ZACHARY QUINTO — on being a leading man in “Brilliant Minds”

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson"

Episode Title: ZACHARY QUINTO — on being a leading man in “Brilliant Minds”
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Host: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Guest: Zachary Quinto
Location: Cookbook Cafe, Larchmont Village, California

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Introduction and Guest Reunion

In this milestone episode of Dinner’s on Me, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson welcomes back his first repeat guest and close friend, actor Zachary Quinto. The reunion takes place at the charming Cookbook Cafe in Larchmont Village, Los Angeles, setting the stage for an intimate and candid conversation about Quinto's latest venture, the NBC medical drama “Brilliant Minds”.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson reflects on Zachary's impressive career trajectory over the past 15 years, highlighting how "Brilliant Minds" marks a significant turning point for him. Jesse notes, “Brilliant Minds definitely feels like a major turning point in his career” (04:24).

Behind the Scenes of “Brilliant Minds”

Zachary Quinto delves into his role as Dr. Oliver Wolf, a neurologist grappling with prosopagnosia (facial blindness). He explains the character's inspiration, drawing parallels to the renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks. Quinto emphasizes the nuanced portrayal, stating, “I'm playing a fictionalized version of him. I got all of the benefit of the source material and the writing and the access to his life...” (21:07).

They discuss the show's unique approach compared to traditional medical dramas, with Quinto praising the production’s commitment to authenticity and depth. “It's different than, you know, a traditional network medical drama,” he remarks (22:00).

Personal Reflections and Mental Health

The conversation shifts to personal growth and mental health. Quinto shares his transformative journey with meditation, highlighting its profound impact on his life: “I meditate. I've been meditating every day, twice a day, for six years now. And that has absolutely revolutionized my experience of life completely” (08:05).

He relates this practice to his character's ability to hold space for others, drawing a connection between his personal discipline and Oliver Wolf’s approach to medicine. Quinto states, “He has to hold space for people who are going through a lot of big things, and he can't get swept up in it” (26:28).

Navigating Fame and Personal Boundaries

Quinto candidly discusses managing fame and personal boundaries, particularly his decision to avoid reading reviews of "Brilliant Minds." “I haven't read one review of the show. I haven't. I told everybody that works with me, like, don't send me ratings numbers. I don't care. I don't want to know” (02:36). This stance allows him to focus on his craft without external pressures, fostering a healthier relationship with his work and self.

Evolution of Healthcare and Representation

The dialogue progresses to broader themes of healthcare and representation. Quinto underscores the importance of making mental health care more accessible and the role of media in reflecting and supporting these changes. “If people see themselves in our stories, if they see what they're going through or their loved ones are going through and they feel seen and represented, then we're doing our job” (37:25).

He also touches on the significance of being an openly gay actor in a primetime medical drama, noting how both his identity and his character’s sexuality are integrated seamlessly into the narrative. “I am the first openly gay actor or character on a primetime network medical drama... it must evolve” (23:37).

Full Circle Moments and Career Highlights

Quinto shares heartwarming anecdotes about his long-standing relationship with actress Donna Murphy and their convergence in "Brilliant Minds." Reflecting on their shared history, he says, “I love when things like that happen... these kinds of full circle moments” (34:56).

He also reminisces about his early days in theater, connecting past experiences to his current role, and expressing excitement for future projects, including his Broadway debut in the new play "Cult of Love." “It is a real blue print for a character with amazing people around me,” he enthuses (43:23).

Embracing Change and Personal Growth

Towards the end of the episode, Quinto discusses his recent personal transformations, including renovating his apartment to better reflect his current self. “I started to reconnect with the space and change it in ways that made it just more mine” (40:43). This act symbolizes his broader journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

Jesse seeks advice on coping with change, to which Quinto responds thoughtfully: “Sometimes change is scariest when you know it's the best for yourself” (40:30). He emphasizes the importance of embracing evolution with grace and determination.

Conclusion and Future Highlights

As the episode wraps up, Jesse teases upcoming episodes featuring other notable guests like Kiernan Shipka. He reiterates the benefits of subscribing to Dinner’s on Me, including early access and an ad-free experience.

Notable Quotes:

• Zachary Quinto (02:36): “I haven't read one review of the show. I haven't. I told everybody that works with me, like, don't send me ratings numbers. I don't care. I don't want to know.”

• Zachary Quinto (08:05): “I meditate. I've been meditating every day, twice a day, for six years now. And that has absolutely revolutionized my experience of life completely.”

• Zachary Quinto (23:37): “I am the first openly gay actor or character on a primetime network medical drama... it must evolve.”

