Daryl Mitchell – Fear the Walking Dead

By starrymag | August 18, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

A) I’m in the process of trying to executive produce a project. I’m going to wait for it to get off the ground before I speak on it. I’m trying to work on some behind the scenes stuff.

Q) You’re incredible as the comic relief on “Fear the Walking Dead.”

A) Oh yeah. But I’m about my business, now. That’s a fun character to play.

Q) How do you get into character for Wendell?

A) The thing about that character is he uses comedy to cover his fear. That’s the thing, he goes into this commando mode for survival. It’s an all-or-nothing type of attitude. Again, it’s almost like taking on an alter-ego to protect yourself. Sometimes you’re truly afraid for various reasons that take over or you can succumb to. So, he uses that whole macho funny thing. And I kind of lived that for a while.

Q) We love when you team up with Sarah. Talk about working with costar Mo Collins.

A) I love Mo! It’s funny. I have a Winnebago, which they use to transport me to and from work. On the first day they had a little van. When they pulled up with my van Mo jumped right in. I told her not to worry about it because we were going to the same place. That was my first encounter meeting Mo and we laughed all the way to set and when they said “wrap” she jumped back in my van and we rode back to the hotel. We laughed to and from and it was just a great energy, which turned into a beautiful comradery and it’s a connection. That moment could have really, truly defined (which it did) where we were going to be in this saga. It was definitely by the grace of God that she loved me and I loved her.

Q) What continues to challenge you about portraying Wendell?

A) The terrain in which we shoot on can be challenging because they just go on and sometimes I think they forget…In my chair I’d probably be fine, but the chair that I work in is from the apocalypse so it’s clunky and has a lot of things on it (weapons and stuff like that), which makes it a little heavier than an average chair. That’s why a lot of times you see me get pushed around and a lot of that stuff on there is heavy.

Q) I’m sure a lot fans ask you about what it would be like for you in an apocalypse in your chair.

A) All the time. That’s the first question. That’s one of their first questions, “How would you survive in an apocalypse?” But after they see all the weapons that I have and how I utilize them…Not only that, but how protective everybody is about Wendell as far as making sure he’s alright, protected and in position. That’s how to make it in the world. Nobody survives alone. Everybody depends on everybody.

Q) This season was there someone in particular you were hoping to share more scenes with?

A) I’m loving the relationship that is coming between Wendell and the younger ones. In real life, children feel really comfortable when it comes to me because I’m down on their level so I’m not intimidating. It’s always been that way all my life. When I’d go to school to pick up my kids, all their friends would come running to me because I didn’t seem intimidating. I wasn’t towering over them. So, when I had the scene with Charlie (Alexa Nisenson) inside the truck we were waiting to see how we were going to get out of there…It turned out to be a beautiful situation. The children, I think they calm Wendell. They are calming, trustworthy and approachable where with the adults (for the most part) are going to have an angle. Then, if they have to sacrifice you for them to live that’s going to happen. With a kid they are like, “We’re going to save Wendell.” They don’t have that self-preservation. They have to look out for Uncle Wendell.

Q) What have been some of your favorite moments from filming?

A) One of my favorites was when I first met Austin [Amelio]. We had a scene we had to shoot where we had to get out of there real fast. They had Austin pushing my chair and a walker got too close. So, as it got close, I kind of slapped his hand away like, “Get your hand off me walker!” And we kept rolling and Austin lost it. He laughed the rest of the night. He would just look at me and bust out! He was rolling! Right from that point, I was like, “This my dude, right here. This is my dude!” So, that was one of my favorite moments. Me and Mo laugh all the time, but I had just met Austin so I didn’t know what type of guy he was. When I slapped that walker’s hand and he couldn’t stop laughing I was like, “Aww buddy! This is going to be my pal here.”

Q) What have you taken away from your time working on “Fear the Walking Dead?”

A) Well, it takes me outside more than I would do on an average in real life because we’re dealing with constantly moving and having to deal with the elements that I normally wouldn’t have to do. Most of the time on “NCIS” I’m in the house and getting rest for the next day and that’s fine. But with “Fear,” it keeps me outside longer than the average amount of time than I would normally spend in my usual circumstances. And it’s great fun. It’s great. Not that I’m a hermit, but the thing is with “NCIS” everything is in the studio. So, you leave in the dark and you come home in the dark. It’s just laying down because you’re getting ready for the next day. You have an early call time when you go in. You might come out for lunch for a bit and then go back into the studio. So, all the work is done inside for me because I’m at the computer. For “Fear,” all the work is done outside. It’s the total opposite and I like it. I love it. I love fishing and doing all of that stuff. It’s just the fact I’m not outside every day. With “Fear,” it’s scheduled and I’m outside eight days.

Q) What has it meant to you to be a part of “NCIS?”

