995
00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:44,540
always a little bit extra fun.
996
00:41:44,930 --> 00:41:48,470
First one, one of my favorite, I'm a food
nerd and we discussed it, but I got to
997
00:41:48,470 --> 00:41:51,190
know what is your favorite comfort food?
998
00:41:51,540 --> 00:41:52,370
Being a Greek guy.
999
00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:54,170
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah,
it might surprise you.
Speaker:
00:41:54,170 --> 00:41:59,840
My favorite comfort food is a
two inch thick bone in ribeye.
Speaker:
00:42:00,105 --> 00:42:01,725
A grass fed bone in ribeye.
Speaker:
00:42:01,725 --> 00:42:03,645
Yeah, I would reverse sear it.
Speaker:
00:42:03,655 --> 00:42:10,835
I'd probably, I'd put it in, in a small
oven for at maybe 300 for eight minutes
Speaker:
00:42:10,905 --> 00:42:18,415
and then, uh, iron skillet, big pad of
raw butter, uh, and just sear a minute,
Speaker:
00:42:18,515 --> 00:42:23,210
minute, And then maybe 30 seconds, 30
seconds, rosemary on top or something.
Speaker:
00:42:23,450 --> 00:42:23,700
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:42:23,700 --> 00:42:25,160
Depending on how I'm going to do it.
Speaker:
00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:25,390
Right.
Speaker:
00:42:25,390 --> 00:42:28,590
It's not, I'm not sure if I would, but
the actual comfort food would be just
Speaker:
00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:32,790
that if I was going to have it with
some of my hand cut fries, then I might.
Speaker:
00:42:33,145 --> 00:42:36,825
Do rosemary might actually do a little
oregano to take it into the Greek place.
Speaker:
00:42:37,215 --> 00:42:40,105
If I was going to eat it later,
I would slice it up, squeeze some
Speaker:
00:42:40,105 --> 00:42:43,705
lemon, a drizzle of olive oil,
and that gives it a different sort
Speaker:
00:42:43,705 --> 00:42:46,655
of a vibe, but that's, yeah, that
would be my comfort food for sure.
Speaker:
00:42:46,825 --> 00:42:48,995
Marc Preston: I have to ask you,
you're Greek, you know, your food,
Speaker:
00:42:49,045 --> 00:42:52,635
you, you come from a place of a
family that knows up from down.
Speaker:
00:42:52,635 --> 00:42:54,985
I got to know what are
your feeling on Dolmas?
Speaker:
00:42:54,985 --> 00:42:58,775
Cause when I, when I grew up,
they were the big warm, you
Speaker:
00:42:58,775 --> 00:43:00,205
know, they're just delicious.
Speaker:
00:43:00,205 --> 00:43:04,260
But when I moved to new Orleans, uh,
whereas For about 20 years, they had
Speaker:
00:43:04,260 --> 00:43:06,850
the small little oily ones, you know,
the little tiny little oily ones.
Speaker:
00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:07,480
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:09,610
I like, what is your preference?
Speaker:
00:43:09,610 --> 00:43:11,310
What is considered authentic?
Speaker:
00:43:11,885 --> 00:43:15,815
Chris Diamantopoulos: I mean, look,
do del change the size and whether
Speaker:
00:43:15,815 --> 00:43:20,765
they're served cold or served warm
room temp based on the region, right?
Speaker:
00:43:20,765 --> 00:43:24,965
So in the north where my mother's
family is from, they tend to be
Speaker:
00:43:24,965 --> 00:43:26,495
more in the way that you like them.
Speaker:
00:43:26,795 --> 00:43:30,515
Um, I was never the biggest Dolma fan.
Speaker:
00:43:30,755 --> 00:43:34,265
I think when I was a kid, the idea of the
stuffed grape leaf was just not my thing.
Speaker:
00:43:34,445 --> 00:43:35,675
, I like the stuffed peppers.
Speaker:
00:43:35,675 --> 00:43:39,695
They're called, um, yata, where where
you take a pepper, you hollow it out.
Speaker:
00:43:40,625 --> 00:43:45,405
And you put the rice and the really,
Oh yeah, you have to have that next
Speaker:
00:43:45,445 --> 00:43:48,945
time you go to a Greek restaurant,
you ask them for yemi stuff, stuffed
Speaker:
00:43:48,945 --> 00:43:49,345
Marc Preston: peppers.
