Where To Watch
Kevin Tighe didn't believe he was a ''leading man''
"You have to be totally honest and open."
Though his character lived in Emergency! Kevin Tighe didn’t necessarily feel that he was destined to play a protagonist. “I don’t consider myself a leading man,” said the actor during an interview with the Evening News. “I have a lot of work to do to develop a definitive style.”
A seasoned actor, Tighe began his performance career at a young age before leaving acting behind entirely to go to college. After being discharged from the Army, Tighe returned to entertainment, this time pursuing a master's in directing.
After working on the stage for many years, Tighe’s big break came when he was cast as Roy DeStoto in Emergency! Tighe said that stepping into the spotlight after starring in the series was a “big transition,” as he mourned the loss of privacy and anonymity.
Moreover, Tighe claimed that such stardom, even in television, was alienating. Tighe said there was a danger that an actor would “get out of contact with reality. People treat you as a person with a TV series. The networks pay you huge sums of money.”
But with more experience, Tighe better understood what he wanted in a character.
“Most roles I’ve wanted are older roles,” said Tighe. “Like George in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ or ‘Waiting for Godot.’ I’d love to do O’Neill.”
“Actors give, and if they give, they get back. You have to be totally honest and open. Once, I wanted to be very artsy. Now, I’ll settle for making people feel good.”
Related
