Graceland - Interview - Tom Schanley

Last week Graceland introduced us to Tom Schanley as Trooper Cash Windgate, a corrupt Trooper with a penance for drug trafficking and a distrust of everyone, who will make things difficult for Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito) and Amber (Brit Morgan). During the interview Tom was gracious enough to give us a small insight into what is to come and it is going to be an exciting ride. Charlie is going to have her hands full between Amber and Trooper Windgate.

SpoilerTV was given the exclusive opportunity to interview Tom and introduce Graceland fans to this amazing actor. To be honest, I wasn’t an expert of Tom’s work prior to this interview, but after doing some research and watching his other projects I’ve become a big fan. He is a gifted character actor with an extensive resume full of amazing characters. What we saw Tom do on Graceland last week is only a very small taste of what he is capable of. Read my interview with him then head over to his IMDB page and start making your way through his past projects.

Without further delay let me introduce all of you to Tom Schanley!

SpoilerTV: Thank you for this opportunity to ask you about your career and your upcoming role in USA’s Graceland. On top of being an actor you also have some producing and writing credits to your name. Is there a specific aspect of the business that you’re most drawn to? What is your favorite and least favorite part of this business?

Tom Schanley: Acting is still my first love. Writing is a great way to fill downtime with a creative outlet. My favorite part of the business is doing the work… being on set... You bust your ass to get each role, and to be able to actually create the character and execute it, and bring it to life the way you envisioned is pretty special. Ironically though, my least favorite part of the biz is the necessary evil of auditioning. There are so many variables to the process that your best work doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the role and in the end, no matter how many years you’ve been doing it you never really get use to the rejection.

SpoilerTV: I have some user submitted questions for you starting with Leon who asks: When guest starring on a TV show, do you watch any episodes of the show to get a better feeling of what you are getting yourself into? And did you start watching any shows after you starred in them?

TS: The problem is, you’re usually cast in the role and start shooting in a few days so it’s tough to do a lot of research. However, if I can, I do like to watch an episode or two of that particular show to get a feel for it. The shooting style, editing, even music, can inform how I might approach a particular scene.

SpoilerTV: You have a very long and illustrious career that has spanned genres. Is there a specific genre you prefer over others? Which of the characters you’ve played do you wish you could have inhabited longer?

TS: My favorite genre would be the Western, hands down. That said, the character that I wish I could have “inhabited” longer would have to be Michael Austin in “RETURN OF THE 6 MILLION DOLLAR MAN.” The reason really, is that character sort of represented a childhood dream. When I was growing up my favorite show was THE 6 MILLION DOLLAR MAN (probably a little before a lot of your reader’s time). Lee Majors played the role of STEVE AUSTIN, an astronaut who, after a horrible crash is “rebuilt” with Bionics, giving him super human strength and speed. Well, years later they wanted to redo the series and I was cast as Steve Austin’s son, Michael, who would become the new Bionic Man.... It wasn’t Shakespeare to be sure, but to actually be playing a character as an adult that you pretended to be when you were 7 is pretty amazing.

SpoilerTV: Last week you joined Graceland as Trooper Cash Windgate and he sounds like he’s going to stir some things up with the housemates. Can you describe Trooper Windgate in one sentence? What do you think is the driving force behind his decisions?

TS: He’s a good cop gone bad for what he thinks are good reasons. What drives him I think is his family, in this case, his brothers. In his mind he saved them from going down a much darker path. But years of “playing by the rules” has gotten him nothing, and he wants his slice of the pie.

SpoilerTV: What drew you to the part of Trooper Windgate? Is there something specific you look for when you are reviewing parts you want to audition for?

TS: I thought Windgate was a villain I could bring some humanity to. To me that’s the most important aspect of playing any “bad guy”. Nobody thinks they’re evil... Just misunderstood...I can’t really say I look for anything particular in a role. A role is presented to me and it’s my job to find out what makes him tick.

SpoilerTV: GracelandTVUK wants to know: How will your character change the dynamic of Graceland?