Speaker:
00:43:49,345 --> 00:43:50,105
They're delicious.
Speaker:
00:43:50,175 --> 00:43:51,255
That in Indian food.
Speaker:
00:43:51,255 --> 00:43:54,625
I've never mastered the seasoning ratios.
Speaker:
00:43:54,625 --> 00:43:57,985
I, it's one of the few foods I really
have to look at a recipe to get it.
Speaker:
00:43:57,995 --> 00:44:00,635
You know, it's just, but it's the
grandmothers that make it a little
Speaker:
00:44:00,635 --> 00:44:03,165
this, a little of that, you know,
but I haven't quite mastered that.
Speaker:
00:44:03,215 --> 00:44:03,555
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.
Speaker:
00:44:03,555 --> 00:44:03,895
I think.
Speaker:
00:44:03,895 --> 00:44:04,034
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:44:04,075 --> 00:44:07,435
I think for you to enjoy it best,
you go to a restaurant, Marc.
Speaker:
00:44:07,435 --> 00:44:08,305
I don't, I don't want you cooking.
Speaker:
00:44:10,085 --> 00:44:10,455
I do.
Speaker:
00:44:10,455 --> 00:44:13,835
Like I tell you, you're not giving
me the confidence of someone that's
Speaker:
00:44:13,835 --> 00:44:15,315
going to deliver an authentic,
Speaker:
00:44:16,035 --> 00:44:18,745
Marc Preston: I will say
all mastered lamb bar none.
Speaker:
00:44:19,095 --> 00:44:21,445
Um, now the next question I got
for you, uh, three people, let's
Speaker:
00:44:21,445 --> 00:44:24,015
say you're going to sit down with,
you have a few hours, talk story.
Speaker:
00:44:24,155 --> 00:44:25,055
Living or not.
Speaker:
00:44:25,055 --> 00:44:25,965
Who are those three people be?
Speaker:
00:44:25,965 --> 00:44:32,005
You would love to sit down with
Marcus Aurelius, Frank Sinatra.
Speaker:
00:44:32,535 --> 00:44:34,670
And, um, And Jesus Christ.
Speaker:
00:44:34,670 --> 00:44:35,030
Very cool.
Speaker:
00:44:35,130 --> 00:44:36,590
Jesus has come up a few times.
Speaker:
00:44:36,630 --> 00:44:37,590
Uh, never Sinatra.
Speaker:
00:44:37,620 --> 00:44:42,029
Uh, Marcus Aurelius actually I was
watching, um, Paul Giamatti and, uh, in
Speaker:
00:44:42,030 --> 00:44:45,110
the film he was in, he played a college
professor, came out last couple of years.
Speaker:
00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:45,750
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:44:45,750 --> 00:44:45,830
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:44:45,860 --> 00:44:50,580
And he talked about, uh, uh, the book
meditations and love all the quotes.
Speaker:
00:44:50,580 --> 00:44:52,800
I actually just ordered the
book sitting on my nightstand.
Speaker:
00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:53,560
I need to read that.
Speaker:
00:44:53,620 --> 00:44:55,360
Chris Diamantopoulos: And you know, it's
funny, it's sitting on your nightstand,
Speaker:
00:44:55,370 --> 00:44:57,260
but that's what it was intended to be.
Speaker:
00:44:57,260 --> 00:44:58,720
You know, it was never meant to be a book.
Speaker:
00:44:58,790 --> 00:45:00,880
That was Marcus Aurelius.
Speaker:
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:00,899
Jesus.
Speaker:
00:45:00,970 --> 00:45:02,690
Night stand journal.
Speaker:
00:45:02,930 --> 00:45:04,820
He wrote his ideas and thoughts.
Speaker:
00:45:04,820 --> 00:45:07,440
It was literally a got to
get apples tomorrow morning.
Speaker:
00:45:07,670 --> 00:45:09,950
Remember not to be rude to the shopkeeper.
Speaker:
00:45:10,210 --> 00:45:13,250
You know, it was like
little things to himself.