• Zachary Quinto (37:25): “If people see themselves in our stories, if they see what they're going through or their loved ones are going through and they feel seen and represented, then we're doing our job.”

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Final Thoughts:

This episode of Dinner’s on Me offers an in-depth look into Zachary Quinto’s professional and personal life, highlighting his dedication to his craft, his commitment to mental health, and his role in advancing representation in media. Through heartfelt dialogue and personal anecdotes, both Jesse and Zachary provide listeners with inspiring insights into navigating fame, embracing change, and fostering meaningful connections.

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For more engaging conversations and celebrity insights, subscribe to “Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson” on Apple Podcasts and join the community of listeners enjoying candid dinners and authentic dialogues.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The other day I was making lemonade with my sons, Beckett and Sully, and Beckett is a little bit of a perfectionist. I'm not sure where he gets that from. It's me. It's definitely me. But he was getting really upset about the seeds falling into the juice and it was turning into a bit of high drama. Now listen, there's an easier way to do this. Who knew? Wonderful seedless lemons are a 100% naturally seedless lemon variety. They're juicy, zesty, bright, and everything you love about lemons minus the. See, that's right. No more seeds floating in your lemonade or Diet Coke or getting caught in your teeth when you take a bite of salad. Frankly, that's just a hazard. Wonderful seedless lemons are available nationwide at retailers such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Kroger, as well as select Costco outlets. Look for wonderful seedless lemons at your local retailer or visit wonderfulseedlesslemons.com to learn more. Hey, it's Jesse. So I've got a bit of a crazy life. I have two kids under five, two dogs, a husband, a busy career. And I also just added another thing to my to do list. Hosting on Airbnb. Now, to be honest, I haven't yet pulled the trigger because I'm getting a little overwhelmed with everything I would need to do to be on top of everything. As a host, I'd want to put gorgeous photos up to show off the amazing space. I would want to make sure that I'm as responsive as possible to guests and anticipate any questions or needs they might have. You know, you gotta get those good reviews. Plus, I gotta make sure that the house is in tip top shape, linens are clean, everything is pristine for when they arrive. See, I'm. I'm already tired just thinking about it. It's like a part time job. That's why I'm so excited about Airbnb's new co host feature. Now I can hire a local co host to handle all the details while I'm away. They can create my listing, manage reservations, communicate with guests, and even style my space. So it's perfect for every guest. It's like having a trusted friend who's really good at this stuff. Just take care of everything. I can focus on my family and my work, knowing that my home and my guests are in great hands. Find a co [e-mail] host hi, it's Jesse today on the show. You know him as Skyler in Heroes and Spock in The Star Trek films, and now the leading role of Dr. Oliver Wolf in the new NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds. And it's Zachary Quinto.

[Zachary Quinto]

I've managed to completely steer clear of any. I haven't read one review of the show. I haven't. I told everybody that works with me, like, don't send me ratings numbers. I don't care. I don't want to know. I'll never read reviews again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is Dinner's on Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Okay. I feel like I've hit a major milestone on this podcast because we have our first repeat guest on today's episode. Not only that, but he happens to be one of my best friends. It was actually pretty easy to convince him to come back. I mean, ever since my friend Zachary Quinto told me about his starring role in the new NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds, I knew I wanted to have him on to return for another meal. Now, Zack's built an incredible resume over the past 15 years, but I don't know. There's no denying that he's having quite a moment right now. And Brilliant Minds definitely feels like a major turning point in his career. Now, last time Zach was on Dinners on Me, we dined in his home turf in New York City. But knowing he was going to be doing press in Los Angeles for his new show, I wanted to take the opportunity to take him out for a meal on the west coast, closer to my home. Hi. Hi.

[Zachary Quinto]

These are real people.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

These are real people. I brought Zachary Quinto to Cookbook Cafe on Larchmont. Now, if you've walked around Echo park or Highland park, you know Cookbook as quite possibly the cutest little market on the planet. It's gorgeously displayed with fruits and vegetables and delicious prepared sandwiches on focaccia or colorful seasonal salads. Plus, all the shelves in the store are lined with tinned fish and natural wine, dried beans and teas and coffees. The Cafe Enlarchment is their only restaurant, and it's inside this adorable little 1920s bungalow. I thought it would be the perfect place to have a cozy meal with my friend Zach. Well, last time we did this, we were. We were in New York. We were in New York.

[Zachary Quinto]

But also, I'm your first repeat guest.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You are our first repeat guest.

