Jim Gaffigan Interview: Linoleum and the Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative

In case you didn’t realize, Jim Gaffigan is not new to acting. He’s got 116 credits in IMDb, and he’s turned in some spectacular performances in recent years. The most recent is as the lead in Colin West’s moving dramedy Linoleum, which was honored Tuesday at San Francisco International Film Festival as this year’s recipient of the Sloan Science on Screen Award as part of the Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative. The film was selected for two primary reasons: Its two leads (Gaffigan and Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn) are astronomers at distinctly different points in their careers, not to mention their marriage, and the film is a fascinating examination of the phenomena of memory and time.
The film’s success hinges on a bravura performance by Gaffigan, so Paste sat down with him at the festival to interview him about Linoleum, his role and his own family background.
Paste Magazine: First of all, I’m all-in for a real-life version of the show Above and Beyond, with you hosting as this character.
Jim Gaffigan: I know nothing about science. It’s hard for me to memorize lines anyway, but when you don’t understand it…
You were like ABBA. They famously didn’t know English, and just learned what the lyrics sounded like.
Gaffigan: Exactly. And that enthusiasm for science that character has is such a cornerstone of his personality. So maybe I don’t have that for science, but I do have it for comedy and acting. I do know that world, but not that exact same world. I love acting because I love being a soldier for someone else. I’ve been on the other side, so I do want to be a good soldier. And Colin has this collaborative thing. When you have a leader of the ship that is collaborative, that wants to hear things you have to say, I totally nerd out on those projects. When I saw the cut I told Colin, “This is really great. There was this one bit that you didn’t put in there, but it’s not my film, you know what I mean?” I don’t ever want to be someone’s hindrance.
I’m going to let my Buddhism show, but it’s a great opportunity for letting go. A great opportunity for non-attachment, you know? “I put everything I had into this role and now the director is going to do what he’s going to do with it.”
Gaffigan: I feel as though the whole entertainment industry is very like that. People tell me “It’s so interesting to see you acting,” but I’ve been in dozens of films.
One hundred and sixteen credits. I looked it up this morning.
Gaffigan: But it’s a perception business. And when you talk about letting go, you do hold onto things. I love this film. I want people to see it and I want people to love it. But I’m not going to be able to control this. And selfishly, I especially want directors and producers to see movies where I’m a lead. Because in the entertainment industry, people are relatively risk averse. It’s fascinating because as any creative person, what works is when we take things personally. But then we also have to turn it off. So it’s like if you submit an article, you think “This one’s gonna pop…” And for people like you and I who have been kicking around for a while, the sting is shorter when it doesn’t. But it’s still there.
We’ve talked about several of your really good performances in recent years—Tesla, Them That Follow, Troop Zero. I didn’t realize you were in Three Kings all those years ago.