Speaker:
00:45:13,250 --> 00:45:17,900
Now they get more involved as you go
through and you realize this is the,
Speaker:
00:45:17,950 --> 00:45:19,710
this is a brilliant mind at work.
Speaker:
00:45:19,720 --> 00:45:23,060
This is a mind that That really, you
know, had something to say, but he
Speaker:
00:45:23,060 --> 00:45:25,900
never did you have a quote that sticks
out in your mind that is sort of a,
Speaker:
00:45:25,900 --> 00:45:28,360
uh, resonates that you hold on to.
Speaker:
00:45:28,510 --> 00:45:32,870
Um, well, I mean, it's, it's, you
know, I'm, I'm diverging from it and,
Speaker:
00:45:32,870 --> 00:45:35,660
and, you know, Churchill certainly
used a version of it as well, but
Speaker:
00:45:35,670 --> 00:45:37,190
the obstacle is the way, right.
Speaker:
00:45:37,190 --> 00:45:37,590
You know what I mean?
Speaker:
00:45:37,590 --> 00:45:41,460
Whatever the obstruction is actually
ends up being, ends up being the way that
Speaker:
00:45:41,470 --> 00:45:45,210
that's, that's the very definition of,
of, uh, for me of being an actor, right.
Speaker:
00:45:45,210 --> 00:45:46,600
It's like, here's this thing.
Speaker:
00:45:46,610 --> 00:45:48,090
Oh no, this isn't going to happen.
Speaker:
00:45:48,090 --> 00:45:50,270
Or they, they need this
and you can't do that.
Speaker:
00:45:50,270 --> 00:45:50,619
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:45:50,690 --> 00:45:54,450
All right, well, it's, it's really,
it's, you know, it's the art of living a
Speaker:
00:45:54,450 --> 00:45:58,090
judo lifestyle where you take the thing
that's not working and you just sort of
Speaker:
00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:00,410
Marc Preston: make it not only
use the energy to your advantage.
Speaker:
00:46:00,410 --> 00:46:00,530
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:46:00,530 --> 00:46:02,700
My grandfather always, that
was his nickname for me.
Speaker:
00:46:02,700 --> 00:46:03,100
Marcus really.
Speaker:
00:46:03,700 --> 00:46:06,640
So I've always been kind of
aware of quotes over the years
Speaker:
00:46:06,640 --> 00:46:07,460
since I was a little kid,
Speaker:
00:46:07,500 --> 00:46:08,360
Chris Diamantopoulos: philosophically
Speaker:
00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:08,730
Marc Preston: inclined.
Speaker:
00:46:08,730 --> 00:46:09,680
That's what I try to be.
Speaker:
00:46:09,910 --> 00:46:13,750
But as a kid, next question, who
was your first celebrity crush?
Speaker:
00:46:14,205 --> 00:46:15,135
Chris Diamantopoulos: Alyssa Milano.
Speaker:
00:46:15,135 --> 00:46:16,565
I think that sounds about right.
Speaker:
00:46:16,695 --> 00:46:17,595
She was on who's the boss.
Speaker:
00:46:17,815 --> 00:46:18,855
She was Samantha.
Speaker:
00:46:18,885 --> 00:46:20,085
She was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.
Speaker:
00:46:20,085 --> 00:46:20,255
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:46:20,255 --> 00:46:22,285
She was maybe a year older than me.
Speaker:
00:46:23,125 --> 00:46:23,765
Maybe a little more.
Speaker:
00:46:23,765 --> 00:46:24,085
I don't know.
Speaker:
00:46:24,085 --> 00:46:27,965
I don't know exactly, but I remember,
uh, so she would be my first crush,
Speaker:
00:46:27,965 --> 00:46:31,099
but I think the first time I was
ever aware of like va va voom.
Speaker:
00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:32,210
Was Moonraker.
Speaker:
00:46:32,540 --> 00:46:33,170
Oh, yeah.
Speaker:
00:46:33,170 --> 00:46:33,280
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:46:33,280 --> 00:46:33,569
Yeah.
Speaker:
00:46:33,570 --> 00:46:34,490
I forget who.
Speaker:
00:46:34,650 --> 00:46:35,040
Marc Preston: Yeah.