TS: Ahh, well as they say: “I could tell ya but then I’d have to kill ya”  I will say this: our little journey just might have an unintended effect on one of the characters.

SpoilerTV: Leon wants to know: Which agency would you join if you could choose one (FBI/DEA/ATF/US Marshals/ICE/CIA)?

TS: Interesting question. I would have to say the US Marshals, for no other reason that I see them as the closest thing to what law enforcement was in the old west.

SpoilerTV: GracelandTVUK has a couple questions for you regarding your time on the Graceland set: If you could play one of the main six characters on Graceland who would it be and why? Who has been your most favorite cast member to work with on Graceland?

TS: Hmmm.. Maybe Cash Windgate can be reformed and join the house. He’d be a fun character to keep playing. As to my favorite cast member to work with, I’m going to be a bit political here but it’s true that all the actors really brought their “A” game. Vanessa Ferlito (Charlie) and Brandon Jay McLaren (Dale), both very talented and great to work with. The guest cast too was outstanding. Roger Floyd and Adam Thayer who play my brothers and Britt Morgan (Amber) were all terrific. It really was a good experience all around.

SpoilerTV: I want our readers to get the opportunity to know you better. In this digital age it is easy to Google someone and find out half their life story. What is one thing you don’t think even the internet knows about you? Up until now that is.

TS: Well, huh..... I wish I was a better golfer!

SpoilerTV: Some quick lightening questions to let our readers get to know you better.

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite food: I love a good Burger
Favorite actor: The one I’m in the scene with  ... There are too many good ones for me to have a favorite.
Favorite television show: I’m a big Game of Thrones fan
Favorite movie: There are many. Here are 2: Saving Private Ryan and Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Favorite City to visit: Vail, Colorado
Favorite Country to visit: Italy
Cats or Dogs: Dogs
TV or Movies: Equal
Land or Ocean: Ocean
Inside or Outside: Outside
Cop Car or Race Car: A race car with police lights!

SpoilerTV: Besides Graceland, where can your fans look forward to seeing you next?

TS: A Western called: HOT BATH and a STIFF DRINK 2. Probably out the end of this year or the beginning of 2016. And the best way to keep track of anything that comes up before then is to follow me on Facebook or Twitter!

SpoilerTV: Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. I look forward to watching what kind of trouble Trooper Windgate is going to cause.

TS: Thanks for having me! Great questions!

Tom will be absent for the next couple of episodes of Graceland, but he will make his return on the July 30th episode for a multi-episode arc. Be sure to tune in to Graceland every Thursday night at 10/9C on USA.

About the Author - Aimee Hicks

Aimee works for a local newspaper and has a BA in Broadcasting and Cinema. She has been a TV lover since before she really understood what TV was. She has a long list of shows that she loves to watch and can be found on twitter (@ahicks83) live tweeting about each new episode whenever she can. A list of her favorite shows includes (but is not limited to) the following: 12 Monkeys, Orphan Black, Outlander, Chasing Life, Scorpion, The 100, The Night Shift, Bitten, Black Sails, 2 Broke Girls, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Continuum, Lost Girl, Faking It, Falling Skies, Finding Carter, Once Upon A Time, Orange Is The New Black, Switched At Birth, The Fosters, The Flash, The Originals, Teen Wolf, Under The Dome, & Z Nation. The upcoming shows she is most excited about are: Supergirl, Dark Matter, UnReal, Blindspot, Lucifer, Legends of Tomorrow, Stitchers, Recovery Road, Shadowhunters, Quantico, Code Black, Heartbreaker, and Chicago Med. She has a large and passionate dislike of ""reality"" TV, espeically ""reality"" dating shows, but has a weakness for Americas Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance. But those two don't really count as ""reality"" shows, at least that's how she justifies those guilty pleasures. She was the original creator and co-founder of LOST Video Island (lostvideo.net) which is still operting under the management of the very capable and skilled group she turned it over to.

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