The TV Chick

Sunday night is an insane night full of television goodness. 666 Park Avenue premieres tonight as part of ABC’s new killer Sunday lineup and it’s an intense, scary, dramatic show that focuses on life (and death) in the historic Drake building in New York City. Terry O’Quinn plays Gavin Doran, owner of the Drake and from the pilot, it’s pretty clear he is a very bad guy. We’re not sure why or if he’s truly evil, but he definitely holds the power at the Drake, with his wife Olivia (played by Vanessa Williams). I recently had the chance to speak with O’Quinn at Comic Con about his character, the new show and going from Lost to 666 Park Avenue.

You’ve played some really exciting characters in your career, what attracted you to this role?
The honest answer is that someone was willing to pay me a lot of money to do it and it was the most appealing of the stuff that I read in the season. I thought that there was a lot of potential to develop a character that was a little more complex than just evil. I’m still hopeful of that.

How has it been going from Lost to this show?
There was a bit of an apprehension going from Lost to anything, because Lost was great. And it was a great character. It was really well written. I remember talking to other characters and saying you know, this is never going to happen again. This won’t happen again in your career. There may be other fantastic experiences, but this kind of a phenomenon is not going to come along and you’re not going to get a role like this. And it’s not going to be shot in paradise. I wasn’t looking for Lost when I got done with that. I was just looking for a job that was made well with a cast I liked and writing that left a possibility for some good work.

Are you attracted to the more villainous roles?
Not necessarily. But for some reason, people seem to think I should do them. Bad guys can be really fun to play. They have better secrets. They kind of drive the action. Gavin Doran’s desire and manipulative power makes things happen. When he shows up, it’s important. And that’s cool.

Do you have any theories on your character?
Yes and no. But that would be for the writers to explore. But one would be that he himself is trapped somehow. That he’s a prisoner or that he’s made a deed or made a deal or was forced into a situation and now he’s sort of a slave. I don’t know. That would absolve him a little bit, because God knows he needs a little absolution. He’s a pretty bad guy. Maybe he’s the Portrait of Dorian Gray. Maybe he actually is 200 years old. But no, I don’t have any particular theories. Because if I start believing in theories, I start acting them and that could be a mistake.

Can you talk about working with Vanessa Williams as your wife?
Yeah, she’s a sweetheart. I was a little nervous because I thought she was from Desperate Housewives and I thought they’re all terrible, I’m sure they are. But she showed up and she’s just the sweetest, regular, normal girl and I was surprised. She’s a pro. She’s a doll and a lovely person.

Be sure to tune in tonight at 10 PM to ABC for the premiere of 666 Park Avenue.