Jack Topalian interview, from Euphoria to Sugar

You’ve been dubbed “the man of many faces” by casting directors. What do you think it is about your range that continues to resonate with them?

Having traveled extensively to many different countries over the years, coming from the world of business and observing and dealing with real people, has always given me a natural advantage in this arena. Then, of course, I try to really understand what the story is, how my character fits into a story, and who I’m playing or portraying. Then I try to alter my physical appearance to play characters that have a unique vocal tone, accent, physical or facial appearance, and dress or demeanor. Also, I bring a sense of empathy and truth to each and every character, no matter if I’m playing a teacher or a gangster. 

You’re appearing in both Euphoria and Sugar this year. What can audiences expect from your roles, and how do these two projects differ creatively for you?

Both roles are new characters but are part of the main storyline for the upcoming season. I’m interacting with the main characters of each of the shows, and I appear in almost all of the episodes for both shows. As far as who I’m playing, well, they are extremely different characters from one another.

Euphoria has such a passionate global fanbase. What was it like stepping into that world alongside actors like Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney?

I filmed Euphoria for well over 3 months and from the first day I stepped foot on set, Sam Levinson (the writer/creator/director of Euphoria) welcomed me right away and told me how excited he was that I was going to be a part of the show and his wife Ashley, who is one of the Executive Producers, took the time to get to know me and introduced me to everyone. I was welcomed very warmly by all of the lead cast members (Jacob, Sydney, Eric, Maude, Zendaya, and Alexa), the supporting cast, the other producers, and the crew. Later, I realized that most of the cast and crew had been with the show from the beginning of Season 1. So this was a very tight-knit family, and they welcomed me in and made me feel at home.

You made the bold decision to pursue acting later in life after a successful business career. What motivated that shift, and how has that journey shaped the actor you are today?

In all honesty, I accidentally fell into the acting world. I was not looking for it at all. My kids, who wanted to act when they were really young, were primarily responsible for this transition. When they studied at an acting school, there would be visits from casting directors weekly who came to check out the talent of the students and to see if maybe they were right for an upcoming project. When I was with my kids, I would get asked by these casting directors whether I was an actor or not. Sometimes they would tell me that they thought they had seen me in a film or a TV show, and suggest I consider becoming an actor. They felt I had a unique look, the way I spoke and carried myself, and they thought they could see me playing many different types of characters and ethnicities. So I started to listen and eventually took it seriously and enrolled in acting school.

Having trained at the American Conservatory Theater, how did that experience influence your craft and approach to roles?

Theater acting is pure, organic and continuous. Studying at ACT was pretty amazing. When you’re on stage, there’s no hiding. You’re very exposed, and it teaches you to really understand your lines and character to become relentless, fearless, and vulnerable all at the same time. Similar to going to the gym, the more you do it, the better you become over time. It’s a lot of hard work and commitment, but this prepares you for TV & film work because you have to be able to become and maintain a character when filming a scene, and then take a rest. While the crew is changing locations or camera angles, you have to come back with the same intensity and rhythm, without skipping a beat. So, in my opinion, in some way, it’s a lot harder to maintain the truth of the character when doing film or TV, but you also have a chance to correct your mistakes, in a different take and if you have a good director, who really knows what they want out of each scene and each actor, it becomes very enjoyable to be a part of. 

You’ve played a wide range of characters across shows like True Detective and The Blacklist - is there a particular type of role you’re drawn to, or one you’re still hoping to explore?

I honestly enjoyed playing all of the characters I’ve portrayed, and I have tried to bring something different to each one, so they stand apart from one another. I particularly love playing complex characters who have a hidden secret or agenda, or two different versions of themselves at home, work, and with their enemies. In each place, they will act and carry themselves a little differently, and it must stand out. It’s like real life. There’s the side we show others, when we’re out and about, but when we’re home, we can be ourselves and not worry about image or being judged. Up until now, I have not done any science fiction work, and I would love to do that at some point. I would also love to do a historical film or TV series. I’m a history buff, and I would love to portray someone real or fictional from a past kingdom or biblical times, or any time in history. I also would love to play someone like Lucky Luciano, Vito Genovese, or someone from the gangster world of the past. I think I would do a good job, and I find these individuals complex and conflicted in some ways, and to show the two different worlds they all live in. That would be fun.

Outside of acting, you have a wide range of interests, from music to travel. How do those passions influence your creativity and help you stay grounded in such a fast-paced industry?