Josh McDermitt, best known to many as Eugene from The Walking Dead, is taking on a completely different kind of role—as a high-powered lawyer in NBC’s Suits LA. In this interview, McDermitt talks about his approach to character work, how the beard he grew during his downtime unexpectedly became a staple of his look, and the creative choices that helped shape his performance on the show.
McDermitt dives into everything from the importance of cast chemistry to the subtle power of a well-tailored suit and the occasional improved moments he and cast member Bryan Greenberg throw into the ends of a scene. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For the full interview, watch the video above or check out our YouTube page.
Look at that magnificent beard you have.
Josh McDermitt: I mean, I’m trying. They do a good job of making it look better than it actually is.
Some of my favorite shows are where I feel like the actors is having a blast, both on screen and off. And I feel like this is one of those shows.
Josh McDermitt: Wow. Thanks for saying that, because I felt that way about the original series. You know, at least from my perspective, obviously, you pick up on it.
But I thought maybe it was just because I was an actor and I’m just like more in tune with that. But you can tell when actors are not having fun on a show.
It’s like if you’re not having fun, then you’re not going to put the effort in that you need to. But watching the original series, I just thought this looked like it would have been a fun show to do. Like, you know, they look like they’re having fun.
And that’s actually very important to me that we have a strong bond within the cast and that we obviously put the work first, but that we put each other first, not just ourselves, but put each other first, because if I’m focusing on you, then I know you’re going to focus on me and we’re just going to live or die together as opposed to every man for himself, you know?
But that’s a really interesting point that you bring that up, because it is something that I at least work toward, I work really hard to achieve.
I also feel like when a character first appears on screen, it says a lot about them, yours is pretty great. It has that long shot of you walking out of the elevator, strutting and confident, looking like a million bucks. How important was it for you to get that moment right?
Josh McDermitt: It was interesting. I had conversations with Victoria Mahoney, who directed our pilot, and she was saying, ‘What’s your favorite suit? What suit do you want to wear? And do you want that to be the suit you wear in court?’ And I said it comes down to these two suits. And it’s basically the one I wear in the court scene and the one where I step off the elevator in the opening scene.
And we talked a lot about that opening scene, about wearing what I feel most comfortable with and most confident as the actor to portray the character, because that is such an important… It’s the first time you see the character and this guy has to exude confidence.
And it’s interesting, you know, I never really watch a show that I’m in and think like, “Oh, I look cool.” But I did in that moment. I was like, “Oh, man, I look cool.” It was great.
And you’ve picked up on two things there were like oddly vulnerable thoughts that I had, but that’s because you’re an actor.
Speaking of the suits, are they just immaculate? When you put one on, do you feel ready to go?
Josh McDermitt: You know, as an actor, there’s some people who will say, “Oh, as soon as I put the shoes on for the character, I’m in character,” or whatever. But for me, it’s the whole suit.
I’ll go to set, and they go to put the microphone wire on, they’ll hold my jacket and they don’t give me my jacket until all that’s done. And I just don’t feel like I’m in character until that jacket goes on and completes the look. And it’s I mean, yeah, it just feels good. They’re tailored to us beautifully.
Every time I see you in a role, you look completely different. Is that something that you like to do to help you get into the role? I mean, there are actors, most actually, who go from part to part and they look exactly the same.
Josh McDermitt: I try to look as different as possible as I can. Not every character is going to allow you to do that. Because, maybe, there’s an issue of time, or if I’m shooting something at the same time, I’m shooting something else, that sort of thing.
But I definitely want to… look we’re wearing masks, you know? I like wearing masks, some people are happy with looking like themselves. I like being able to take the mask off at the end of the day, and to go about my business and not necessarily have to worry about always being in character, so to speak.
I look different now with the beard, I can’t really take the beard off at home. But when the role is done, it’s taking off the mask, and I get to probably cut the beard and we’ll go from there. But yeah, I try to look as different as possible.
At the end of some of your scenes in the show, there’s like one or two asides where you and your scene partner are kind of like throwing out something that’s very funny, and of the moment. Are those written or do they give you leeway to end the scene like that?
Josh McDermitt: Yeah, we try and do the scenes as written a few times. And then they let us play a little bit.
That’s where I’m thinking that you guys are having so much fun because those end caps of the scenes are nice little buttons.
Josh McDermitt: I mean, you got it. You want to make sure that you ended in the same tone. Sometimes, I make the mistake of just throwing out something funny, but they’ll never use it because it doesn’t fit the tone of where they want the scene to end. It’s like all of a sudden, I’m doubling back with some weird improvisational line.
But working with Bryan Greenberg, he’s a very funny comedic actor, and he improvises really well. But then we also have the writers on set where if he throws out something or I do, then the writers are coming in with like, “Oh, that was funny, it made me think of this.”
And it’s just all a collaborative thing, which is fun to just kind of find something and build something. But, we throw out 100 things and then they might keep one of them.
At the end of the season, are you going to shave the beard off and regrow it?
Josh McDermitt: It doesn’t grow that fast, unfortunately. I’ll keep it.
