We talk with actor Victor Garber about starring in the film Argo and more
I had the chance to talk with actor Victor Garber, star of Deception which airs on Mondayâs on NBC at 10 PM, about a female detective who returns undercover to the wealthy family she grew up in — as the maid’s daughter to solve the murder of the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend. Garber plays the CEO of a pharmaceutical company and is the father of the murdered girl and patriarch of the family.
Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer best known for playing Jesus in Godspell, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, Thomas Andrews in James Cameron’s Titanic and most recently as Canadian ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor in Argo.
Tell me about working on that really special film Argo, which swept the Awards season!
I knew from the script that it was going to be a great film and the entire experience was as good as any I ever had. Ben was in top form and I was surrounded by the best actors possible. And we had a lot of laughs which was unexpected.
You are a seasoned Broadway actor but your work spans to television and movies. Which is your favorite medium to work in and why?
I don’t have favorites. I make choices based on material and that’s true for any medium. But television and film offer their own challenges which I also love.
You started out as a folk singer and you love to sing. Who are your favorite Broadway composers?
Stephen Sondheim and Adam Guettel. I also love John Kander and Fred Ebb.
I love the show Deception. Tell me about your character in your own words?
Robert Bowers is a complicated man who is just trying to keep his family and his empire together at any cost. Sometimes his choices are questionable, but like all people who do things that we might find despicable, he believes the ends justify the means.
I know you live with an accomplished painter. How do two creative people work and feed off each otherâs talents?
Rainer and I respect each other’s privacy but we are always there for support and when help is neededâŠwhich can be frequent.
Do you prefer living in NYC or LA and why?
I have always felt that I belong in NYC and I still do. I love LA when I’m working and visiting my friends but I’m not comfortable living there on a permanent basis. I’m a New Yorker at heart.
You have a famous house in the country. Do you want to talk about who lived there and how you ended up buying it?
The house belonged to Gypsy Rose Lee for a short period of time. It is situated by our friend’s Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman and they notified us about this property being for sale.
You seem to get more handsome as you age. What’s your secret?
First of all thank you. And secondly, I don’t have a secret- just genetics and good luck. And by the way- I wish I could see what you seeâŠ