Interview with Bob Stephenson, actor with James Franco and in TV series Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Bob Stephenson is actor of cinema and tv. He worked in Why Him? with James Franco, Battle of the Sexes with Emma Stone, tv series Jericho (as Sheriff Jimmy Taylor), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Q. You worked in movie Why Him. Please can you tell us about this roles?

A. My character’s name is "Jerry In Graphics", one of Bryan Cranston’s employees at his printing facility. A good family friend to Bryan’s character and loyal employee who spends Christmas with them every year. There was a lot we shot that didn’t make the movie. Have to say it was one of the best sets I’ve ever been on. We had a blast. Laughed all day. John Hamburg, the director was amazing - he let everybody improv and add to what was already in the script. A real pleasure.

Q. On the set, who's the working relationship with other actors, Zoey Deutch and James Franco?

A. Everybody was great. I hung out with Tangie quite a bit. She’s the sweetest thing. Zoey is super cute and oh so nice. And James, Bryan, Keegan Michael-Key, Cedric The Entertainer and Megan Mullally - they are all amazing and incredibly skilled actors. I learned a lot and hope I get to work with any of them again. I also loved working with Mary Pat Gleason and Zack Pearlman. We laughed a lot. So many good people.

Q. Is there a curious episode that happened on the set?

A. Do you mean, “was there a particularly funny moment?” I have to say - shooting with the rock band KISS for three days was amazing! Gene and Paul were the nicest guys and sooooo funny and such great sports. That was a treat. They’re icons.

Q. You worked also in tv, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Bing Bang Theory, The Forgotten. You prefer tv or cinema?

A. I love both TV and film. These days, there are so many great TV shows - the quality of television shows is getting better and better. Movies are great because you dive into a world for a shorter amount of time and then move on to something else. But I grew up in front of the television so it’s close to my heart. I want to be a regular on a TV show soon.

Q. You live in Los Angeles. Do you have hobbies?

A. I love LA. I was born just outside Los Angeles in Camarillo. I’m a California kid. I love the weather and the hills and the ocean and the city… That’s not to say I don’t like other places. I love NYC as well. It’s amazing. I love to eat and I love a few local bars - I’m a big beer fan - you can tell by my wonderful belly. I’m a huge Lakers and Rams and Dodgers and Kings fan. I love art and architecture. I paint and write in my spare time. I’m writing a couple TV pilots at the moment so that takes up a lot of my day.

Q. What is your favorite Italian films?

A. Well who isn’t a fan of Fellini or Bernardo Bertolucci?

Q. Have you ever visited Italy?

A. I have only been to the northern part of Italy. I went to school in Cannes, France for a bit and we would often take the train across the southern coast into Italy. I loved it - beautiful women riding side-saddle on Vespas, the food, the people, the architecture… I can’t wait to go back sometime. Italy is such a unique place - a real treasure.