Latest news with #Urie
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
In a pinch, the writers of ‘Shrinking' turn to their acting ‘assassin': Michael Urie
Ever since landing the career-making role of gay assistant/fashionista Marc St. James on 'Ugly Betty' — at 25, just three years out of Juilliard — Michael Urie has been a busy, award-winning actor unbridled by being unabashedly out. Over the last 20 years, he's glided between TV ('Modern Family,' 'The Good Wife,' 'Younger'), film ('Beverly Hills Chihuahua,' 'Single All the Way,' 'Maestro') and Broadway ('How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' 'Torch Song,' 'Once Upon a Mattress'). 'Whatever I'm currently doing is my favorite,' says the 44-year-old over video chat from the Manhattan apartment he shares with partner and fellow actor Ryan Spahn. 'I find the work itself feels the same. Working on a scene with Harrison Ford is not that different than being onstage with Sutton Foster. I'm opposite somebody at the top of their game, who knows this medium better than anyone, and they're treating me like a peer. I'm there and it's thrilling.' Ford is just one of the many 'titans' Urie feels he's surrounded by on his latest big gig, Apple TV+'s 'Shrinking,' where he plays attorney Brian, gay bestie to star Jason Segel's Jimmy, a straight, unorthodox psychotherapist struggling with the loss of his wife and raising his teen daughter on his own. Segel, who co-created the series with Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, describes Urie's audition tape as electric and flawless. '[Michael's] not a guy who's showing up and figuring it out on the day,' he says of Urie's 'exceptional' prep work. 'Like a pinch hitter or an assassin, he comes in and just perfectly executes the assignment of every scene.' Segel notes that the spot-on work Urie delivered during the first season convinced the show's creative team he could shoulder the dramatic heft of what was planned for the second. In it, Brian tells Jimmy's daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell), how and why he has befriended the guilt-ridden drunk driver (Goldstein) who killed her mother — which, two episodes later, he repeats nearly verbatim to Jimmy, leading to much-needed catharsis all-around. The intense scenes were 'a huge, huge challenge I was so up for and so game to do,' Urie says, and 'easily the greatest gift anyone's ever given me in television.' 'He's just the best dude,' says Segel. 'It makes you want to write for [him]. It makes you want to see him thrive.' Given his success, it's hard to believe Urie almost didn't pursue acting professionally. Born to a seamstress mom and an oil industry draftsman dad in Houston but raised in Dallas-adjacent Plano alongside his older sister, Laura — a Bay Area psychologist who loves 'Shrinking' — he liked performing in plays as a teen but says, 'I didn't think anything like this was at all possible.' He wanted to be a filmmaker like his idol, Tim Burton, or maybe a high school drama teacher like those he worshiped along the way. All that changed when he entered a Texas-wide poetry reading competition as a high school senior. In the middle of a seven-minute piece interpreted in an appropriately serious manner, Urie elicited unexpected giggles from the audience. 'In the moment, I started to lean into everything they were finding funny,' he remembers, 'and I kept getting bigger and bigger laughs.' If walking away with that state championship made Urie seriously consider giving acting a shot, getting into Juilliard after auditioning on a whim made him believe he might succeed. 'I was like, 'Oh, my God! This is where Robin Williams, Patti LuPone, William Hurt and Kevin Kline went to school,'' he recalls. 'Suddenly, I'm in the club.' Urie's certainly made the most of that membership, and he remains thankful to have been given opportunities to bring so many shades of gay to LGBTQ+ audiences throughout the world. But 'Shrinking' has seriously broadened his brand. 'I'm being stopped on the street by more straight men than ever,' he reveals. 'It's empowering. What I feel is pride that all these straight men like Brian and think of him as their friend.' In Season 3, currently shooting in Los Angeles, Urie's Brian and his TV husband, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), will tackle co-parenting their newly adopted child. 'It's not just the baby,' says Urie, resisting a gender reveal so as to not ruin the surprise. 'It's what the baby means to people around him: Charlie, the biological mother and Liz (Christa Miller). And how [being a] dad fits into the rest of his life, in these friendships, in this chosen family. So far, they've written big comedy and some super serious pathos.' Which is exactly as Urie likes it. Shocked and flattered by the growing Emmy buzz surrounding his Season 2 turn, he'd clearly be thrilled to win yet confesses he long ago gave up on accumulating awards. 'All I really wanna do is work,' he says. 'I'm way more comfortable on a set, in rehearsal or onstage than I am at a podium or on a red carpet.'
