Kevin Meaney started his career in the entertainment business as a stand-up comedian in 1979. Since then he has branched out and appeared in such film and television series as “Big” and “Uncle Buck”. Kevin has also appeared on Broadway and has also lent his voice to a variety of cartoons. Movie Mikes had a chance to catch up with Kevin to talk about some of his previous projects and what he currently is working on.
Adam Lawton: You started your career doing stand-up comedy. What made you decide to try acting?
Kevin Meaney: I was doing stand up and got an audition. Once you start doing stand up people start to want to see you for other things and you begin to branch out into different areas of show business such as television, movies, commercials and radio. It wasn’t a conscious decision where I said I am going to go out and do movies. It’s more you get a call from your agent and they tell you that some people would like to see you for a particular part and would you come in and read for them? If it’s something up my alley I will go in and do it. I will go in for just about anything even if it might not be the right role. I do this because there might be another role that is the right one for me.
AL: The first film you appeared in was “Big” with Tom Hanks. Can you tell us about that experience?
KM: That was a terrific experience to be cast in that movie. That film is still being aired all over the world and it was great meeting Tom. He is such a great guy and he is very down to earth. 
About 10 years later I was covering the Oscar’s for HBO and Tom who I hadn’t seen since the shooting came up and told me it was great to see me again. You wouldn’t expect that from anybody you worked with 10 years ago to remember you. It was a real pleasure working with him and Penny Marshall, Elizabeth Perkins and Jon Lovitz. We had a ball on the set. I had just moved to New York from Boston and it was great to be on the set even though I had no idea what I was doing after being thrown into this new world. Everyone coached me along and showed me the ropes which was wonderful.
AL: You played Buck Russell in the television series of “Uncle Buck”. What do you think was the hardest challenge in recreating the character John Candy who played Uncle Buck in the movie version?
KM: The funny. You really have to keep things funny. I always wanted to make sure I was telling the story as well because that’s what a show is. Each episode had its own story to be told and you had to really stay to that. I had to stay focused even if I had memorized my lines and the writers decided to change something last minute which happens often.
AL: I assume the writers wanted the “Uncle Buck” character similar to the film version however were you allowed to add anything of your own to that role?
KM: No. I came into it as just an actor so I had zero input on anything about the story or casting. 
I had no experience in that at the time so there was no real reason to have any input in that regard. I come from the world of stand up so what did I know about creating a television show? Now I have a little bit more experience and value than I think I did then but at that time in my career I just did what I was told and hoped for the best.
AL: Can you tell us about the “Pulp Fiction” spoof you appeared in titled “Plump Fiction”?
KM: That was something that was just offered to me and I played the chocolate dealer which took the place of the heroin dealer. They let me do whatever I wanted to do! It was a one day shoot somewhere in Los Angeles and I came in and they dressed me up like a total fucking lunatic. I created this character that was just insane. I think it’s one of my favorite things that I have done.
AL: Can you tell us about working on the Broadway play “Hairspray”?
KM: There is no better feeling than to do a show like “Hairspray” every night. I would always get asked if I got bored doing the same show every night which I never did. I would get tired but never bored. The minute you let your guard down that’s when things would go wrong. Then you’re on the stage forgetting lines and where you’re supposed to be. You always have to be totally ready to go out on that stage every night. Everyone in the cast hast to be because if someone messes up there has to be someone there to pick up the pieces. I remember onetime the person playing the Wilber character never made his entrance. Thankfully I understudied that part and picked up the pieces. The audience didn’t even know but the cast did. I guess the guy was in the back talking to one of the stage hands. He did finally come out though and I told him he was all done and to leave. (Laughs) I would love to get back and do another show it’s just 
fascinating.
AL: Can you tell us about any other upcoming projects?
KM: I just got back from San Francisco where I did a show with 3 other stand-up comics about repealing proposition 8 in California. There were 2 straight parents played by Dan St. Paul and Mary Ellen Hooper and 2 gay parents played by myself and Vickie Shaw. The show was based around parenting being the same whether you are straight or gay. I did a film called “Heterosexuals” that was done by Robert Spencer who is a great actor. He had an actor drop out at the last minute and asked me if I could play the role of a lawyer? I told him I would love to. It was a little bit frustrating though because I had only gotten the script the night before and didn’t really know my lines but, we got through it. I also have some stand-up dates around the country and I am up for a play in Louisiana but I can’t tell you the name of it just yet.
