Jason Stuart may not be easily recognizable these days thanks to the new shaved head look he’s been sporting for the past year or so. It came about thanks to Stuart’s hopes of becoming a leather daddy… for a film that never got made. But though his outside appearance has changed, he still possesses the same sharp comedic talent inside, as he proved during a recent phone conversation from his favorite West Hollywood coffee house.
Stuart is best known for his stand-up comedy, but he has also appeared in a staggering number of films and television shows. Among his 100-plus appearances are guest and recurring roles on Will & Grace, Everybody Hates Chris, House, and My Wife and Kids. On Monday, August 24, TNT will broadcast the episode of The Closer where Stuart guest-stars opposite star Kyra Sedgwick. Next month viewers can catch him performing his signature stand-up comedy on Logo’s One Night Stand Up.
But it’s not always fun and games for the single gay Jewish character actor and comic. He’s also the National Chair of the first ever Screen Actors Guild LGBT Committee, and he takes his leading role in the struggle for equality quite seriously.
This Labor Day weekend he’ll be the featured special guest at the fourth annual Central Florida Film Festival at the West Orange 5 Theaters in Ocoee. In addition to a screening of his feature film Coffee Date with a Q & A immediately following, Stuart will also show scenes from his stand-up documentary Making It to The Middle. He’ll also appear on an ‘Acting in Film Panel’ and will present an award for ‘Best Gay Themed Project’ at the close of the festival. Visit CentralFloridaFilmFestival.com for more details.
Now that you’ve been on The Closer, how does it feel being an entire degree closer to Kevin Bacon?
Kevin directed a couple episodes of the show, but not this one. I was walking around the set about to shoot the first part of a scene when I turn the corner and there’s Kevin Bacon! And he’s with a whole pack of Marines, giving them a tour. All I could say was, “Oh, Kevin Bacon, what are you doing here? And with all these Marines?” He said, “I guess we’re having an uncomfortable moment.” We had a good laugh, and I never mentioned it to Kyra (Sedgwick, Bacon’s wife).
I play a guy who owns a storage company and finds a dead body in one of the units. It’s like a lot of the roles I’ve had, where I’m a manager and yet I have no power! In Coffee Date I play a gossipy office manager who actually becomes the voice of reason by the end of the movie. It’s a romantic comedy about a guy who’s not sure whether he’s gay or not. He just got divorced from his wife and his brother sets him up on a blind date with a person named Kelly…who turns out to be Wilson Cruz. The movie and a lot of the cast, including me, were nominated for numerous Gay International Film Awards.
How did you get involved with this film festival?
It’s run by Bob Cook and his wife, Ginger, who are doing something really wonderful for Orlando in bringing all these films together. Bob saw me in a show years ago and approached me afterwards. We became friends and he even offered me a role in a film that unfortunately never got made. We’ve kept in touch and when he called and asked me to be part of the film fest I couldn’t say no
During the film festival you’re participating in an ‘Acting in Film’ panel. What recommendations do you have for gay actors?
The first thing I tell them is that it’s more important to be who you are than to be in show business. Living a truthful life is the most important thing anyone can do.
If you want to be in show business make sure you really, really like the work. Most don’t make a living at it—I’m one of the lucky ones. I feel very blessed.
As a person it’s important to be yourself, but as an actor you really need to be able to play all types of roles. You have to do what’s right for the role, whether it’s changing your speech or physical behavior or whatever.
I came out 16 years ago when no one made a living as an out gay actor. But now I just don’t think people are that interested if you’re gay or not.
California is viewed by many as one of the most liberal places in the country. If they can’t keep gay marriage equality on the books, what hope is there for the rest of us?
It was incredibly close—four percent. When it was on the ballot there was a lot of confusion because voting ‘no’ meant ‘yes.’
So, what hope is there? A lot of hope. People need to realize that a gay married couple isn’t going to affect a straight couple’s marriage. It’s like this whole health care thing, with people saying we’re going to become a communist country. It’s so insane.
Which of your many roles was closest to home, and which was the greatest stretch?
You know, I really haven’t felt stretched yet. I think the roles I’ve played are all different sides of me. I’m still waiting to get that one part that pushes me to the next level; that Philip Seymour Hoffman-type role. And if not, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing!