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SAG Awards: 'Very Worried' Michael Urie, Hopeful Lily Gladstone Respond to Trump Attacks on DEI Initiatives
Actors Michael Urie and Lily Gladstone are opening up about how the war President Donald Trump is waging against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives might affect Hollywood. Both Gladstone and Urie attended the SAG Awards Sunday in Los Angeles, where they were nominated for Hulu's Under the Bridge and the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, respectively. More from The Hollywood Reporter Karla Sofía Gascón Set to Attend Oscars After Resurfaced Tweet Controversy American Music Awards Set Memorial Day Return on CBS SAG Awards Analysis: Does 'Conclave' Ensemble Win Mean 'Anora' Is Vulnerable at Oscars? 'I am concerned, and I am very worried about about all of the minority groups that this administration seems to be going after,' Urie said when asked by The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet if he's concerned about how the Trump administration's stance against DEI initiatives might reverse the strides Hollywood has made in recent years in terms of representation. 'And [I'm worried] about the big corporations that are taking it in such stride — the companies that are rolling back their own DEI just because the administration has rolled back the federal DEI.' Since Trump took office and signed executive orders directing federal agencies to terminate all 'equity-related' grants or contracts and requiring that federal contractors not promote DEI, companies like Disney, Google, Amazon, Meta, Target and PepsiCo have all made changes to their DEI practices, with some corporations abandoning their diverse hiring goals completely. 'It scares me,' Urie said. 'It worries me, because I've been so proud of what we've been doing these last few years in terms of all of the DEI, and they've just turned it into a big old joke, and it sucks. We all seem to be in a bit of shock right now. There's so much coming at us that we don't know what to do.' #Shrinking's Michael Urie shares his thoughts on what the Trump administration rolling back on DEI could mean for representation in the entertainment industry. — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 24, 2025 The actor went on to share his thoughts on how those who oppose Trump's views on DEI initiatives can fight back. 'There are a lot of people hurting right now, and I don't know what to do,' Urie said. 'And I know most of us don't, and I think once we do, once it becomes clear, how do we fight this? How do we combat it? We've got to be ready. We all have to brace for it.' Gladstone, however, is hopeful that Hollywood will continue to tell diverse stories. 'I feel like Hollywood, of course, is an amalgamation of storytellers and we reflect the stories that audiences want to see,' Gladstone told THR. 'America is a big DEI experiment. We are an incredibly diverse nation, always have been, and I think storytellers are going to represent what the people want to see.' The Oscar-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon star, who won a SAG Award in 2024 for her role in the Martin Scorsese film, went on to share how Trump's second term may actually lead to more creativity and diversity in Hollywood. 'When there's something to resist, a lot of times it turns up the creativity,' said Gladstone. 'The flame to create and tell the stories gets a little bit hotter. So I'm really looking forward to seeing how beautiful the moments of transcendence and resistance are that come out of our artists over the next however many years.' #UnderTheBridge's Lily Gladstone shares what they anticipate the entertainment industry response will be to the Trump administration's rollbacking on DEI programs — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 24, 2025 A federal judge on Friday largely blocked Trump's executive orders that aimed to end government support for DEI programs, as the judge found that the orders likely carry constitutional violations, including against free-speech rights. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Urie Praises 'Up and Comer' Costar Harrison Ford as He Wins Critics Choice Award for 'Shrinking'
Michael Urie is giving his flowers to his Shrinking costar Harrison Ford. The Ugly Betty actor, 44 — who won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards — made sure to take a moment to tease his 82-year-old costar during his acceptance speech. Following his win, Urie joked in front of the audience, "Harrison Ford is this great up and comer, who is so amazing." His quip drew several laughs from the audience during the show. Urie, who noted that he was "surrounded by the greatest actors," also thanked Shrinking lead actor Jason Segel for being both an "incredible leader" and "an incredible actor." Related: Michael Urie Says Therapy Is a Part of His 'Forever Journey' Thanks to His Role on Shrinking (Exclusive) Urie won the award over fellow nominees Paul W. Downs for Hacks, Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary, Brandon Scott Jones for Ghosts, Asher Grodman for Ghosts and Harvey Guillén for What We Do in the Shadows. The actor plays Brian in Shrinking, the best friend to Segel's character Jimmy Laird who is a grieving therapist who begins to break the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks. The show also stars Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller and Ted McGinley. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Broadway star previously opened up about his thoughts on the show and how it's helped him seek therapy in an interview with PEOPLE ahead of its second season in October 2024. "The show is so, I think, careful and yet reckless with mental health," he explained. "And it's like, I think that's the right attitude. I think at once, yes, we should all be exploring it, we should all be open to it. We should not be ashamed of our mental healthcare." Related: Harrison Ford Says He Takes His Shrinking Character's Parkinson's Journey 'Deadly F---ing Seriously' (Exclusive) He added of his own journey starting therapy thanks to the influence of the show: "It was really fun. I know, it's such a funny... But I enjoyed it. I have enjoyed going to therapy and deepening my relationship to my own mental health." "It's just one part of my forever journey of figuring my own heart and brain out," he added. "So it's been a journey. It's been at times frustrating, at times fun, at times confusing, just like the show, the same ways show continues to deal with new mental health issues." See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards as they're broadcasting live on E! from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Urie Talks Filming ‘Shrinking' Season 2 In Altadena: 'We Want To Help'