A) It has shown me that this is something that I was truly made to do. And it helped me because of the fact that the crew after work (working with them for five seasons going on six) is truly like a family. They all look out for me and make sure that I’m taken care of. They start to recognize things they see on the set. If they see something that they think is going to be in my way or impede my movement they are on it! Now their eyes are trained to it and it’s a good feeling. Now, even when they are away from me, they come tell me stories about how they are looking at handicapped parking spots and things like that. It shows that they love me and that’s the cool thing about that. It still gives you a good feeling that there are still good people in the world on the things we see together.

Q) Do you get recognized more for working on “Fear the Walking Dead” or “NCIS?”

A) It’s interesting because the demographics of each show is different. I think the “NCIS” franchise has been on for a while that people will recognize you and my body of work. But with “Fear” I think the audience is more concentrated because they are sticklers for details and they really pay attention to the moving pieces. They are protective of the characters. Meaning, they are going to pay attention that nobody dies that they like. Storyline, they are very detailed. I think the different thing about “Fear” and “NCIS,” for the most part, is somebody has to get killed and we have to solve the crime. With “Fear” I think the stories vary so much, much more than “NCIS” can do. Even though they have different locations for “NCIS,” it is extravagant and different. But the storyline is intertwined of these people. People really pay attention to the character. It’s almost a 50/50 thing because there are two different demographics. That “Fear” is a beast.” It’s a beast.

Q) How do you balance working on two different genre of shows at once?

A) It’s a blessing to have great producers and also two networks that are willing to work it out and willing to become a part of my campaign. They are committed to diversity and they really value the importance of me being on the shows. They spoke to me about it. I couldn’t do it without them agreeing. As long as it doesn’t compromise my health or my ability to do one of the shows or my main show then everybody is on board. That’s the main thing.

Q) You have had quite a career! What have been some of your favorite projects to work on?

A) Galaxy Quest was one with Tim Allen. He was a crackup! House Party is definitely in my top five because it’s the first time I got to work with the good Robin Harris and the Huffman brothers. “The John Larroquette Show” definitely because that’s where I cut my teeth on four-camera. Working with him taught me about my comedic chops and how to just be in the moment. I have to say, “NCIS” and “Fear” as well. Inside Man was incredible watching Willem Dafoe and Denzel Washington go at it. It was just like, “WOW!” Spike Lee had to remind me I was in the scene because I was a fan. It was like watching a tennis match. Spike was like, “Chill, you’re in the scene!” I was like, “Oh…I forgot.” I was watching them and I truly turned into a fan.

Q) We also loved you in 10 Things I Hate About You.

A) That was another dope one and I miss my boy Heath Ledger. I miss him so. He was so funny! I don’t think people know how funny he was. I think he wanted to do comedy, but he just was too pretty. It was just morphed into “pretty boy syndrome” where he was doing romantic movies. You see all that dancing, clowning and singing in the school and he was running around the bleachers…Dude was funny! He really truly was funny.

Q) You frequently work with Martin Lawrence. What makes it so enjoyable to collaborate with him so often?

A) Me and Martin had a personal relationship before we did movies. I can’t say that…After we did House Party 1 me and Martin stayed close. He would come to New York and I would actually go pick him up in my own personal vehicle from the airport (that was before he was on the level where he was doing it). We would go around and he’d stay with me in Long Island. One thing about it is he said to me, “As long as I am working you will always have a job.” And every time he did a movie, he would call me. Every time. He was like, “I’ve got a role for you. I’ve got a role I think you’d be good for.” He had called me for his show, but working with him started to get me exposed to producers and that’s when they called me for “The Larroquette Show.” So, it was a matter do I do “Larroquette” or do I do “Martin?” What made me make my decision was thinking, “Most African American shows don’t last that long.” John Larroquette was just coming off “Night Court.” So, it was a matter of making a big decision. He said he understood. I had the same situation with George Lopez. I could do his show or “Ed.”

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the fan feedback you receive to your work?

A) Sure! I really do. It’s a new way of communicating and it takes some getting used to. People out there will say some things and it’s not going to work in your favor. People have a vehicle to express public opinion and it’s there. So, you have to take the good with the bad. You gotta do it. 50 Cent has a little joke called “Where’s my money?” and basically the skit was I owed him money and he took one of the wheels off my chair for collateral. Then, I gave the money back. Man! That thing went viral in two days! So, you have to go to Instagram to 50’s page to see the skit. Some people were outraged because they thought it was real and some people thought it was the funniest one that he’s done. It was hilarious!

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do?

A) Oh my God! They give me the energy to go. There are some people that I have no choice but to have a conversation when they hit me up. I read the story and I listen to them and they tell me, “You give me the gas in my tank to do what I do.” Sometimes people ask me to pray with them and for them. And I do. I just continue to hope people understand and that you care. Follow me and I correspond.

 

 

Follow Daryl “Chill” Mitchell: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/darylchillmitch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darylchillmitchell/