ITALIAN DRIVES, COMBED HAIR + CLAY BUSTS: THE SENSATIONAL LIFE LENS OF JEREMY SISTO!

EDITOR IN CHIEF: COREY GUEVARRA

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF LEIGH KEILY

GROOMER: JASON LINKLOW

STYLING: DOLLY PRATT LANVIN

“So I wouldn’t say my career took off exactly” he began.” I did book ‘Grand Canyon’ which was a huge break for a high school kid who’d only done plays and commercials. I got an agent and suddenly the opportunity to pursue a career in acting was available to me without some of the early hurdles a lot of actors generally face”. -Diving in with accomplished actor Jeremy Sisto was a breeze. Initially teasing that his career sparked in such a way that though accepted, he never even stepped foot onto his burgeoning college campus. In our exclusive chat the California native offered us a glimpse into his experiences, thought processes & alt advice for a life well lived. From playing almost every character imaginable to feeling the fullness of family, this is Jeremy Sisto: sincerely.

“The thing is, I was also not great at school admittedly; couldn’t focus, homework was an albatross, [executive] functioning stuff I guess… Although I had gotten into college, (mainly because I wrote my essay on the movie I had been in lol) I really wasn’t confident I was going to get the most out of it. [Not to mention costs, student loans etc.,]. …With all options considered, the lure of Hollywood was definitely kicking in. So I deferred from college and moved to LA to join the gaggle of other kids chasing the dream.

It was all [quite] a scene as you might imagine. A lot of big personalities, a lot of bravado. And it was a time when there was a lot of hero worship of the great actors, a lot of reverie for acting. It was like acting was this magic trick - something with an undeniable result - that only a very few, with the gift, could achieve. Of course that’s bullshit. What makes acting good is entirely objective. But I didn’t have enough of an independent mind at the time to see that. So much so, that when I eventually started getting films, I was terrified! I mean, If there was some mysterious trick to this acting thing, the only thing that was clear was to me at the time was that I didn’t know “it”. Surely I must’ve fooled them in the auditions because the first few were far from fun, which was honestly such a shame. In hindsight, now I know that I could’ve just enjoyed them and treated myself to better experiences. Eventually I did figure out how to make it into something that I loved; just took a while …luckily I kept getting opportunities to help me find my way”.

IF YOU WEREN’T BORN INTO SUCH A CREATIVE FAMILY, WHAT ELSE COULD YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF DOING IN LIFE JEREMY?

Tough one. Probably because school was tough for me, and because of other insecurities, I was never really flush with a feeling of having options. I loved playing music. But that’s just kind of acting adjacent. Like, real jobs, I’m still not sure. Well, actually, I loved hanging out in my kids’ kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms - I think I would be a good teacher of kids that age. 

YOU’VE LITERALLY BEEN EVERYONE FROM JESUS TO A DAD STUCK IN SUBURBIA.  CAN YOU REMEMBER ANY EXPERIENCES FROM SET THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON ACTING OR FILM MAKING?

Oh man, big questions. Yeah, I mean, all of them I suppose. I guess it’s all about trying to tap into this creative side of yourself while you’re surrounded by a ton of people and logistics. It can be a lot easier to get there for some of us alone in our bedrooms. Early on I worked with a long list of amazing film stars like Jeff Bridges, Holly Hunter, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Kline, Viggo Mortenson, Christopher Walken and on. They all came at it differently. But ultimately, I had to figure out how it would work for me. It’s kind of a personal thing, how you get into the right headspace in that environment. Or even what you want that headspace to be. I mean, acting is kind of whatever you want it to be. Same with film making. I suppose the real challenge is…. can you be true to yourself? -To make whatever you think is the most inspiring choice, for whatever reason, in the face of a lot of other opinions - while also allowing for collaboration. 

HOW HAS YOUR APPROACH TO PORTRAYING COMPLEX CHARACTERS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN ROLES LIKE BILLY CHENOWITH IN "SIX FEET UNDER" AND DETECTIVE LUPO IN "LAW & ORDER"?

Well, It’s constantly evolving. For me, it’s always been a game of figuring out what’s going to get in my way on any given day - what’s going to make me self-conscious and unable to be free and present. There are so many thoughts that can interfere with me offering the most of myself - and a lot of them have to do with needing other people’s approval. It would be a lot easier showing up in that way if I was naturally comfortable disappointing people. A lot of the most influential people in the arts are people that inherently thrive when pushing against expectations, being rebellious. As for me, I have to really trick myself into it because of my inclination towards wanting people to like me!

But yes… early on, I only wanted to play the darker roles, the bad guys. Partially, I suppose, because I revered all those amazing 70’s films like Taxi Driver, Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now, etc. but also, I felt it was a greater challenge to bring humanity to those characters that make horrible choices. And that’s true. But I think maybe it was also a way for me to hide. Playing a “character” has, at times, led to me not making the most honest choices and, to me, that’s the most courageous intent to have; to show sides of yourself that you’re not super proud of, you know, the flaws, the struggles. The performances that have given me the most relief as a viewer were the ones that have done that. I still like playing really flawed characters. But now - ever since I had kids, I just need more clarification as to why the character needs to be so difficult. 

YOU’VE BEEN PORTRAYING SPECIAL AGENT VALENTINE SINCE 2018!  WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE PLAYING A CHARACTER IN SERIES WITH SUCH A CORE & LOYAL VIEWERSHIP? 

