John C. McGinley says that his admiration for Steve Carell once led him to take on a very small role for the opportunity to work with the actor.
Speaking at the premiere of the new series Rooster in New York City on March 3 Scrubs star described Carell as one of the most impressive artists he has worked with.
“He is the most cerebrally agile and agile actor I have ever worked with,” said the 66-year-old McGinley. “And able to turn on a dime with such elegance and grace that you can’t even believe what just happened.”
He added that Carell, famous for his role as Michael Scott in The officecould deliver comedy unlike any other he had seen.
McGinley said his respect for Carell was so strong that he accepted a small role in the 2017 film Battle of the sexes just to share the set with him. The film is based on the famous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, played by Emma Stone and Carell.
“I admire him so much,” McGinley said. “I had a small role in the Billie Jean King movie, the Bobby Riggs movie. I only did it because I wanted to work with him. I was practically an extra, and I didn’t care.”
When asked if he reminded Carell of their first meeting, McGinley joked, “Of course. He acted like he remembered. He didn’t. I was an extra.”
In Rooster, McGinley plays college dean Walter Mann, who encourages Carell’s character, best-selling author Greg Russo, to take up teaching. The role also brings Greg closer to his daughter Katie, played by Charly Clive, a professor going through a rough patch.
The series also stars Danielle Deadwyler, Alan Ruck, Phil Dunster and Lauren Tsai. It was created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses.
McGinley has also reunited with Lawrence for the revival of Scrubswhich premiered in February, with the actor reprising his role as Dr. Perry Cox opposite Zach Braff reprized.
Rooster premieres March 8 at 10pm ET on HBO.
