TV Guide on AOL presented a LIVE chat with Titus Welliver about the new series "Falcone." Titus plays Sonny Napoli on this new CBS series. He has also been on "Brooklyn South," "NYPD Blue" and in the film "Mobsters."
Question: How would you say you relate to your character on the show?
Titus Welliver: No, I'm not at all like my character in regards to what he does for a living or how he conducts himself. I would say I share the trait of putting family first. Other than that, I don't relate to my character.
Question: I just wanted to say that I love the show, and did it get picked up for the fall season?
Titus Welliver: We won't know until after all nine of the episodes have aired. It really depends on how high our ratings numbers are. They have been wavering but hopefully will improve, because I would like to return and do another season of the show.
Question: Did you meet the guy whose story Falcone is based on?
Titus Welliver: Yes. He is a consultant on the show, and I know him quite well, and I consider him an extended member of my own family.
Question: What is the atmosphere like on set? Does the cast get along pretty well?
Titus Welliver: The atmosphere is one of great levity, despite what you see on the screen. We are constantly joking with each other and having a great deal of fun. As far as chemistry goes and people getting along and spending time together off set, I've never worked with a group of people I've felt closer to. Believe it or not, we act like a bunch of little kids. We're quite silly.
Question: It is a great show. How do you feel about the hoopla that the bathroom scene has caused?
Titus Welliver: There are two bathroom scenes that would create hoopla. Which are you referring to?
Question: How many hours a day do you work when shooting for a show?
Titus Welliver: Fourteen to 16 hours. Long, long days. But we were also working in Canada, and I think it has something to do with the conversion rate -- and I've never worked that many hours before. They were long.
Question: Will there be closure at the end of the nine episodes CBS is running right now, or are we going to be left hanging?
Titus Welliver: There will not be closure inasmuch as it will not be exposed that Falcone is, in fact, an FBI agent. There is, however, closure for a few of the characters. I feel there is closure enough for an audience to feel that they've not been gyped. It will leave them wanting more in the future, but not that we haven't given them enough to enjoy the whole arc of the show.
Question: How did you get started in acting?
Titus Welliver: I got into it at a very early age, 'cause my parents took me to see films on the weekends, anywhere from three to four movies, 'cause they enjoyed them as well. I went a great deal. I saw a play called "American Buffalo" with Robert Duvall, and I pretty much decided after that that I wanted to something like he was doing on stage, because it was electrifying. That and a combination of seeing a lot of the classic films made me want to try it and thus make it a career.
Question: Are you married? Any children?
Titus Welliver: I am married to the actress Joanna Heimbold, and we have a 10-month-old son named Eamonn. It's an Irish name. Old Irish, actually.
Titus Welliver: In reference to the hoopla question, I think it's a very scary scene. It's important to establish the mind-set of Lillo Brancato's character, who has been manipulated and provoked by the character of Dominic to truly display his rage at that moment. It's hard to watch, but it illustrated the brutality of his character.
Question: Hi. I am a fan of yours, and I would like to know if you donate any of your big bucks to charity.
Titus Welliver: I do, in fact. I donate money to several different charities -- to AIDS research, to Project ALS and to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Question: Out of all the roles you have done, which has been your favorite or most challenging?
Titus Welliver: I have a film coming out called "Once in the Life" that I did with Laurence Fishburne in which I play a heroin addict. And that, without question -- actually, it's based on the play "Riff Raff." He wrote and directed it. Laurence and I and a host of other actors just completed it. It's been retitled "Once in the Life." Without question, the hardest character I've had to do.
Question: Do you want to direct sometime on your show?
Titus Welliver: If this show is picked up, I'd certainly enjoy directing an episode. As far as the future, I have several projects I'm looking forward to [directing]. I've directed several plays, and I'm looking forward to directing in the not-too-distant future.
Question: Who are some of the actors and actresses you looked up to when you were younger, and now?
Titus Welliver: Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep, Robert Duvall, Helen Mirren, Toshiro Mifune. He's probably the most influential actor of my career. Ironically, he's Japanese. He's Akira Kurosawa's leading actor and a master of subtlety. Also Al Pacino and Marlon Brando. Today, Anthony Hopkins, Gwenyth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Billy Bob Thornton. He's a triple threat. And of course, Morgan Freeman and Laurence Fishburne. They are, to me, the contemporary kings.
Question: Did you read the book before taking part in Falcone?
Titus Welliver: I had read the book several years ago when it first came out. My decision to accept the part was really based on the book and what I thought I could bring as a fresh perspective to this genre.
Question: Where are you from originally, and did you train professionally anywhere?
Titus Welliver: I am New England potpourri. I was born in New Haven, Connecticut. My father was an Ivy League prof. We lived in New York, Philly, and I went to high school in the state of Maine, then I went to college as a grad and undergrad [at] New York University.
Question: What time does the show air?
Titus Welliver: It's on at 10PM. Hurry, hurry, you'll be missing it. From this episode till the end, it drives like a train. It doesn't give you much room for breath. We established the characters, and now it moves like a house on fire. That's a bad analogy. Oh well.
TVGLive2: Thanks, Titus! We had a great time, and please come back and talk with us soon!
Titus Welliver: Please tune in. I hope everyone enjoys the show. The rebirth of the show depends on your patronage, and thank you for your time.
TVGLive2: Falcone airs on CBS at 10PM ET. Go watch!
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