Speaker:
00:46:35,340 --> 00:46:38,120
I remember a kid I went to elementary
school with, you know, there was one guy
Speaker:
00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:40,210
had like gold or metal teeth or something.
Speaker:
00:46:40,620 --> 00:46:43,930
And the kid said, I don't want to brush my
teeth because I want to get all fillings
Speaker:
00:46:43,940 --> 00:46:45,220
so I can make my mouth look like him.
Speaker:
00:46:45,340 --> 00:46:46,860
So you just eat sugary stuff all the time.
Speaker:
00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:50,240
That's one thing I remember about
Moonraker for whatever reason,
Speaker:
00:46:50,260 --> 00:46:53,375
uh, things it's People I forget
about until I'm in an interview.
Speaker:
00:46:53,375 --> 00:46:55,395
I'm like, Oh yeah, that kid,
what her house teeth are doing.
Speaker:
00:46:55,685 --> 00:46:57,355
But the next question I got for
you, if you're going to be on an
Speaker:
00:46:57,355 --> 00:46:59,585
exotic island, you got a year,
it's a, it's a beautiful place.
Speaker:
00:46:59,585 --> 00:47:01,205
You want to be there, but
it doesn't have streaming.
Speaker:
00:47:01,665 --> 00:47:05,285
Uh, but you're going to bring one
DVD, a movie you can watch over and
Speaker:
00:47:05,285 --> 00:47:07,555
over and a CD, or I can say a box set.
Speaker:
00:47:07,555 --> 00:47:11,505
If you'd like musically a theatrical,
you got just one thing each.
Speaker:
00:47:11,505 --> 00:47:13,185
You, you got to stick with the whole year.
Speaker:
00:47:13,185 --> 00:47:14,285
What would those things be?
Speaker:
00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:15,530
So the
Speaker:
00:47:15,530 --> 00:47:18,790
Chris Diamantopoulos: movie would be
Casino Royale a which version of the box
Speaker:
00:47:18,790 --> 00:47:23,980
set would be the Daniel Craig version
of the original Daniel Craig Not Marc.
Speaker:
00:47:23,980 --> 00:47:24,230
No one.
Speaker:
00:47:24,900 --> 00:47:30,650
Come on Marc Marc get it together
man for the love of God Yeah,
Speaker:
00:47:30,650 --> 00:47:32,360
no, but I heard somewhere you can
Speaker:
00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:37,425
do a good Sean Connery though the quest
for the grail It's not archaeology.
Speaker:
00:47:37,675 --> 00:47:38,955
It's a race against evil.
Speaker:
00:47:39,185 --> 00:47:41,965
The Nazis will cover the Grail
and the armies of darkness will
Speaker:
00:47:42,105 --> 00:47:43,565
march all over the Earth forever.
Speaker:
00:47:43,795 --> 00:47:44,765
This is an obsession.
Speaker:
00:47:44,905 --> 00:47:45,935
I never understood it.
Speaker:
00:47:46,085 --> 00:47:46,555
Never.
Speaker:
00:47:46,735 --> 00:47:47,455
Neither did Mom.
Speaker:
00:47:47,465 --> 00:47:48,265
Oh, yes, she did.
Speaker:
00:47:48,865 --> 00:47:49,795
Only too well.
Speaker:
00:47:50,425 --> 00:47:51,775
She kept her illness from me.
Speaker:
00:47:52,315 --> 00:47:53,735
And all I could do was mourn her.
Speaker:
00:47:54,315 --> 00:47:56,825
Okay, uh, I gotta do the golf clap.
Speaker:
00:47:57,065 --> 00:47:58,585
You gotta get the golf clap on that, man.
Speaker:
00:47:58,615 --> 00:47:58,845
Awesome.
Speaker:
00:47:59,975 --> 00:48:00,485
That's wonderful.
Speaker:
00:48:02,025 --> 00:48:03,590
Um, Uh, let's see.
Speaker:
00:48:03,610 --> 00:48:06,200
And then, uh, the record
would be a Sinatra come fly.
Speaker:
00:48:06,200 --> 00:48:06,880
Very nice.
Speaker:
00:48:06,880 --> 00:48:07,510
Marc Preston: Very nice.
Speaker:
00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:08,670
Um, yeah.
