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Richard Marcus, aka Mr. Raines, talks exclusively to The Pretender fan page on Facebook
This is the first of a series of interviews with cast and crew of the Pretender that we want to present to you, as a way of thanking everyone for their continued support to this show, even though it's been off the air since 2001. I hope you enjoy finding more about the man behind the villain we all love. Many thanks to Richard Marcus for accepting this request. You're truly a kind soul.
- by Vânia Araújo
Question: Growing up, did you know you’d become an actor? Was it something you dreamed about?
Answer: As a child I was very skinny and shy, so I probably was destined to become an actor, as I have read that shy children need to express themselves by either achieving in academia or becoming clowns. So, I became a clown and made people laugh. I had a wonderful childhood trying to figure out what entertained people and not worrying about school so much.Q: You’re listed as a producer in Parasite, among others (some actually say you started as a producer). In this point of your career, which role do you like the most, acting or staying behind the cameras?A: That's funny because in fact I never was a producer or was ever connected to that film in any way. I think someone posted that information on Wiki, and it was never corrected. But as they say, in Hollywood, sometimes the resume gets stretched way out of proportion.Q: It’s impossible not to ask you how about Mr. Raines. Was it challenging to play that character?A: In the beginning, it was very challenging. I think I changed my voice into a deep raspy sound halfway through the first episode. Craig Van Sickle suggested we go in that direction, and it stuck. Unfortunately, my vocal chords got tired after a while, but it sure was fun. In some ways, using that tone helped me with the character. I was able to remove myself from the sinister aspects of Raines much easier as an actor and therefore could express that persona without thinking about it. Ironically, at the end of the show, some four years later, Craig said maybe we should think about dropping the deep voice!
Q: What’s your favorite memory from that time when you played the evil – some might say misunderstood – Mr. Raines? Any funny stories you’d like to share?
A: Well, I had quit smoking for sometime, but as all smokers know it's difficult to stay away from the habit. So, whenever Raines needed to smoke a cigarette, I secretly felt happy about it. There were many, too many funny times to relate all of them here, but the ensemble cast was such a pleasure to work with. Patrick make me laugh every time I was on stage with him, and Harve was constantly cracking jokes. Andrea of course was full of one-liners and kept us all on our toes. It made it a pleasure to be on the set.
Q: Does it surprise you that The Pretender still has such a great legion of fans around the world?
A: In a word, yes. But these things take on a life of their own.
Q: It seems like you have a certain tendency to play the villain. Do you think it is easier to play ‘the bad guy’ instead of the ‘hero’?
A: Actually, I find it more challenging to play the evil bad guy than the hero. I try to find something "good" in the evil character to make him more human. People have said that "good guys" always have a more difficult time forming a "real" character than bad guys. I agree with that premise.
Q: In the 80s you played Birdman in St. Elsewhere, which is considered to be the first medical drama on TV, paving the way to shows like ER. Did you feel then that the show would have such an impact on TV history?
A: I had no idea at the time, but looking back on it I think that the creative minds behind the show were all top notch writers and producers. Bruce Paltrow, the executive producer, was an exceptional person. He died too young.
Q: With such a long career, which role had the greatest impact on you? Or at least the one you remember more fondly.
A: It's a toss up between Ralf Selover (the birdman) and Raines.
Q: I’ve noticed some great photos posted by you. Is that an interest of yours?
A: Actually, I think many of those photos were taken by Rodney Charters who was the Director of Photography on the show. He is very talented. To be honest, I am not a very good picture taker.
Q: What are your current and future projects?
A: I have finished writing three screenplays. All of them are different genres. They range from Horror to Romantic Comedies. I am working with creative producers to get them off the ground.
Q: And now, to finish, can you leave a message to your fans?
A: Thank you all for your wonderful support!
April 15th 2013
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