Gary Cole is best known for his roles in "Office Space", as Mike Brady in "The Brady Bunch Movie " revival franchise, NCIS, Veep and his countless roles in TV and film. Now he's back on stage where his career began at Steppenwolf more than 40 years ago.
"It's incredible. To be back working here in this building, I can't describe the flood of memories that is passing through me over decades. Beginning here, we all lived and dreamt about working as a ensemble. I was fortunate enough to do my first show in the first show in the church basement in Highland Park then. I wasn't an official member then but was ten years later," he recalled.
Cole hasn't be on stage in Chicago in 25 years. He's now in rehearsals for a three person show "Catch as Catch Can".
"I picked a hell of a play to come back to, " he laughed.
Cole and two other actors, Co Artistic Director Audrey Francis and ensemble member Tim Hopper, play dual roles across genders. He says it's one of the more challenging performances of his stage career.
"This play challenges every instinct, and aspect you have to deal with as an actor. It's all over the place. From accents, to gender switching and the play itself is challenging, there are several difference kinds of tones going on. There are almost farcical moments going on, they are almost fleeting. It's' comedy and then it becomes dark. There are a lot of abrupt gear shifts but that's what makes this play so unique." he said.
When he got the call to do this play to round out the Theater's 50th anniversary, he said he had to think about it, but knew it would be a great reunion of sorts as his long time friend and colleague Amy Morton, from Oak Park, was directing.
"When I first heard about this, Amy was going to be the director and to me, that sealed the deal. I looked at this play and thought, wow, this is going to be difficult but I couldn't think of anybody better who would have a handle on this. I've spent a lot of time on stage with Amy, I've watched Amy and if there is somebody that 100% captures the right tone in a play, she does it seemingly without effort and I knew that's what this play would require. Because she has a vision as a director and ability as an actress. She knows what we are going through so it's comforting. Lifetime friendships and the spirit of Chicago is why I came back. " he smiled.
Since his breakout performance as convicted killer Jeffrey McDonald in the 1984 miniseries “Fatal Vision,” the actor has worked primarily in television and in the cult comedies “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “The Brady Bunch Movie” franchise and “Office Space,” among others.
"That role as Jeffrey McDonald was crazy. This was right out of college. I had done a very small part on camera before but this was definitely a baptism. I was so grateful and thrilled that I got this job and all the sudden I'm standing there and I'm working with half the cast of "On The Waterfront", Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint and one of my heroes from childhood Andy Griffith. I was kind of out of body. I kind of absorbed everything. If it was challenging, I was too, joyful to be there to be burdened by it. There was a great writer, an accomplished director who knew I didn't know anything about television. I was in good hands for my first time," he smiled. "That was a pretty large does of true crime television in 1984. The height of the mini series."
Actor Gary Cole, in rehearsals for "Catch as Catch Can", Steppenwolf Theater Company
Steppenwolf Theater Company
The majority of Cole's career has been in TV and film. He says getting back on stage after so long is a bit daunting.
"I don't think I have a preference but there is nothing matching the challenge of sustaining something for a period of time in front of an audience. There is no net. You can't just ask to start over," he laughed. "Just that aspect alone is something that you can't recreate that anywhere but on stage. It's a bit terrifying since it's been so long. Yesterday, I had a few terrifying moments but I've felt that before. There's something about that kind of terror that is kind of the excitement of being on stage live."
Cole says coming back to Chicago, he can't help but reminisce about his first apartment with fellow actor William Peterson.
"We had a studio apartment. I put a mattress in the closet and the mattress barely fit. Billy put his mattress in an alcove. It was the last house on Sheridan rode before the cemetery so we had a lot of spirits nearby. We didn't care because we were going to be actors in Chicago," he laughed.
Actors and ensemble members Gary Cole & Audrey Francis (Co-Artistic Director) outside of Steppenwolf Theater Company
Lisa Fielding/WBBM Newsradio
Cole says he's loved being back to Chicago after so many years. He says he plans on a little Lou Malnati's pizza (thin crust), and a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
"I've walked around this neighborhood, a lot has changed. I used to be able to see more of the sky back then. I also used to live above G-Man, Gingerman in Wrigleyville and I used to hang there until it closed at 2a every night. I used to hang out at a lot of establishments but I'm too old and too tired to frequent those places anymore," he laughed.
Performing before Chicago audiences again is something he says he looks forward to.
"Audiences here aren't judgmental. There's a support that you can feel. People are grateful to be there and that's something unique." he smiled.
You can check out Cole in "Catch as Catch Can' at Steppenwolf through July 12th. Tickets are available here .
