Richard Schiff
Actor
About This Interview
In his three-and-a-half hour Archive interview, actor Richard Schiff talks about his early interest in television and how he learned from watching classic shows like The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy. He describes his time at City College in New York and his fascination with directing, chronicles his transition to acting, and recalls his early television roles. He speaks of his roles in Steven Spielberg's "The Lost World," as well as in Picket Fences, LA Law and NYPD Blue. He discusses acting in the short-lived series Relativity and how he came to be cast in The West Wing. Schiff then details his experience on The West Wing as "Toby Ziegler", including working with the large ensemble cast, creator Aaron Sorkin, and director Thomas Schlamme. He outlines the cultural impact of the show and speaks of the evolution of his character throughout the run of the program. He talks about how the television industry has changed since The West Wing, how he deals with auditions, and what he hopes his legacy will be. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on June 3, 2010.
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Highlights
Richard Schiff on waiting for the right roles to come along and getting cast in The West Wing
Clip begins at: 14:48, Duration: 12m 56s- Richard Schiff on visiting the real Oval Office
Clip begins at: 34:51, Duration: 04m 05s 
Richard Schiff on reaction to The West Wing from real life politicians
Clip begins at: 41:36, Duration: 03m 48s- Richard Schiff on getting a letter from Hillary Clinton
Clip begins at: 38:57, Duration: 02m 39s - Richard Schiff on The West Wing episode "In Excelsis Deo"
Clip begins at: 03:59, Duration: 06m 57s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his early life and influences; on television shows he watched growing up; on his high school years
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On his college years; on doing theater in New York City; on his fear of acting
Clip begins at: 14:51 - On directing; on his first television acting job; on various television roles
Clip begins at: 35:40 - On appearing in Murphy Brown with Candice Bergen; on the unsold pilot Insecurity; on acting in the show Relativity
Clip begins at: 44:23 - Part 2
- On getting cast in Steven Spielberg's "The Lost World"; on appearing on Picket Fences; on appearing on NYPD Blue
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On getting cast in The West Wing; on his The West Wing Character "Toby Ziegler"
Clip begins at: 14:48 - On the pilot for The West Wing; on preparing for his role in The West Wing; on visiting the real life Oval Office; on his The West Wing character "Toby Ziegler"
Clip begins at: 30:08 - On working with Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme on The West Wing; on public reaction to The West Wing
Clip begins at: 44:12 - Part 3
- On the cast of The West Wing; on The West Wing episode "In Excelsis Deo"; on his Emmy for the show
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On The West Wing episode "Seventeen People"; on his The West Wing character "Toby Ziegler"; on his politics in relation to the show
Clip begins at: 14:49 - On the influence of currents events on The West Wing; on how his West Wing Character "Toby Ziegler" changed over the course of the show; on The West Wing and 9/11 and politicians reactions to the show
Clip begins at: 29:43 - On the cultural impact of The West Wing; on directing The West Wing; on the direction his character took after Aaron Sorkin left the show
Clip begins at: 45:24 - Part 4
- On difficulties with his character "Toby Ziegler" in the final year of The West Wing; on type casting, various movie roles, and returning to theater; on then-current television projects
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the legacy of The West Wing; on how television has changed; on auditioning, his proudest career achievement, and how he'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 15:55
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