Jerry O'Connell on Carpooling With Rebecca Romijn, Getting Back His NYC 'Edge' and Debuting on Broadway in Seminar

At first glance, it’s surprising to see Jerry O’Connell onstage in Seminar as a fast-talking young novelist who trashes Kerouac and brags about his stint at the MacDowell writers’ colony. O’Connell is beloved for his guy-next-door performances in films (Stand By Me, Scream 2, Jerry Maguire), TV (The Defenders, Sliders) and comic videos on the internet, including a priceless parody of Tom Cruise. But O’Connell is also an NYU-trained screenwriter (First Daughter) who has completed a year of law school—and he looks perfectly at home at the Golden Theatre sparring with a literary lion played by Alan Rickman in Theresa Rebeck’s new comedy. After a week of previews, Broadway.com caught up with this sweetly low-key actor, who chatted about his Broadway debut, his almost-three-year-old twin daughters (Dolly and Charlie, with wife Rebecca Romijn) and more.

What are you loving most about acting on Broadway in Seminar?
Where do I start? One of the most exciting things for me is that I was born and raised in Manhattan. I went to P.S. 41 on Sixth Avenue, across from the now-defunct Original Ray’s [Pizza]; I went to NYU and lived at home all through college, then I moved to Los Angeles to work in television and have been there for 15 years. I don’t want to say that you get lazy in L.A., but it’s a different way of life; I really feel like I lost my edge. I wanted to get back to New York, specifically on a Theresa Rebeck project. I’ve auditioned for Theresa Rebeck plays a couple of times and was not successful, so when this opportunity came up, I really pursued it. I think she writes great New York characters.

Have you ever been on stage? You’re a natural.
Only in 100-seat houses in L.A. I did something for the Blank Theater Company, which is Noah Wyle’s company. Naked Angels came out to L.A., and I did something for them. I’ve done a bunch of improv in L.A. with Upright Citizens Brigade, but listen: This is Broadway. It’s a whole other ball of wax.

Were you nervous before the first preview?
No, because [director] Sam Gold had prepared us so much. The only thing I was a little nervous about was doing it in front of an audience. But after hearing people laughing and going crazy during the invited dress [rehearsal], I knew it would be okay. Before we started these previews, my audience was basically Lily Rabe and Hettienne Park; I was playing stuff to them in rehearsal and seeing if I could crack them up. It’s a different game now, but man, it’s been fun! I think we’re in a really good place with this play.

Your co-stars are all experienced stage actors, which must be helpful.
When you’re on a stage with Alan Rickman and Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater and Hettienne Park, you find your game elevated. Michael Jordan won all those championships because players had to rise to a level that was close to him. I get lost on stage every night just watching Alan Rickman! And Sam Gold has been so helpful. It’s crazy to say, because he’s a younger man than me, but he’s like a mentor. When I came in, I had a more extreme take on my character, and Sam helped me in calming that down. He’s a subtle director, and he’s even helped me in my personal life. I’m a more subtle person now.

How has your view of your character, an up-and-coming fiction writer named Douglas, evolved?
My original take was that I know this guy: He’s a pompous guy who’s the most successful person at the party, has a famous last name, speaks with an accent of indeterminate locale—you don’t know if it’s English or where it comes from—and you just want to tell him to shut up. I knew immediately who this guy was, and I think the fact that I grew up in New York had a lot to do with me getting the role. Sam also is from New York. He went to Dalton, and I want to Professional Children’s School uptown, so we know these people.

You get the play started with a funny, complicated riff about writing and writers. Have you ever thought about writing a novel?
You know, I wrote some nonfiction—I started to keep something like a blog when my wife [actress Rebecca Romijn] and I were going through having twins. I was thinking about sending that in, but it’s a little personal.

You’ve been a screen star, you had a script produced, you went to law school for a year, you’ve guest-hosted on Live With Regis and Kelly, and now you’re a Broadway actor—you’re a jack-of-all-trades.
Yeah, master of none [laughs]. I’m someone who likes to keeps busy; I’m always in a hustle, I guess. I did go back to grad school [at Southwestern Law School] because my wife was working and I was a stay-at-home dad for a year after my kids were born. I wanted to do something other than talk baby talk and watch Sesame Street. I had to deal with some adults! Night school worked out great because the girls went to sleep and I was able to sneak off for a couple of hours.

Why did you choose law school rather than, say, creating a TV series?
I’ve always been interested in it. I plan on finishing, as well. At some point in my retirement, I think it would be nice to lend legal services to people who are less fortunate.

What’s it been like living in your parents’ apartment again [during previews]? Has that been fun?
It has been fun. It is a little weird, being 37 and a father of two, and moving back in with your Mommy and Daddy, but in these economic times, a lot of people are doing the same thing. My wife and kids are coming for a few months and we’ll have a place to ourselves, so we’re excited about that.

How is the relocation going?
It’s actually crazy: I have to fly to L.A. on my day off and come back with them, because I can’t let my wife fly with our two nutty kids. Lord knows what will happen on that plane, but believe me, the TSA will be involved! [Laughs.] I’m going to go there and help her on lockdown.

Could you imagine moving back to New York for a longer period of time?
Listen, I would love to. Right now, we don’t have any plans of doing that, but it would be great.

Would you be open to being Kelly Ripa’s permanent co-host?
Oh god, first of all, I’m such a big Regis fan. It’s sort of crazy that he’s leaving, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’m in the running for that one. Would I love to? I think Kelly Ripa is one of the funniest women on television. She and her husband [Mark Consuelos] are adorable. I even watch their reality show, Dirty Soap, on E. Personally, I think she and her husband make a great pair.

How about a reality show with your wife and kids?
No way. Never. Our lives are not as exciting as the Kardashians.

What about a comedy series with Rebecca?
My wife and I have worked together [on Carpoolers and Eastwick], and we’ve had a lot of fun doing it. We like it because we get to carpool, and it’s good for the environment. But, hopefully, this run in Seminar is going to last for a while. Working on Broadway has taught me so much about this craft. This is the most talented cast I have ever worked with, and every day that I perform with them, I learn more and am inspired more. It’s an honor, and it’s an education.

Finally, you have starred in some nutty comedy videos and posed for a photo feature in People wearing only a Speedo. Has anyone ever asked you to do something that you thought was too much?
“Too much” isn’t in my professional vocabulary. I haven’t gotten to that line yet. I’ll let you know when I do!

See Jerry O’Connell in Seminar at the Golden Theatre.