Zachary Quinto on the Howard Stern Show

8 January 2014

After the break Howard came right back and said he wants to talk to Zachary. Howard said he was on Heroes and he plays Spock in the new Star Trek. Howard said he thinks he’s a better Spock than the original. Howard said he’s an awesome actor. Howard said Robin must be in the can. He said she actually loves his performances. He said she picked the original Spock over Zachary’s.
Howard asked if Leonard Nimoy had to approve of him. Zachary said that it was more of a consultation than an approval. Howard said he thinks that Zachary is a great actor.

Howard said that his psychiatrist saw Zach in The Glass Menagerie. He said he has to see it. Zach told him to come out and see it. He said he’s doing it until February. Howard said he has to get his ass out there and see it. Zach said that it might be the best job he’s had. He said he does it for the experience and not for the money. He said he never feels more at home than when he’s on stage. He said there’s something ritualistic about doing it. He said you do the same thing every night. Howard asked if it ever becomes boring. Zachary said it can get boring. He said that’s why you go to school though. He went to Carnegie Mellon. He said it was hard to get into that school. He had to audition.

Howard asked if Heroes was his big break. Zachary said it was. Howard asked if he was surprised that he had to play a villain. Zachary said he wasn’t a villain at first. He said he had to show a different side of himself to get the job. Howard said they really screwed that show up. He said the show was a phenomenon when it started. Howard said he was getting all the accolades when it started. Howard said he must have had a shitty contract at first. Zachary said it was more for the experience than anything. Howard said the show had great reviews and it was getting good ratings. Then the show got shitty in the second season. Zachary said it’s tough to cultivate a show on network TV like that. He said that it was a huge network tent pole show. He said they don’t exist like that now. He said they’re more cable shows now.

Howard said the thing that ruined the show was that everyone got super powers. Zachary said the thing that was tough was the writer’s strike. He said that impacted the trajectory of the show. He said he thinks it was a 7 or 8 month strike. He said they had to stop. Zachary said he shot Star Trek during the strike. He said he was going to miss some of the show but the strike got him out of that. He said they let him out of his contract to do that movie and he thinks they did that because it was a good thing to have him in it. He said he doesn’t think they knew where the series was going either so that was another challenge they had. Zachary said that they ended up breaking their own rules. He said his character died so many times and it became very frustrating. He said they had rules in their world that they broke. He said he had a great time working with the writers of that show though.

Howard asked what he had to go through with the audition. Zachary said he hadn’t worked in a long time and he was having a tough time. Howard said it’s a miracle that it worked out the way it did for him. Zachary said that it was great. He said that he felt like he won the lottery with the way the whole Star Trek thing worked out. Howard said he has both Heroes and Star Trek to fall back on if he ever has to go to those conventions. Howard asked if it was a life changer. Zachary said it was over time. He said he didn’t start on the show until the 8th episode. He said between his first audition and second audition he knew what the character was going to be. He said there was a lot of pressure on him when he went back.

Howard asked how many people he had to audition in front of. Zachary said he did that for the producers because it was going to be a guest star role. He said he wasn’t nervous though. Zachary said it was no different auditioning for that than anything else. Howard asked if he can learn lines quickly. Zachary said he has a knack for that. Howard said he figured he did. He said he has a lot of roles where he has a lot of dense material he has to recite. Zachary said he can look at a TV sсript once or twice and he has it down.

Howard said he has a lot of long dialogs. He said that the Star Trek stuff is pretty scientific. Zachary said he can go into a blocking rehearsal and get it down after a few tries. He said that part of that is with the ease that you say it. Howard said it has to be like real speech.

Howard asked if they have to glue his fingers together to do the Vulcan thing. Zachary said when he started doing the Star Trek thing he had to rubber band his fingers together to get it down. He said it’s not as easy as it looks and he had to work on it.

Howard asked if he goes to the conventions. Zachary said you have to be in the right space to do that. He said you have to be willing to sit at a desk for 8 hours. Howard said George Takei and William Shatner have been doing that stuff for years. Zachary said it is a unique insurance policy in ways. He said he’s doing other things but he appreciates the Star Trek fans. He said there is some good will among them. Howard said he thought he did a great job in the Star Trek movies. Howard said it has to be tough to step into a role that someone else has already done.