As Michael Urie prepares to get back to work on Shrinking, it will be a bittersweet return to set. The first-time Critics' Choice Award winner opened up to Deadline at Friday's awards show about returning to the fire-ravaged community of Altadena, California next week to film Season 3 of the Apple TV+ series. More from Deadline Critics Choice Awards Photos: Best Of The Red Carpet 'Ugly Betty's Michael Urie & Becki Newton Launch Rewatch Podcast, Recall There 'Was No Plan For Marc & Amanda' Before Their Chemistry Critics Choice Awards: 'Anora' Takes Best Picture; 'Shōgun', 'Hacks', 'Baby Reindeer' Lead TV - Full Winners List 'I've seen a few scripts for Season 3, and they are very good, very funny. They know how to write for us so, so well now,' he said on the red carpet. 'We start next week, and you know, a lot of our locations are in Altadena,' Urie continued. 'So, we're all really happy to be putting something back into that community again and revitalizing what's been lost there. It's such a beautiful neighborhood, such a beautiful part of Los Angeles, and we want to help make that beautiful again.' Urie's co-star Christa Miller, who also serves as the show's music supervisor, previously opened up about the emotional weight of returning to 'the heart of Pasadena' and Altadena after last month's Los Angeles County wildfires. Michael Urie on shooting 'Shrinking' Season 3 in Altadena and giving back to the community #CriticsChoice — Deadline (@DEADLINE) February 8, 2025 'After the devastating fires that hit Los Angeles, it feels more important than ever to support all the communities that have been affected,' she said in a video. 'This is the city where the magic happens and stories are told and dreams come true, and that's why our show is staying here,' added Miller, who is also married to the show's co-creator Bill Lawrence. 'So here's to resilience, to new beginnings and to Los Angeles, the beating heart of the entertainment industry, and we cannot wait to show you what we have in store for Season 3.' At least 25 people died in last month's wildfires, which left countless destruction in its path. The fires have since been contained at 100%. Urie won his first Critics' Choice Award on Friday for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, playing attorney and aspiring father Brian. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 'The Apprentice' Oscar Nominees Sebastian Stan & Jeremy Strong On Why It's 'More Of A Horror Movie' With "Monstrous Egos" 'Prime Target' Release Guide: When Are New Episodes Available On Apple TV+?
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Urie Praises 'Up and Comer' Costar Harrison Ford as He Wins Critics Choice Award for 'Shrinking'
Michael Urie is giving his flowers to his Shrinking costar Harrison Ford. The Ugly Betty actor, 44 — who won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards — made sure to take a moment to tease his 82-year-old costar during his acceptance speech. Following his win, Urie joked in front of the audience, "Harrison Ford is this great up and comer, who is so amazing." His quip drew several laughs from the audience during the show. Urie, who noted that he was "surrounded by the greatest actors," also thanked Shrinking lead actor Jason Segel for being both an "incredible leader" and "an incredible actor." Related: Michael Urie Says Therapy Is a Part of His 'Forever Journey' Thanks to His Role on Shrinking (Exclusive) Urie won the award over fellow nominees Paul W. Downs for Hacks, Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary, Brandon Scott Jones for Ghosts, Asher Grodman for Ghosts and Harvey Guillén for What We Do in the Shadows. The actor plays Brian in Shrinking, the best friend to Segel's character Jimmy Laird who is a grieving therapist who begins to break the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks. The show also stars Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller and Ted McGinley. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Broadway star previously opened up about his thoughts on the show and how it's helped him seek therapy in an interview with PEOPLE ahead of its second season in October 2024. "The show is so, I think, careful and yet reckless with mental health," he explained. "And it's like, I think that's the right attitude. I think at once, yes, we should all be exploring it, we should all be open to it. We should not be ashamed of our mental healthcare." Related: Harrison Ford Says He Takes His Shrinking Character's Parkinson's Journey 'Deadly F---ing Seriously' (Exclusive) He added of his own journey starting therapy thanks to the influence of the show: "It was really fun. I know, it's such a funny... But I enjoyed it. I have enjoyed going to therapy and deepening my relationship to my own mental health." "It's just one part of my forever journey of figuring my own heart and brain out," he added. "So it's been a journey. It's been at times frustrating, at times fun, at times confusing, just like the show, the same ways show continues to deal with new mental health issues." See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards as they're broadcasting live on E! from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock. Read the original article on People