Speaker:
00:48:08,700 --> 00:48:12,960
Now, uh, from stem to stern, beginning to
end, from the time you wake up to the time
Speaker:
00:48:12,960 --> 00:48:16,590
you go to sleep at night, what are the
component parts for you of a perfect day?
Speaker:
00:48:17,250 --> 00:48:17,620
Okay.
Speaker:
00:48:17,620 --> 00:48:19,000
The component parts for
Speaker:
00:48:19,010 --> 00:48:20,150
Chris Diamantopoulos: me of a perfect day.
Speaker:
00:48:20,220 --> 00:48:22,770
Um, all right.
Speaker:
00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:27,870
I would say waking up without
someone needing me desperately
Speaker:
00:48:27,930 --> 00:48:30,170
to do something immediately.
Speaker:
00:48:30,630 --> 00:48:34,970
Uh, you know, no children in any sense of.
Speaker:
00:48:35,430 --> 00:48:37,450
distress needing something.
Speaker:
00:48:37,580 --> 00:48:39,710
So I wake up and, well, no one needs me.
Speaker:
00:48:40,230 --> 00:48:40,930
That's pretty cool.
Speaker:
00:48:41,430 --> 00:48:45,420
Um, I get to sit out on the deck and
get a little morning sun and maybe have
Speaker:
00:48:45,420 --> 00:48:47,710
a cup of coffee peacefully and quietly.
Speaker:
00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:49,410
Then I get to come downstairs.
Speaker:
00:48:49,750 --> 00:48:51,560
And make everyone
breakfast, including myself.
Speaker:
00:48:51,780 --> 00:48:52,300
That's fun.
Speaker:
00:48:52,300 --> 00:48:54,470
And the, and the chaos and
the craziness can ensue.
Speaker:
00:48:54,990 --> 00:49:04,300
Um, I'm able to take, uh, the dog and
my wife and I take the dog for a stroll.
Speaker:
00:49:04,330 --> 00:49:09,115
And we just sort of catch up on the,
uh, On what we might have missed
Speaker:
00:49:09,275 --> 00:49:11,585
over the course of the days that we
might be might have been working.
Speaker:
00:49:11,945 --> 00:49:14,775
We plan out what we're
going to make for dinner.
Speaker:
00:49:15,275 --> 00:49:19,375
I take a brief sojourn to
come to my studio and record
Speaker:
00:49:19,765 --> 00:49:21,205
a fun little bit of animation.
Speaker:
00:49:21,605 --> 00:49:24,915
I have to finish up quickly
because I have to run.
Speaker:
00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:30,270
To Culver studios to do a reshoot on
one scene for a movie that I'm super
Speaker:
00:49:30,270 --> 00:49:32,900
excited about that's coming out, but
it's only going to take a couple hours
Speaker:
00:49:33,100 --> 00:49:36,320
and it's perfect because on my way home
from Culver, I can stop at the Marcet
Speaker:
00:49:36,460 --> 00:49:41,630
and pick up the perfect ribeye, uh,
and some nice, uh, little tidbits for a
Speaker:
00:49:41,630 --> 00:49:43,730
little, uh, crudité and a little salad.
Speaker:
00:49:44,120 --> 00:49:45,730
Um, come home.
Speaker:
00:49:46,015 --> 00:49:47,555
Kids tell me school was great.
Speaker:
00:49:47,925 --> 00:49:49,295
The fire's roaring.
Speaker:
00:49:49,655 --> 00:49:51,745
We've just gotten the
little ones to sleep.
Speaker:
00:49:52,055 --> 00:49:53,235
I make a beautiful dinner.
Speaker:
00:49:53,235 --> 00:49:57,725
We sit, we eat, and then we all chill
out watching Survivor or Shark Tank.
Speaker:
00:49:58,155 --> 00:49:58,515
Marc Preston: There's a perfect.
Speaker:
00:49:58,515 --> 00:49:58,915
Very good.
Speaker:
00:49:58,915 --> 00:49:59,205
Very good.
Speaker:
00:49:59,205 --> 00:49:59,645
My friend.
Speaker:
00:49:59,645 --> 00:50:00,875
Last question I got for you.
Speaker:
00:50:00,875 --> 00:50:01,845
A 16 year old.