Howard asked if he was upset that he had to audition for JJ Abrams. Zachary said he didn’t have to do that. He said it was a pretty minimal audition process actually. Howard said he thought he was terrific in the role. He asked if Leonard told him to do things that Spock would do. Zachary said he didn’t. He said that he and Leonard Nimoy have gotten very close actually. Howard said that must be weird for the two Spocks to go out to lunch.

Howard asked where he grew up. Zachary said he grew up in Pittsburgh. He said his father was a photographer and artist. He said he was a musician too. Howard said he wasn’t from an acting family though. He said he came up the hard way. Howard said he had a shitty life. Howard said his dad died when he was 7. Zachary said he was just talking to someone about that the other day. He said that you’re familiar with death at such a young age and you can integrate it into your life.

Howard asked if he was an angry kid when his dad died. Zachary said he wasn’t angry. He said he didn’t understand. Howard asked if his mother was good at explaining it to him. Zachary said this was in 1984 and he died from cancer. He said the child psychology thing wasn’t bit back then. Zachary said that he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and he had surgery and the cancer came back a year and a half later. Then he died 3 months later.

Howard asked if he wishes his dad was around to show him what he’s doing. Zachary said he does think about how incredible it would be to show him but if his dad hadn’t died then maybe he wouldn’t be where he is now. He said that things shape your life and maybe he wouldn’t be where he is now.

Howard asked if he had a father figure growing up. Zachary said that hi brother was like a father figure. He said that he was really good about the whole thing.

Howard asked Zachary about being in a car accident when he was 16. Zachary said he drove too fast and totaled the car. He said no one was injured in the car though. He said that was the first day he drove alone. He said his mother told him to pull it together and figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He said he got some clarity for his life from that conversation.

Howard asked Zachary about going to catholic school and if the whole gay thing was an issue there. He said hew as bullied and he thinks that people knew he was gay. Howard said he doesn’t get that from him. Zachary said it may have come out more when he was a child. He said he doesn’t think he was a fully integrated person yet and some people may have been looking for weakness and vulnerability. He said he didn’t get into a lot of fights. He said he was able to talk his way out of them.

Howard said that Zachary has problems with relationships because of his father dying so young. Howard asked if he just gets the fuck out of relationships. Zachary said that he had a fear of people leaving him and not necessarily dying. He said that he didn’t come out until he was 24 so that made things tough too. Howard asked if his family knew. Zachary said that his mom claimed she didn’t. He was surprised by that.

Zachary said that he had a lot to learn about relationships because he didn’t get it going until he was in his 20s. He said that was part of the relationship problem.

Howard said he read about how he only dated actors. Howard had a list of the people he was rumored to have dated. Howard said he boned a lot of dudes. Robin said maybe he just dated them and didn’t bone them. Howard said guys don’t just date, they bone. Howard said he can’t find the list. He asked if someone stole it from him. He found it a short time later. Howard asked if he dated Colton Haynes from Teen Wolf. Zachary said he didn’t. He said he’s not sure where this list came from. Howard asked where they got this list from. Zachary said that people just make shit up. He said he knows some of these people but he didn’t date them. Howard asked if that upsets him. Zachary said he couldn’t care less.

Howard asked why he had to gain 18 pounds for Star Trek. Zachary said that he had to do a fight sequence in the second film so he was bulking up to do that. He said he wasn’t just gaining weight to gain weight.

Howard said that the movies must be tough to do. Zachary said there is a lot of prep when you do something like that.

Howard said that they must have roped Zachary into a bad contract for Heroes. Zachary said they all got paid the same thing. He said that he was making okay money. He said it was more than he had made before. He said he did buy a house the minute he could afford to. Howard said it’s a miracle to be able to buy a house when you’re an actor. He said most people are betting that he won’t be able to do it. Zachary said statistically they’re not wrong.

Howard asked if he was able to go in on the second season and renegotiate his contract. Zachary said that they were all paid the same thing so they weren’t able to do that. They would have had to have banned together to make that happen.

