Louis Herthum – Westworld

By starrymag | April 29, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

 

A) My recent feature films yet to be released are LAbyrinth with Johnny Depp, I STILL SEE YOU with Bella Thorn and Dermot Mulroney and CADAVER with Shay Mitchell. My guest starring roles of late are “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams,” “Narcos” (Season 3) and “Lucifer,” which aired on April 23.

 

Q) What can you tease is in store for Season 2 of “Westworld” and your character Peter Abernathy?

 

A) That’s a tough question since I can’t really tell you much of anything. But…I can tell you that there are many, many surprises in store for fans. As for Peter, specifically, he is no longer in cold storage. He is loaded with data and I would think some folks will want to find him.

 

Q) How was Peter originally described to you?

 

A) I didn’t audition for Peter initially. I read for another role, but everyone had to read the same sides that showed their ability to be a host. So, when I was given the role of Peter, I was like, “Who’s Peter Abernathy?” I was simply told that he was the rancher father of the lead character. Not until I read the script did I get any real info on him.

 

Q) Was there anything you added to your character that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

 

A) If you mean dialogue, no. Not a word. And I wouldn’t presume to do so because the scripts are so brilliant. All I can take credit for, as far as what was mine and mine alone, would be the mannerisms when Peter is glitching.

 

Q) What have you found the most challenging aspect of portraying this character?

 

A) Without a doubt it would be creating what I hoped to be a believable glitching host/robot. I had brought a lot of what you see in the scene with Sir Anthony (in the pilot) to the audition, but I did rehearse what I was going to ultimately do in that scene with Jonah [Nolan] and Lisa [Joy] after being cast. So, once they were happy with it, I was ready to go.

 

Q) With all the location settings for the series is there someone you haven’t worked with yet that you’d like to have a future scene with?

 

A) [laughs] Very cleaver questions…Though it does seem to be fishing a bit… But, yes, there is…Everyone in the cast that I have yet to work with. [winks]

 

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “Westworld?”

A) My first day, first scene was when Peter was put into cold storage. So, walking naked into a room full of naked people, in front of a lot of clothed (crew) people was certainly memorable. Being out in the middle of nowhere in Moab, Utah filming the scene where Peter finds the photo in the dirt was simply a spectacular setting and very memorable. But without question, the most memorable moment was working with and doing the scene with Anthony Hopkins. It’s gonna be hard to top that moving on in my career.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has made it such a fan favorite series?

 

A) I think it is because it is so immensely different from anything that has ever made its way to television. Also, it’s demand on the viewer to pay attention to the degree no other TV series in history has done. The pedigree of the show is also an attraction, from cast and crew to producer’s. And lastly, because it seems so frighteningly real. And we aren’t very far from this being a reality. In so much as AI could very well, very soon, rule the world. Westworld is a cautionary tale if ever there was one. And Jonah and Lisa are keenly aware of that.

 

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

 

A) I am though I don’t consider myself very good at it. I have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, but I am not as active as many are. And certainly not as active as many actors on TV series are. But yes, I love interacting with fans and receiving their instant feedback. I would like to apologize however, to all my followers for being lax with my tweets and postings, etc. But I do GREATLY appreciate those who follow me. I am genuinely flattered by it.

 

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

 

A) Well, I touched on this in my last answer but I would like to say that after thirty-five plus years in this business it is most gratifying to have ANYONE recognize my work on the scale that is currently the case. When I moved to L.A. in 1982 I was sure I would become rich and famous. That was the goal. Very soon after I realized that the more realistic goal was simply to get work! Any work. As for being famous, that holds very little interest for me now though if it were to happen, I would and could deal with it. However, I do wish, as I think any actor would, to berecognizedfor my work and the abilities I have developed over the years as an actor. Having fans, in any number really, validates that and lets me know that it was all worth it. For that I am so grateful to them all! And I think they know that. At least I hope they do.

 

 

Follow Louis Herthum On Twitter:

@Louis_Herthum