Mike Ostroski – Fuller House

By starrymag | October 8, 2017

By: Marc Regen

 

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

 

A) Most recently I’ve been working on both “Fuller House”on Netflix and “Henry Danger” on Nickelodeon.

 

Q) How would you describe your character Mr. Byenburg on “Fuller House?”

 

A) Mr. Byenburg is a passionate high school teacher who loves his job and his students, but who may very well be going through several midlife crisis all at the same time.  He’s struggling, but he’s fighting the good fight.

 

Q) What is your biggest take away from working with the cast of “Fuller House?”

 

A) They are truly a family.  I attended the season wrap party and they played a few videos that included photo/footage montages of rehearsals and of the show itself as well as bloopers.  There was such joy in the room as they celebrated together.  You can feel how much they love each other – the entire cast and crew.  It’s really beautiful.

 

Q) Do you share any similar characteristics with your character, Mr. Byenburg?

 

A) [laughs]  Absolutely. I have a bad habit sometimes of trying way too hard to get something right.  Mr. Byenburg is exceptional at this.  He worries a lot about getting it just right, whatever it may be.

 

Q) How did you feel when you learned you got the role on “Fuller House?”

 

A) I was ecstatic.  I loved watching “Full House” growing up and was, of course, thrilled to be a part of “Fuller House.”  And it’s been a gift that has kept unfolding.  It started as just one episode.  This has led to another and another.  Each one has been just as exciting as the previous one.  I’m definitely not taking any of them for granted.

 

Q) You are also back reprising your role on Nickelodeon’s “Henry Danger.” Were you doing double time filming both shows?

 

A) No, that hasn’t happened as of yet.  I know that filming two shows at once does happen often, but the scheduling gods have been smiling upon me so far.

 

Q) Can you describe a favorite experience on the set of “Henry Danger” and “Fuller House?”

 

A) There have been so many on each of them.  One that comes to mind immediately for “Henry Danger” was a time when I had booked a flight to go back home and see my family.  My nieces had asked if I would visit their classes to talk about being on the show.  I, of course, agreed – and then found out that I was scheduled to shoot another episode.  I had to cancel my trip and I felt terrible.  I wanted to make it up to my nieces and so I asked Cooper [Barnes] and Jace [Norman] (Captain Man and Kid Danger) if they would make a little video with me to share with my nieces.  They said absolutely.  We made it on a break during rehearsal.  They were awesome.  Their generosity and enthusiasm are continually inspiring.  And the video has a huge hit with my nieces.  I was forgiven.

 

And on “Fuller House” Juan Pablo Di Pace, who plays Fernando on the show and is just amazing, came up to me after my first episode and said that I was doing a great job and that maybe Mr. Byenburg should get his own show.  It was such a compliment coming from him.  He’s so funny.  Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive.

 

Q) When did you know that you wanted to pursue acting?

 

A) I was always so excited about acting and theatre as a kid, but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school when it really hit me that I wanted to make this my life.  Fiddler on the Roof set the course!  Go high school musicals!

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you’ll receive to your role on “Fuller House?”

 

A) I would be honored to hear how people receive the show and my work on it.  Ideally, the goal is to do what we do to be of service, to serve our audience as best we can.  To hear how they resonate with the work is always such a gift.

 

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching this season of Fuller House?

 

A) I hope they take away a lot of great memories from the show.  I hope it brings them joy.  There’s so much challenge in the world at the moment.  We need as much joy as we can find.  And when we find it, we need to share as much as we can with as many people as we can.