Howard said he read that Chris Pine wanted more money for Star Trek and they said that he got a million and a half to do the second movie. Howard said that’s a lot of money for a kid but not for someone like that. Howard said he’s the lead guy and he’s getting a million and a half. Howard said Zachary must have perked up when he heard that. Howard said he had a dispute with his agent at the time. Zachary said that was a weird day on the set of the movie. He said Chris is a private guy and he respects that. He said it’s uncomfortable when that is dragged through the Hollywood Reporter. Howard said that was good for him and now he knew what he was making. Zachary said it was good in a way. He said that some of the guys had done other movies before so they might get more money. He said he was the first actor cast on the film so they had him over a barrel. Zachary sad that they signed a 3 picture deal. Howard asked if he signed for more than a million. Zachary said he didn’t want to say. Howard asked if he got less than a million and a half. Zachary said it was. He said he’s motivated by that though. He said it’s the long game you have to play when you’re in the business. He said he can continue to work in other ways and make more money. He said that he can do other things and that can be lucrative too. He said salary is one thing. Howard wondered why he’s pissed off for Zach.

Howard said he thinks that Zachary will have a long career. He said he’s very diverse. He said that Zachary came out and didn’t tell anyone he was doing it. Howard said living a closeted life is torturous. He said it just sucks. Howard said he must have debated it for a long time. Zachary said he did. He said he did it in good ways though. He said he was never hasty about it. He said the thing he has is that it was his decision the way he executed it and the way he did it. Howard asked what he did. Zachary said he was giving a profile interview for a magazine and it was the last one he did. He said he referred to himself as a gay man in the article twice and that’s all he did.

Howard said he’s honored to meet him for doing that. He said that there are people who want to rip his heart out over that kind of thing and it’s so ridiculous. He said there are so many things to worry about in this world and that’s not one of the things they should be upset about.

Robin asked if it’s had any effect on his career. Zachary said he’s doing exactly what he wants to do. He said if it has had an effect then he’s not aware of it. He said that in the future he thinks that they’ll be able to look back on this and see that they were just on their way. He said that things have radically changed over the years. Howard said George Takei came flying out of the closet and now he’s gone crazy.

Howard asked if his agent freaked out when the article came out. Zachary said he had told him about it before it came out.

Robin asked if he’s in a relationship. Zachary said he is. Howard said the guy is a model. Howard asked if a non-model can get him. Zachary said not now. He said no other guy can get him now. Howard asked if he can be at the wedding. Zachary said he can if he wants to be. He said the whole marriage equality thing is going on and he doesn’t know what that holds for him in his life. He said that he isn’t at that place where his friends are doing that. Howard asked if he dated any women. Zachary said he did in high school. He didn’t have any sex though. Howard said he’s a pure blood then. Howard said he isn’t missing out on much. Howard said Zachary is happy.

Howard said he doesn’t understand something with his production company. He had it before Heroes. Zachary said it all happened after Heroes and Star Trek. He said this movie Banshee Chapter is his own movie. Howard asked if he plays anything in it. Zachary said he just produced it. He’s not in it. Howard said he wants to produce some stuff and he doesn’t want to have to read anything. Zachary said you do have to read some stuff. Howard said he had 9 projects in development at one time and he ended up closing down his production company. He said it was starting to grow and he had to shut it down. He said he’s reading a book now he’d like to get made into something so he’s thinking about going back.

Howard asked if Zachary has a deal with a movie studio. Zachary said they actually produce it first and then go to a few movie studios and ask to get the movie distributed. Howard asked what caught his eye about this movie. Zachary told him about it and Howard said he knows something about it. He said these people take a drug and then they disappear. Zachary said it’s about one guy who disappears. Howard asked when it comes out. Zachary said it’s out on Friday but it’s actually on VOD right now. He said you can watch it now if you want to.

Howard said that they were able to make this movie pretty cheap. Zachary said they were able to do it for under a million. He said that you can be very resourceful and make it for under a million. He said it’s a ”found footage” film. Howard asked what that is. Robin explained what that is. Howard said he’s a producer so he knew what he meant.

Howard said he seems so calm about it. He asked if he’s worried about the box office. Zachary said that he feels like the only way it can go is that people either watch it or not. He said he loved making the film and it’s good either way. He said he will be tracking how the film does. Howard said he’s tracking. He said he wishes he had something to track.

Robin said he made Marching Call so he had to track that too. Zachary said that did pretty good. Howard said he has to go see Zachary in the Glass Menagerie. Howard said his shrink saw it and told him he has to see it. Howard said he has to go.

