Sean Price Williams. Courtesy of
Sony Pictures Classics
You and where you played Ringo Starr with Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Justin Long playing Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison. How did you get brought into that, and what was shooting that scene like?
Maybe I got an email, a text from the director the night before or the day before, two days before maybe: “Hey, there’s a scene with the Beatles. You wanna?” And I was like, yes, but I was so nervous.
I am not comfortable working with all these geniuses. I’m pretty intimidated by these people. I’ve never been in a situation where I’m like, “Well, there’s all these people who are top-level actors, who all also are top-level, improvisational actors and comedic actors.”
If you could make a different equivalent: I’ve had dinner with a person like that, but I’ve never been to a buffet, a sit-down dinner with 12 people. So I was really nervous. How does it work? Is one person the person who leads? When everyone’s this talented and funny, when you’re a fan of all these people; I was so nervous. Like, how is that going to work?
I’m not, by the way, putting myself with these people. I’m saying as a person who’s a fan of these people.
It was such a cool experience. I just remember Justin Long being — he’s an incredible mimic, and him really helping me. Because I’m a huge Beatles fan, but when you really start to get into it, he was the guiding light for me.
On playing Jonathan Ames in ‘Bored to Death’
HBO
“Bored to Death” was your first and longest-running television role. It was very particular, too, because you were playing Jonathan Ames’ fictionalized interpretation of himself. What did it feel like to get to settle into a role like that?
It was crazy. I had loved Jonathan’s books, and so we had this opportunity to meet, but it wasn’t about “Bored to Death.” It was about just one of his other books. He said, “I’m in LA, I have this idea for this short I wrote that I’m trying to turn into a television show.” I said, “Can I read it?”
It was the greatest honor, really, in the world. Because I was just like, “I just want to do these words.” You know what I mean?
I still mourn [that cancellation]. I truly think about it all the time. Even when we finished it, you don’t necessarily think you’re going to get renewed, but at the same time, I didn’t necessarily say goodbye to it in a proper way. It just kind of was over. And I didn’t get to complete it in my body.
But it was a life-changer. It was the greatest experience.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
“Between the Temples” is now in theaters.