[Zachary Quinto]

That is very exciting, because last time I gave you for. Oh, I know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You're allowed to. Yeah. You were, like, really hounding me because I hadn't asked you because you didn't.

[Zachary Quinto]

Ask me to be on the show. And now I'm the first person to come back twice.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Aren't you proud of yourself?

[Zachary Quinto]

You have so many famous friends. I'm the first one that's back twice. That's like the best.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

There's a reason we love you. I feel like I know I saw you at the night before the Emmys party, but kind of the last time we spent significant time together was at the dnc. What was your take on that?

[Zachary Quinto]

It's so interesting because when I was at the dnc, my take on it was that I was not only drinking the Kool Aid, but I was swimming in the punch bowl. You know, it was so incredible. I felt so fired up and charged up and in the way that I haven't felt since Obama since 2008. However, things have really shifted for me since the DNC and now, which is like, at the DNC, I was like, yes, like Kamala Democrats. Like, bleh. You know, and then I watched the debate, and everything started to unravel for me because I was so flabbergasted like that. That was. The level of discourse was shocking to me, and I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, the writing's been on the wall for a long time. However, I just felt like something clicked into place for me when I watched that debate, and I realized that we're not really talking about politics anymore right now, obviously. That said, we're not radically going to dismantle the democratic capitalist political system. However, it must evolve. Is it going to evolve in the hands of an administration that is completely and rigidly attached to and fixated on the constructs of the past which no longer serve us and will not only not allow us to move forward, but will actually hasten us to a kind of darkness and destruction that I think we can't quite comprehend.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, I think that's all fairly well said.

[Zachary Quinto]

I don't know. I mean, look, I feel like, how. How are we. How are we going to evolve? Are we just going to, you know, put our head down and go far down? Like we, like. Like we already have been in some ways.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's tricky because, I mean, when you're talking about a divided nation, you know, which is incredibly divided. It's. It's just all the. The influence fighting and the cross talking, and it's really tricky. It's really tricky. And that's all the time we. That's all that we have time for today.

[Zachary Quinto]

Hi. Hello. How are you guys today?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Good, good.

[Zachary Quinto]

How are you? Are you guys thirsty? Hungry? What can I grab for you guys?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I want Something effervescent.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yes. O. Okay. Like, wait, what do you. This is kombuchas and things. Yes. The ferment is really good. We have watermelon.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I've had that one. I'm going to have a. A Gia Gia or Gya Gaga Gia. I want the one that's not spicy.

[Zachary Quinto]

I think we have lime and salt. That tastes like spring.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's great. Yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah. I'll be right back.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Can I ask? Because it does. It does seem overwhelming. And I think you do such a great job of recognizing how you need to take care of yourself. I've always looked to you. It's like. I just think you take care of yourself in really mindful ways. What do you do when you're feeling like this?

[Zachary Quinto]

And the thing that's changed my life more than anything else is meditation. I meditate. I've been meditating every day, twice a day, for six years now. And that has absolutely revolutionized my experience of life completely. I'm an entirely different person sitting here with you now than I was six years ago. And my perspective on all of this stuff is informed by that. For me, it really is about consciousness. It really is about evolving beyond individuality and evolving beyond personal ego, evolving beyond materialism. It really is about seeing that there is a connectivity between everyone and everything in the universe, and that that connectivity is the thing that will drive us forward toward the light. We are out of the can. We're gonna have to have kombucha. Okay. So I have the balloon for you. Yes. Thank you very much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is really classic.

[Zachary Quinto]

This is the dry hop apple.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, I'll try that one.

[Zachary Quinto]

And this one's watermelon type. This is like. I don't even like kombucha, but I'm going for it today. Decided what you want? What do you want to get? Justin's?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, okay. I am definitely going to do the cheese toastie, the app, the alpine cheese blend, the leeks, red onion.

[Zachary Quinto]

Wow. Yeah. So what's cool about Cookbook is everything.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We have in store, we do get.

[Zachary Quinto]

From the farmer's market. And everything that's on our menu, you can find it in stores so you can make it at home. Wow, that's cool. That's why it is called Cookbook.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, it's great.

[Zachary Quinto]

Love. That is the Greek salad. It's like a traditional Greek salad.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I knew you were gonna get a Greek salad.

[Zachary Quinto]

It doesn't have greens. It's just like the other things. Right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'll have some if you want some.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, let's Get a Greek salad for sure. I took. Thank you so much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Zachary Quinto]

I took our mutual dear friend Matthew Bomer to breakfast this morning for his birthday. Today's his birthday?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Today's his birthday.