Howard asked if Zachary is in therapy. Zachary said he does go two days a week. He said he has a 2 hour session and a one hour session. Howard said he goes 3 days a week but he used to go 4. Zachary said his shrink came to the show. He said he didn’t know she came until weeks later when he was talking about it.

Howard asked if he does anything for fun. Zachary said he’s getting out of town soon. Howard told him about going to Jennifer Aniston’s house in Cabo. He said he really likes Justin Theroux. He said that guy is in good shape and he’s sure Zachary would go out with him. Howard said he would even go out with him. Howard said they had a good time down there. Howard asked if he’s going to Hawaii. Zachary said maybe. Howard asked if he wears a thong. Zachary said he wears shorts.

Howard asked if he shaves his chest hair. Zachary said he never does. He said he may trim below the waist. Howard said he looks like he’s going through Chemo down there. He said he needs someone to trim for him down there. Howard said he would never show his penis to anyone though. He said he has a small penis. Zachary said he’s sorry to hear that. Howard asked if he would be attracted to a man like him. Zachary said he doesn’t go out with all models. He said that it’s not all about looks. Howard said for him it is. Zachary said that it is a good place to start. Howard said that he looks like the Elephant Man. He said he wants to play that part on Broadway.

Howard asked Zachary about going on this trip. Zachary said he went to Peru last time. He said he hiked the Inca trail there. He said it took him 3 and a half days. He did the Ayahuasca thing there. Zachary said he remembers reading that Robin did that. Howard asked why he would go through that. Zachary said he was in the jungle for 12 days down there. Robin said she did the Ayahuasca thing 3 times. Howard said he can’t imagine doing that with some kooky shamen. Robin said she made it out. Zachary said that it’s not something to take lightly. Howard said you could get very sick from it. Zachary said the sickness you get is actually the purging. He said he went into it prepared and he trusted his instincts the whole way. Howard said it’s a hallucinogen given to you by some jungle guy. Zachary said that it’s a powerful and primitive history.

Howard asked what happens. Zachary said that he took a journey and things were revealed to him that only he can understand. He said there were negative aspects of that experience that he left in the jungle. He said that there were things that he will never have to deal with those things again. He said he’s referring to grief and trauma that he won’t have to deal with again. Zachary said that he has forgiveness and passion for himself after all of that. He said it’s not a drug, it’s medicine. He said it’s healing in a medical and spiritual way. He said the Shamen are gifted and they’re there to serve. Robin said she had the same experience. Howard said Robin threw her body out of whack. Robin said she would go back. Howard said she will never do it again. Howard said she’s lucky to be alive and he’ll kill her if she ever goes again. Howard said she had the ultimate trip.

Howard said Zachary is a great guy and a great actor. Howard said he could talk to him all day. Zachary said he hopes to see him at the theater before he’s done in February. Robin said she wants to go too. Howard said they’re going to do it.

Howard gave Zachary a plug for his movie ”The Banshee Chapter” and said you can get it on Video On Demand or go see it in the theaters.

Howard asked if Zachary smokes weed. Zachary said he does that once in a while. Howard asked if he gets medical weed. Zachary said his friends do. He said his leg hurts though so he could get medical marijuana. Howard said he can’t handle it. He said he gets too paranoid. Howard asked if he’s done the candy buttons. Zachary said that it’s a body high. Howard said he might have to try it then. Zachary said you feel it more. He said it can be overwhelming though. He said you have to be in the right environment.

Robin asked what it was like working with Benedict Cumberbatch. Zach said it was great. He said he’s very talented. Howard asked if he’s ever been in a movie with someone who is just shitty. Zach said he hasn’t yet. He said that so far things have been fine. Howard asked if you can develop acting skills or is it something you’re born with. Zach said he thinks that it’s something you’re born with. He said things are tough these days in the acting field. He said that you still need to learn to act but it’s tough out there. He said he thinks that people aren’t concerned with talent as much as they were 15 years ago. Howard asked if he’s upset that Kim Kardashian is the most popular woman in the world. Zachary said he’s not mad about it but he does feel bad for the world. Howard said there’s nothing to admire there with people like that.

Howard said he’s not going to hold him there anymore. He said he looks like he needs a vacation. Howard gave him some more plugs for the movie and for the Broadway play. Howard wrapped up and went to break a short time later.

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