“Honestly, I pursued acting and standup at the same time, but I never really got as many opportunities in acting. In standup, you have a little more control over your own destiny,” said Jim Gaffigan, one of the most well-known comedians alive today.
“But also, the most fulfilling characters to portray, end up being dramatic roles. So, over the years, finding creative fulfillment in stand-up, writing, or acting, I selfishly choose the things that are the most rewarding,” said Gaffigan. “The roles I turn down, I know from experience, aren’t going to be as rewarding.”
Past the point of “dying to be in a movie,” Gaffigan has found his own niche as “a partner in the creative process.” This was perhaps most clear while working on The Jim Gaffigan Show in 2015 and 2016. That experience inspired him to know look for the type of person he needed to make each episode a success.
“It’s been an evolution. Obviously I love getting laughs, but playing Cameron and Kent in Linoleum, there’s a different level of fulfillment and complexity that is more rewarding than being in a screwball comedy.”
Linoleum, written and directed by Colin West and co-starring Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), the story follows the host of a failing children’s science show who tries to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut by building a rocket ship in his garage.
“This movie presents these questions, like what is success, what is the true meaning of life, what are we trying to accomplish? There’s part of me that thinks this movie is just a big love story. When we talk about other people, we can see selflessness and longevity as beautiful, but when we look at it ourselves, we don’t necessarily see that.”
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