Speaker:
00:50:01,845 --> 00:50:04,675
You, you're going to go, you're going
to jump in the DeLorean and go see him.
Speaker:
00:50:04,845 --> 00:50:07,755
Piece of advice to either make
that moment a little bit better or
Speaker:
00:50:07,755 --> 00:50:09,175
put you on a different trajectory.
Speaker:
00:50:09,175 --> 00:50:12,965
What's the piece of advice
to 16 year old you stop
Speaker:
00:50:12,965 --> 00:50:14,275
Chris Diamantopoulos:
asking if they like you.
Speaker:
00:50:14,865 --> 00:50:16,335
It doesn't matter either way.
Speaker:
00:50:16,905 --> 00:50:20,145
And if you ask and get the honest
answer, you're really going to
Speaker:
00:50:20,145 --> 00:50:21,625
be disappointed with that answer.
Speaker:
00:50:21,805 --> 00:50:22,215
So just
Speaker:
00:50:22,225 --> 00:50:22,715
Marc Preston: carry on.
Speaker:
00:50:22,785 --> 00:50:23,295
Awesome.
Speaker:
00:50:23,295 --> 00:50:23,615
My friend.
Speaker:
00:50:23,615 --> 00:50:24,255
Thank you so much.
Speaker:
00:50:24,305 --> 00:50:26,145
Uh, you've been generous with your time.
Speaker:
00:50:26,155 --> 00:50:29,105
Um, go have a great weekend and, uh,
hopefully we'll catch up down the line.
Speaker:
00:50:29,275 --> 00:50:29,715
Appreciate it.
Speaker:
00:50:29,965 --> 00:50:31,685
Thanks for your time and your generosity.
Speaker:
00:50:33,605 --> 00:50:33,785
Okay.
Speaker:
00:50:33,785 --> 00:50:34,235
There you go.
Speaker:
00:50:34,265 --> 00:50:35,925
Chris Diamantopoulos.
Speaker:
00:50:35,975 --> 00:50:37,425
What a cool dude.
Speaker:
00:50:37,705 --> 00:50:40,795
Uh, stage TV film voiceover.
Speaker:
00:50:40,795 --> 00:50:42,145
He is doing it all.
Speaker:
00:50:42,325 --> 00:50:44,415
Like I mentioned, he
is kind of a chameleon.
Speaker:
00:50:44,625 --> 00:50:47,445
You know, he does things from
being the bad guy in the movie
Speaker:
00:50:47,445 --> 00:50:49,685
Red Notice to being Mickey Mouse.
Speaker:
00:50:49,745 --> 00:50:52,845
I really enjoyed sitting down
with him and I appreciate you
Speaker:
00:50:52,845 --> 00:50:54,275
stopping by to check it out.
Speaker:
00:50:54,475 --> 00:50:58,225
Again, the new show on Prime
Video is called The Sticky.
Speaker:
00:50:58,455 --> 00:51:01,135
It is funny, really cool,
something kind of different.
Speaker:
00:51:01,145 --> 00:51:03,895
I enjoyed a few episodes over
the weekend and this week I'm
Speaker:
00:51:03,895 --> 00:51:05,165
going to finish up the series.
Speaker:
00:51:05,175 --> 00:51:06,245
So, check it out.
Speaker:
00:51:06,265 --> 00:51:06,925
Good stuff.
Speaker:
00:51:07,115 --> 00:51:09,155
Hey, do me a favor as I always ask you.
Speaker:
00:51:09,295 --> 00:51:10,715
If you would, a little love.
Speaker:
00:51:10,775 --> 00:51:15,725
Pop on over to story
and craft pod.com/rate.
Speaker:
00:51:16,015 --> 00:51:19,195
That's story and craft pod.com/rate.
Speaker:
00:51:19,465 --> 00:51:22,795
Uh, just go ahead and leave a
review, drop some stars, if you will.
Speaker:
00:51:22,825 --> 00:51:25,495
It's a great way for people
to find story and craft.
Speaker:
00:51:25,495 --> 00:51:28,975
And of course, uh, when you're on the
website you can find out everything
Speaker:
00:51:28,975 --> 00:51:32,665
you could possibly want to know about
the show, past guests, past episodes.
