Barry Corbin – One Tree Hill

Q) What are the current projects that you are working on?

A) I’ve got six movies in various stages of completion. I know one is finished and going to video. It’s called Rivers End. I did a picture in the summer with The Cohen Brothers called No Country For Old Men. I did another one in Las Vegas about a poker tournament called The Grand. I also did a couple of short films, one called Death in the Woods and another one called Trail End. I did Beautiful Dreamer, which will be featured in the North Carolina “Cackalacky Film Festival” on October 21st, as well. I’ve got several that are going to come out within a year, I think about five.

Q) Please tell us about your character Whitey Durham on the show “One Tree Hill.”

A) There is not much to tell! He’s a basketball coach and this season they’re going to get to the finals at the state championship. I couldn’t tell you whether or not we’re going to win. Whitey is a guy who has been coaching for roughly forty years and is about to retire. He’s playing his last season.

Q) What is new or different about the show and your character this season?

A) So far this season, I am in a few more episodes. In the last few seasons, I’ve been in about half the show. My character is pretty much constant and the same throughout. He’s kind of the balance of the show and keeps things on an even keel. As far as changes on the show, there are several more complications in there. They don’t want me to talk too much about it because it’ll ruin the surprise for people. They warned us not to say too much. I am kind of tied down.

Q) What made you originally want to be on the show?

A) I liked the dynamic of it. I look at the entire script first and I liked the pilot script. I also liked the people who were doing the show. It’s kind of an instinctive thing when you commit to a television series. You either have to commit to completely do it or pass it by. This was the kind of show I felt I could commit myself to.

Q) What is it about the role that continues to challenge you?

A) One challenge is the fact that all the other characters in the show are in flux. They’re going from one extreme to another. The thing that is challenging, to me, is to find a way to play this really stable character in a way that is both interesting to the audience and to me. Sometimes it’s difficult to do. You’ve got to get some kind of a balance there that is not predictable. The challenge for me is to play this predictable character in a very unpredictable way.

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming?

A) There was a speech in last season when I talked to the team about how I got my nickname and how the gym we were playing in was meaningful to me. It went back to my days as a high school basketball player. It was kind of a funny thing. It was a little over a page of monologue that was funny, but also very moving. That was memorable to me because some of the kids on the team actually cried while I was filming it. That was kind of gratifying.

Q) Why do you think the show continues to draw in so many viewers?

A) It’s interesting the comments and mail that I get. I thought at first it was going to be a show that appealed mainly to people in high school. Apparently, a lot of people are watching with their kids and get caught up in the stories of the adults. It seems to have a very wide appeal with all the viewers. Very few people my age watch it, but that’s fine because it is a new audience for me. People from junior high up until their thirties tell me how much they enjoy it. It’s gratifying that it’s not just one small demographic because it’s fairly widespread. I think it appeals to people on so many different levels.

Q) You have such a dramatic flair. What is it about acting that gives you such passion?

A) To me, it’s the thing that I’ve always wanted to do from the time I was a child. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to do it. Each time I go on the set it’s something new for me. I’ve never been bored with it at all. With any other person you have high moments and you have long periods of boredom or going on automatic pilot, as they say. In my business, you can’t do that. You have to be in the moment at all times. It’s really a kind of like a dream come true that I’m able to do this. A lot of people are happy doing it and a lot of people that start out as actors go into directing or something else. I write a little bit, but acting is my first love.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) When I am at home, I am working in the barn, riding horses or taking care of horses. I used to do competitive riding, but I don’t do that anymore because I don’t have time to ride on a regular basis. I get a little rusty on that, but I do enjoy keeping my horses tuned up and in good shape.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you for your support! That’s the main thing. Without an audience, you don’t amount to much. Anybody can act in a vacuum, but it means very little unless you have people who are supporting you and watching.