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"Goodness Takes Very Little Effort" - Interview with Richard Chassler
July 31, 2024
By Bessy ADUT
Richard Chassler, born in New York and raised between there and Los Angeles, grew up around show business; his uncle, Allen Swift, was the voice of Howdy Doody, Popeye and countless others and his cousin, Broadway star Lewis J. Stadlen, is a Drama Desk Award-winner and multi-Tony Award nominee.
Richard began his performing career at the age of 9, playing drums at jazz clubs throughout NYC and Long Island. Naturally gifted and loving to perform, Richard quickly turned to the theatre, where he began honing his acting skills as a student of famed acting teacher Stella Adler. Richard has appeared in several films including The Insider, directed by Michael Mann and most recently, as Martin Balsam in Fox Searchlight’s Hitchcock, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren.
He also performs on stage, and has been seen playing Biff in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Count Guido in the world premiere of The Ring and the Book, Roy Cohn in the critically acclaimed Ethel Sings: Espionage in High C, about the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg at Walker Space (Soho Rep) in New York City in which he received excellent reviews. Richard appeared most recently in Death on a Bombed Out Beach, starring opposite Tim Allen’s wife, Jane Hajduk for which he received excellent reviews.
In addition to working as an actor, Richard has spent over 35 years touring as a stand-up comedian and can be heard doing a myriad of voices in numerous cartoons and commercials. Richard studied screenwriting at UCLA and along with his arsenal of scripts, Richard made an award-winning dramatic short film entitled, STOP (featuring Richard Kind) which he wrote, directed & starred in. Multi-talented and driven, Rich has appeared on stage in Off-Broadway productions, directed over 20 plays, has appeared in several television shows and two Academy Award nominated movies having worked with the likes of Al Pacino and Helen Mirren. He is a staple on the stand-up circuit and has performed with several comedy greats including Mitch Hedberg and Nick Swardson.
Where are you currently residing?
Los Angeles CA.
What are your current projects?
Other than working as a touring star-up comedian, I currently have a TV show in development and a feature film script which we are negotiating a deal for.
Please share how you started and got to where you are today...
Well I started acting at the age of 7 in school plays. That was also the same year I started playing drums. I acted all through high school and also played in a band with some other guys. We played clubs all around L.A. using fake I.D.’s to get into the clubs! I also did plays all through high school and knew then that I wanted to continue acting and performing. After High school, when I was 20, I was cast in a small role on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara and after a short lived run, I got a job working as a security guard at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood. It was there that I met Marc Price. Marc played the role of Skippy on the NBC show Family Ties with Michael j Fox. He was also doing stand-up and convinced me that I was funny and that I should go on stage and give it a try, so I did and I was immediately hooked. I worked very hard for 2 years developing my act in town while working at Paramount and when I was 22, I was going on the road full time as a comedian and I have been working ever since.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Show business rarely ever is. There are some good years and some lean years. At first I was just an opening act not making a lot of money so it was really a struggle. As far as acting went, because I was going on the road, I wasn't getting auditioned for parts very much and that made me conflicted. Did I want to stay in L.A. and work as a waiter or telemarketer and be free to audition or did I want to keep performing nightly making mediocre money but NOT have to wait tables? It was a real conflict. Eventually I moved up to headlining and was making more money but still had to go on the road to earn a living and thus not being able to truly follow my passion of acting with the dedication I wanted to.
Tell us more about your life and career...
I have been told that my life is multi-faceted. I recently got married so I am now a husband. My wife is also a comedian and an actress AND she also shares my love of wine so we try to go wine tasting and also get booked on comedy gigs at wineries to increase the fun! I love to travel, especially to wine country. I get together with friends and play music, I love to go see live music and theater. I try to stay active, I love to cook, and still listen to my vinyl! My career is always full of ups and downs but right now I am having more fun than I have had in a while. And yes I am still playing drums!
How do you define goodness?
I define goodness as having and exercising good morals. There is a virtuous aspect to goodness I believe. It is unselfish and encompasses everyone. Feeding homeless people, helping those who need your help, being honest, and taking care of your family and friends. Goodness to me is really just doing the right thing. Knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing to do what’s right. Not just what’s right for yourself, but what's right for everyone involved. It takes very little effort.
Who are you outside of your professional career?
Outside of work, I am a person who loves adventures and trying new things. I love to be outside going places. I love spending time with my friends and family. I am a wine collector and have almost 1000 bottles in my collection. I love to go wine tasting. I love to go see live music, especially Grateful Dead music! I love to eat at interesting restaurants, play and see sporting events with friends or just driving up the coast of California! I am also socially conscious and believe we all need to vote and make sure that we are taking care of our planet - and each other.
Your thoughts on environmental issues?
I have always been environmentally conscious. When I was a kid, my mom took me and some friends around the neighborhood in N.Y. collecting aluminum cans, then walked us to the recycling center and taught us how to recycle. This was the very first “Earth Day” and I have been doing it ever since. I try to be conscious of my carbon footprint and do everything I can to do my part in being a good inhabitant of the earth. I believe we all have a moral responsibility to take care of the planet and not to destroy the environment. After all, as the saying goes, "We do not inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children.” We must make sure to leave this planet healthy and vibrant for the following generations and that means that we ALL have to pitch in and call out the abusers and polluters when we can and to teach others the responsibility we all have to take care of our home.
Do you think the world is not a good place right now?
I don't think the world is not a good place right now, however, I do believe that there are factions who are doing bad things with entitlement and impunity. Corporate polluters, racists and those who support oppressive political agendas that don’t afford all people with the same inalienable rights to exist. There are lots of amazing people and groups worldwide working hard to have a world that is for everyone. Not just the wealthy, or those who go to a certain kind of house of worship. Again, it’s all of our responsibility to contribute to a society that allows people the freedom to explore options to be the best person they can be without fear of retaliation or oppression.
How do you make the world a better place?
Through education, leading by example, and following some basic ideals that encompass all human beings, like being kind and understanding of people's situations. By understanding that not everyone has the same gifts, talents, backgrounds, or beliefs and still accepting fellow humans for who they are, as long as they are operating from a good and decent place.
How can science and spirituality co-exist?
Science and spirituality already coexist and have since the dawn of time. You can be as religious or spiritual as you like, but denying science makes a person ignorant. If you wear clothes, that's science. If you drive a car, that’s science. If you grow your own vegetables, that is also science. NONE of that takes away from spirituality or religious beliefs. In fact, many of the stories in the bible can be explained through scientific explanations. Therefore, spirituality and science not only CAN but DO coexist every day.
If you could go anywhere where would you like to go?
I’d love to see Machu Pichu, the pyramids in Egypt and of course the Great Wall. I would love to go to Bordeaux and do a bike trip stopping at many Chateau to taste and I would love to go on a safari!
Please let us know anything else you'd like to share with us (any jokes, upcoming shows, or anything else promotional)
I've performed at the Justin Winery in Paso Robles, California on July 26th and Morro Bay, California on July 27th. In addition, my new 1 hour special is getting to be released and we are just waiting for that date but it will be very soon. It’s called "Boy Outta New York" and should be coming out on Amazon and Apple and Sirius XM soon!
Could you please provide any links to share, to look at your work?
Voice Over - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd08u3113f0
Website - www.richardchassler.com
Award Winning Short Film “STOP” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V772parJTzA
Acting Demo - https://www.imdb.com/video/vi4132943129/?ref_=nmvi_vi_imdb_1
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