Fans of Fox's forensic detective drama Bones would likely agree that one of the most interesting characters to be found in this quirky series is Dr. Zack Addy, the befuddled genius/child prodigy whose personality is aloof and distant while also vulnerable and endearing. This challenging character replete with multiple character flaws has been vividly brought to life by the talents of actor Eric Millegan, who is currently riding the crest of a huge wave of popularity as one of the principal stars of Fox's addictive, unusual series, now in its third season.
Born in Hackettstown, NJ, the openly gay Millegan actually grew up in the Pacific Northwest town of Springfield, Oregon. An early interest in acting led him to the University of Michigan, where he earned a BFA degree in Musical Theatre. His first movie role was in the critically acclaimed independent film On_Line, which went on to a number of prestigious film festivals, including Berlin, Sundance and Cinequest.
A successful 10-year career in theater found Millegan starring opposite revered character actress Estelle Parsons in a memorable East Coast mounting of Harold and Maude: The Musical, captivating audiences with a sizzling performance in the off-Broadway smash Altar Boyz, and dazzling friends and fans in Eugene, Oregon, with his earnest portrayal of Frederick in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. He also shined in starring roles in such Broadway mainstays as Jesus Christ, Superstar and Hair.
The 33-year-old Millegan has appeared on some of TV's biggest shows, including NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Sidney Lumet's courtroom drama for A&E, 100 Centre Street. Millegan chatted with me on topics both personal and professional.
David Guarino: Your character on Bones, Dr. Zack Addy, is a man with a superior intellect but questionable social skills.
Eric Millegan: And a bit socially awkward; very smart about some things, and not so smart about other things.
So the role appears to be a huge departure from the types of characters you've played in musical theatre and in film.
Yeah! Well, some of the roles that I've played in projects I've done on stage were very dramatic, or "cry-baby" roles as I put it. For instance, Harold in Harold and Maude was a very dark character, and in Bones, despite the dark subject matter, it's very light; I get to do comedy.
Your first film, On_Line, was considered controversial.
It was a webcam movie, and I don't think anybody had done that yet. And yes, because you have these lonely people on line by themselves having sex, it was a masturbation movie. But it was sweet; it was a sweet masturbation movie! Initially, I thought I was doing this dirty movie, but when I watched it for the first time, I realized that it was a very sweet, romantic comedy. We actually shot the scenes on two different sets over webcams simultaneously.
Did the producers require you or your castmates to be naked?
Vanessa Ferlito had a topless scene, and I guess I had a topless scene. Oh, and Harold Perinneau had a butt shot. There was a little bit of nudity.
When did you first realize you had a talent for singing?
When I was very, very young. My sister was in a fifth-grade choir in elementary school, and I was in the first grade. Since she would walk me home from school, I would go to the choir rehearsals with her. And I just loved singing with them. They would not let me be in the concert because I wasn't in the fifth grade. My Mom was very upset, and she complained. And they finally said, "Well, he can't sing with the choir, but he can sing a solo." So I sang "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" from Annie. That was kind of the beginning of it. Then I did lots of community theater. I did Oliver!, The King and I, Camelot, all sorts of shows. Every show that has a kid involved, I was in it.
Now you have made what many would consider a major adjustment, going from musical theater to TV. Television is a very different medium, isn't it?
It is a very different medium. You're doing different things every day, and very quickly; you have very little rehearsal. So that can be challenging. You don't have the six weeks of rehearsal that you have with theater. But then, theater requires a very strenuous physical workout, especially if you're dancing. You have to have your singing voice in shape every day, and you have to be sure that you're resting your voice. When I do TV, I don't have to worry about singing, except I have to announce that I'm going to be singing in an upcoming episode of Bones.
It seems that Zack took singing lessons as a kid, and he's going to break into song and sing the "Aquarius" solo. "When the moon is in the seventh house!" I'm going to be singing on the set, in the lab. So I shoot on Monday, it's very exciting; I'm very scared.
Tell me about your experience working with Estelle Parsons in Harold and Maude: The Musical.
We had a very good time working together. We hit it off at the audition and connected. Later she did a couple of plays, in New York and Connecticut, between my audition and rehearsals for the show. I would drive out to see her plays, and we would meet up afterwards, so we really bonded. I really fell in love with her every night on the stage.
In 2003, Out magazine named you the "hottest up-and-coming openly gay actor" of that year. Was it a lot to live up to?
Well, yeah. I remember saying, "I hope the hottest openly gay actor of 2003 works in 2003!" But I guess the key words were "up-and-coming," because I made good on it by getting this TV show.
How did you decide to be totally out as a working actor?
Well, I played a gay character in a movie. Then I went to Sundance, and Sundance had what they call "The Gay Brunch," where all the gay producers, writers, and actors meet up at Sundance. The director of On_Line, Jed Weintrob, scheduled me to go to that. So I figured, when I go to that, I'll be around a lot of gay journalists, and everybody knows I'm gay, I have a partner. Why not? I'm gay. So I went there and did some interviews, and I remember talking to my agent and asking, "What do you think? Good idea, bad idea?" He said, "I think it's fine. I don't think it's going to hurt your career." He really backed me up. The Advocate interviewed me, Out interviewed me, and that was that. I thought, "I hope I can have a career being openly gay." And it's turned out great. I got Harold and Maude, I got this TV show, and I got them being completely open. It feels great to have done that.
What, in your opinion, is the single most important issue facing the GLBT community today?
Gay civil unions are definitely important even if we don't get gay marriage. We need to at least have civil unions. The issue of gay marriage is important in terms of the people who are against it, because they are against homosexuality, period. You know, they talk about this idea of protecting marriage, but what they're really saying is that they don't want their kids to see a public validation of the gay lifestyle. When I read the interviews of so-called Christians who say that stopping gay marriage is the most important thing in their life, I just think that's absolutely ludicrous. I think the most important thing is to let kids understand that being gay is alright, that you can be straight or gay. Whatever your orientation is, you will be accepted in society.
Bones airs on Fox Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Seasons 1 & 2 of the series are available on DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Video.