Speaker:
00:51:33,390 --> 00:51:34,240
It's all right there.
Speaker:
00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:34,662
Storyandcraftpod.
Speaker:
00:51:34,662 --> 00:51:35,085
com.
Speaker:
00:51:35,085 --> 00:51:40,156
And of course, don't forget to
like and follow Story and Craft.
Speaker:
00:51:40,156 --> 00:51:44,160
That way you get notified every
time a new episode comes out.
Speaker:
00:51:44,440 --> 00:51:44,720
Okay.
Speaker:
00:51:44,740 --> 00:51:46,840
So I'm going to jump on out of here again.
Speaker:
00:51:46,870 --> 00:51:51,290
I so appreciate you making whatever I
got going on part of what you've got
Speaker:
00:51:51,300 --> 00:51:52,870
going on, no matter what you're doing.
Speaker:
00:51:53,085 --> 00:51:56,835
Exercising, walking the dog, or
maybe, you know, kind of what I enjoy
Speaker:
00:51:56,865 --> 00:52:00,855
doing, listening to podcasts in the
car whenever I'm, uh, driving about.
Speaker:
00:52:01,015 --> 00:52:02,405
So, thank you again.
Speaker:
00:52:02,505 --> 00:52:05,655
Going to be back in a few days,
another fun episode for you,
Speaker:
00:52:05,765 --> 00:52:07,535
right here on Story Craft.
Speaker:
00:52:07,535 --> 00:52:10,095
Announcer: That's it for
this episode of Story Craft.
Speaker:
00:52:10,405 --> 00:52:14,775
Join Marc next week for more
conversation, right here on Story Craft.
Speaker:
00:52:15,225 --> 00:52:19,095
Story Craft is a presentation of
Marc Preston Productions, LLC.
Speaker:
00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:22,430
Executive producer is Marc Preston.
Speaker:
00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:25,240
Associate producer is Zachary Holden.
Speaker:
00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:28,910
Please rate and review Story
Craft on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker:
00:52:29,180 --> 00:52:33,630
Don't forget to subscribe to the
show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
Speaker:
00:52:33,630 --> 00:52:35,290
or your favorite podcast app.
Speaker:
00:52:35,310 --> 00:52:38,250
You can subscribe to show
updates and stay in the know.
Speaker:
00:52:38,410 --> 00:52:40,680
Just head to storyandcraftpod.
Speaker:
00:52:40,710 --> 00:52:42,530
com and sign up for the newsletter.
Speaker:
00:52:43,100 --> 00:52:43,840
I'm Emma Dylan.
Speaker:
00:52:44,410 --> 00:52:45,210
See you next time.
Speaker:
00:52:45,380 --> 00:52:47,790
And remember, keep telling your story.

Chris Diamantopoulos
Actor
A true shapeshifter with a diverse career, actor Chris Diamantopoulos continues to find success in TV, Film, Broadway, animation, narration, and commercial work. He can be seen as JQ in Peacock’s MRS. DAVIS as well as starring in highly anticipated MGM feature THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, directed by acclaimed filmmaker George Clooney. Chris was most recently cast as the lead in THE STICKY, an upcoming Amazon show produced by Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis. He most recently starred alongside Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds in the hit Netflix film RED NOTICE. The globe-trotting heist thriller is Netflix’s biggest and most watched blockbuster to date, breaking viewership records upon release. Chris is instantly recognizable from his work on the critically acclaimed HBO comedy series SILICON VALLEY, where he portrayed infamous series regular RUSS HANNEMAN, for which he also is the face of the real-life tequila TRÉS COMAS.
Ever the chameleon, Chris maintains a standout TV career, recently seen starring opposite Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes in the acclaimed Netflix limited series TRUE STORY, which ruled Netflix’s “Top 10” charts. Prior, Chris starred in Bryan Cranston’s THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS on Amazon, Pop TV's LET'S GET PHYSICAL opposite Jane Seymour, and the critically acclaimed period drama series GOOD GIRLS REVOLT for Amazon Studios. In addition to his noteworthy performance in SILICON VALLEY, Chris has proven himself to be an experienced comedy star, having played memorable characters on the Netflix revival of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and the f… Read More