I would rather have played a character like Opie than Little Ricky.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I was too dumb to know Opie was going to grow up to be a great Director, if so, boy, I would certainly have become his best friend.
I'd rather play a character that was really, really different to me as to someone who is quite close to my character.
My dad's more three-dimensional than Opie Taylor or Richie Cunningham. He even has a temper! He's a real person. But some people are disappointed by that.
Of course I loved 'I Love Lucy' and saw every episode over and over again. I found it heartbreaking that Ricky got to be famous and have an exciting life at the Tropicana while Lucy was stuck in that terrible apartment with the Mertzes.
Josie needed more of a personality than what the cartoon had to offer.
I've always liked the downtrodden character on different shows. Before 'Parks,' I loved the Toby character on 'The Office.' I do like playing that type of thing.
It's a character that I always found really likable. I'm fond of Zorro because he was a popular figure who worked for the people.
'Rick' never really fit. I tried for 18 years to make it work, and no one wanted to call me Rick. It should always have been Ricky. That's what it always should have been, so I'm going back to it.
Because I am a character actor, I thought I would be the fourth or eighth banana on a sitcom, and that would be OK.
I don't count that relationship with Ricky. It's just like a blip at this point. I had to fall in love with the devil himself to get this sweet angel, Jack.