From his 1982 breakout role in "Diner," to the "Beverly Hills Cop" movies, to his 90s TV hit, “Mad About You,” Paul Reiser could have retired by now. Instead, his career has had a resurgence most actors only dream of.
In the last few years, we've seen him as producer-composer Cy Feuer in “Fosse/Verdon," in a recurring role as Dr. Sam Owens in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and now, his portrayal of Martin Schneider in “The Kominsky Method" has earned him his 11th Emmy nomination.
Reiser joined host Lisa McRee for an "LA Times Today" interview. Click the arrow above to watch the video.
Reiser enjoys his role as Martin Schneider and says it reminds him of his life in Southern California.
“Well, it's such a fun character. And Chuck Lorre is such a great, smart writer. I have known Chuck for a thousand years, and he is the king of a half-hour sitcom, but he created something really special and different with this show. It is very adult, and it is funny. The character that he created that I got to play is so different. He is a guy who was born and raised in California, and he is past his prime but doesn't quite know it,” Reiser said.
Reiser appears with Michael Douglas in “The Kominsky Method,” and says the show covers relevant topics in a funny way.
“Michael Douglas is really meticulous and precise and just good, and I learned so much from working with him. It is about something very real that is so darkly funny; it is about guys getting older, facing health issues, losing friends and losing loved ones. And you got to have some sense of humor to get through it. Therefore, it's very real, and the relationship that Chuck created for my character and Michael Douglas is one of friction," said Reiser.
The fourth season of “Stranger Things” is set to be released in 2022, and fans are wondering if Reiser’s character will continue being a good guy.
“Well, it depends on how you look at it. When they first invited me to join 'Stranger Things,' which was the first question I asked, I asked if I was going to be a good guy or a bad guy. They said they did not know, and so they kind of kept me in the dark. But I think one of the great things about the show is that things constantly shift. And, the minute you get comfortable, there are more surprises coming,” Reiser said.
Overall, Reiser says he feels very fortunate for his career and various experiences.
“When I was 21, I couldn't even dream of being a comedian. Then on top of that, I get to meet all the people that I did have as sort of idols that I got to work with. I got to make a movie with Peter Falk, who was my idol, my only acting idol. I got to work with Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar, and I get to do a movie with Neil Simon. So, all these people that as a young guy, I held in high esteem, I got to meet and work with them. I do not know that I have that many more left. If I was invited to join the Beatles, that would be cool,” Reiser said.
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