It’s been cool! I really like it. It's like being in a company of players. We do so many episodes, it’s almost like we’re less focused on making individual episodes, and more focused on creating a process - a process we’re always trying to improve, make more efficient, more engaging. Me and my costars in the JOCC (the war room office space where we work the cases) have this weird fantasy that if the show ever does end we’ll just put on a play in a black box theater, way off-Broadway, using the thousands of hours of JOCC scenes, in some kind of an existential loop, and we’ll just do it till we drop! [Ha] -There’s something life-affirming about that room. I dread the day Jubal isn’t roaming among those nerds, needlessly reiterating what they already know in hopes of finding a crack in the case. 

ARE SHOWS LIKE THIS THAT HAVE SUCH LONGEVITY SOUGHT AFTER BY MANY ACTORS? IS THERE EVER ANY INTERNAL STRUGGLE BETWEEN “GUARANTEED WORK” & CREATIVE FREEDOM?

Oh, sure. I love weird, artsy films. It’s my favorite thing to do, to sit in a dark theater (fortunately I live in NY, which is one of the few cities that plays these kinds of movies these days) and watch these boldly told stories filled with actors, and other creatives, making strange and interesting choices. So, of course, I would love to get back to that at some point. And I have stuff in the works. But, in a way, I can enjoy being a part of the audience more wholly, since that’s not exactly my full-time racket right now. 

And I’m really enjoying what I’m in. There is something super unique about this particular job I have right now. Acting on film/TV usually entails a lot of waiting around and that was never my strong suit. But when we’re in the JOCC, it’s 90% cameras rolling! I really like that. And it’s always a challenge making those scenes feel good, so it’s a hill I’m always down to climb. 

ARE THERE ANY DREAM ROLES OR CHARACTERS YOU STILL ABSOLUTELY WANT TO BRING TO LIFE?

Well, not in the way of having a particular character from a play that I’ve always been obsessed with or something. It’s more that I’m one of those people that has this urge to create things that only I would create. It has something to do with that great contradiction in life: that living it feels so damn big and yet it’s all so insignificant. If I can create something that can really reflect my own experience, it’ll deflect some of that insignificance. And while I know it’s not really true, the drive has never gone away.  Maybe the urge will dissipate as I get older.  And maybe that would be better actually, because there is something very tragic about it all and I’m not sure spending hours trying to express that is the healthiest thing. Nonetheless, I still daydream of somehow touching the mystery of it all with some kind of creative project. And even in FBI, in all I do, that is a significant piece of the motivation, however buried.

WHAT MAKES JEREMY SISTO HAPPY?

Happy? Jeez. Well, my kids. My wife. We have a really good time. We’re all pretty weird. We laugh a lot. And often it’s not clear exactly what we’re all laughing at. Watching my kids do their stuff makes me happy. My daughter’s volleyball matches. My son’s soccer games. I coached my son’s basketball team which was super fun. Watching him play music with his band.  Playing basketball makes me happy -or at least present. Unfortunately, my knee has been keeping me off the court for a few months. Uh...the Knicks make me happy. Love that team. Watching Knicks games with my son -that makes me happy. Playing music I love. Writing songs sometimes. My wife has picked up the drums, playing with her makes me happy. I love games of all kinds. Game nights make me happy. Being with friends

-don’t have a ton, but the ones I do have, I really enjoy. But happiness is elusive and definitely ephemeral. Lately, I have been trying to focus on enjoying things. I'm a bit neurotic and all that head stuff can really interfere with experiencing things like joy. -But I’m working on it. 

AS AN ACTOR, YOU LIKELY TRAVEL OFTEN. WHAT DESTINATIONS HAVE HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON YOU & HOW DO THEY INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD? 

I was part of the generation that traveled Europe with a backpack and a Eurorail pass. Sleeping in gardens and phone booths. No cell phones! That kind of truly solo experience is difficult to give yourself now. Recently I had a few days driving through Italy on my own, and, man, it was so good! Was really into this philosophy called The Headless Way, and was devouring the principles. -Kinda felt like the first time I'd been alone - and in the world - in a very long time! Was really difficult to convince myself to do it - I’m kind of co-dependent on my family - but it was definitely worth the effort. Hope I make myself do it again. 

Leisure aside, I’ve been able to work in so many amazing places and it’s the best. You’re often working with a crew of local residents, so you also get to see the city from the eyes of those who call it home.

YOU'VE ALREADY REVEALED YOUR PART TIME MUSICIANSHIP, WHAT ELSE COULD WE FIND YOU DOING ON YOUR DOWN TIME JEREMY? 

I like making busts out of clay. That’s a creative outlet I find really relaxing and satisfying. I like making things. Out of wood. Out of metal. I like picking weeds in my meadow. I like writing. I like recording. I just really like to make stuff. 

YOU TURNED 50 THIS YEAR YES? (HAPPY BELATED :) - WHAT DID YOU DO TO CELEBRATE? & KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 26 YEAR OLD SELF?

That Italy trip was my gift to myself ...Advice? Oh man. So much. But I probably wouldn’t have been able to hear it back then. -I’m sure someone gave it to me. 

I guess, well, I just learned how to comb my hair like a month ago. I never did that. I had, like, an aversion to it. Had some idea that if I focused on that kind of stuff, it would somehow mean I was superficial, like I was valuing the wrong things. Turns out you can do both, comb your hair, and value who people are on the inside. Who knew?! 

FINALLY, OUR STAPLE QUESTION, OUR FAVORITE QUESTION...JEREMY SISTO, WHAT’S YOUR DEFINITION OF LUXURY? 

Hmmm... I think the most luxurious thing I do is sit courtside at the Knicks - they've got a dope VIP buffet both before [and] at halftime - that feels pretty fancy. 

We used to do some of those real swanky hotels but I don’t think it’s great for the kids to spend too much time with that level of service. We’ll probably hit some more up at some point, though. -I do like an island vibe. Still haven’t stayed in one of those huts-on-the-water-hotels, but someday. 

Also my car driving by itself.... that seems pretty posh.