‘Good Doctor’ keeping Schiff in tip-top shape
LOS ANGELES — Richard Schiff was already happy being part of the ABC drama “The Good Doctor” where he is now in his third season playing Dr. Aaron Glassman. It’s a role that not only gives him the opportunity to play mentor and friend to the show’s central figure, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, but also he’s playing the part on a critically praised show.
Schiff ’s character has been on a roller-coaster ride since the beginning of the series. He started out as the top man at St. Bonaventure Hospital but lost that job and ended up in a life-and-death battle with cancer. Getting to go from being the guy in charge to the one needing to be helped has given Schiff a broad area in which to act.
“It’s always interesting when mentor becomes mentee or guardian becomes the one you have to take care of. Parents, when they get older, become the children in a relationship. That’s fascinating to explore,” he said. “And it was challenging to be this fairly successful and strong man who felt lost and helpless.”
The acting wisdom Schiff brings to “The Good Doctor” comes from decades of work on stage, screen and TV. He began his career in New York as the founder and artistic director of the Manhattan Repertory Theater and directed off-Broadway productions, including “Antigone,” starring Angela Bassett.
“The Good Doctor” stands out among all his jobs because at the same time the character was dealing with work and health issues, Dr. Glassman found love. That has ended up being the best part of the job for Schiff.
“One of the motivations that has come out of facing death is that he now has an interest in doing something for the benefit of more people,” Schiff said. “He’s also following his instincts with the woman he met at the end of the second year who happens to be played by my reallife wife, Sheila Kelley.
“It is so much fun working with her. She is such a fantastic actress,” he said. “She is so alive and unpredictable.”
When it comes to quality TV, Schiff knows that world well, having spent seven seasons on the Emmy-winning “The West Wing” in the role of Toby Ziegler.
Schiff was nominated three times and won one Emmy for best supporting actor in a drama series for his performance.
One of the constant buzzes in Hollywood these days is bringing past TV series back to life. Is there a chance for a new version of “The West Wing”?
“I don’t know if another show set in the White House makes sense, but another political show would be a good idea. The White House is already overcooked because you have ‘Veep,’ which is much more accurate to real life more than ‘The West Wing’ ever was as it turns out,” Schiff says. “We certainly could not have the same team back in the White House, because it makes no sense.
“But, somehow, I guess we could all get rejoined if it made sense to the story. When the idea was first mentioned, I would have loved to do it — if nothing else to redeem my character from that ridiculous storyline at the end of Season 7, but I don’t think much about it anymore.”