[Zachary Quinto]

So we went to breakfast. So I've already eaten.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. I'm so happy we're doing this again because I feel like last time. I feel like the last time we sat down, you knew about brilliant minds or maybe you were. It was like early.

[Zachary Quinto]

When was it that I sat down with you last? I was trying to think.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It was about a year ago.

[Zachary Quinto]

Right. So the last.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You shot the pilot.

[Zachary Quinto]

I had shot the pilot when we sat down, but we hadn't yet heard whether or not the show was gonna get picked up. Yeah, that's when we sat down last time. And so since then, strikes happened. The show got picked up right before the end of the strikes. And then I basically went to LA for some months just to hang out and then went to Toronto for six months and did the first season of the show.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, first of all, like, no one was working during that time because of, you know, people are still recovering from COVID And then the strikes happened and like, just to have a job with like a series order must have been such a.

[Zachary Quinto]

Also the ways, the ways in which the strikes actually benefited us is kind of a little bit of a miracle.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

In what ways?

[Zachary Quinto]

Well, I mean, we were originally going to be a mid season show, so we were originally meant to start airing in January. And because of the strikes that all got pushed. Also because of the strikes, NBC only picked up. We were the only new one hour drama that they picked up. So we then became a fall show and then we were the only show that they had.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

So they have channeled so much of their energy and attention and their resources into promoting the show and I don't.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Know what it's like in New York, but your face is everywhere.

[Zachary Quinto]

It's a lot of places, I won't lie. I definitely see myself and I'm thrown by it sometimes, but I feel so grateful. It's been a really wonderful experience. So it's now out in the world, which is great. I've managed to completely steer clear of any. I haven't read one review of the show. I haven't. I told everybody that works with me, like, don't send me ratings numbers. I don't care. I don't want to know. Yeah, just let me have the experience.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is this the first time you've done something on TV where you've kind of stayed out of that.

[Zachary Quinto]

Totally.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's so cool.

[Zachary Quinto]

And it has been so liberating. I've had such a great time. All the press that I'm doing is so fun because I just get to go and share my genuine experience of what the show is to me and how it was to make it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you think it's easier to stay out of that whole circus of ratings and reviews when you're super proud of something? Because I know how proud you are of it.

[Zachary Quinto]

I am proud of it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And you should be.

[Zachary Quinto]

It's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's great.

[Zachary Quinto]

Thanks. I don't know. I'll never read reviews again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really?

[Zachary Quinto]

Never? Absolutely not.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I always say that, and then I end up doing it.

[Zachary Quinto]

The first time I ever did it, I came into a production that already existed. They had done it at the Young Vic, and then they transferred it to the West End, and the actor who played the role that I did wasn't able to move with it, so they asked me to come and do it. And I'd always wanted to do a play in London. It was a great play. I thought, this is perfect. But I knew that it had a previous life. So I didn't read any of the reviews of the Young Vic production when I went and did it. And then I didn't read any reviews of our production. And it was so liberating and freeing. And I just had such a wonderful experience of doing that play that I thought, wait, this is actually easier than I thought it was. And my experience is so much more enjoyable than it's ever been before because.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm doing it kind of for yourself, but also for the joy of the.

[Zachary Quinto]

Piece itself, not for totally and without. You know, look, my feeling about reviews has always been this. The best review you could ever get is always going to be reductive. Any review is reductive. First of all, it's one person's opinion. And second of all, it reduces the experience down to, if you're lucky, a paragraph. And so why would I, who have spent all this time and channeled all this energy and creative resource into creating an experience for myself and for an audience, allow the reductive perspective of what that job is, define any aspect of my relationship to it?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I've literally never thought about it that way. That makes a lot of sense.

[Zachary Quinto]

It took me 25 years to come to that, but finally I did. And, you know, and also, I also always believed if you believe the good ones, you got to believe the bad ones 100%. And so I just decided, like, why? Why even. Why Even read them.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah. Have you ever been review bombed? Because that's happened to me.

[Zachary Quinto]

Like when somebody, like when someone's like.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I do not agree with what the New York magazine said. They were idiots. And you're like, what are they?

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, no, I didn't. I haven't had that. Somebody did say, like, I have a friend who texted me and said, sweetheart, like, I'm so excited for your show tonight. I can't wait to watch it on the day that it premiered. Like, we're here, we're tuning in tonight. Can't wait. Then never heard from them again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's really awesome.

[Zachary Quinto]

I was like, really?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay, that's warfare.

[Zachary Quinto]

And then a couple of weeks later, I got another text from this person and they were like, sweetheart, the New York Times called you dashing. So true. I was like, oh, okay. And I really. I actually started to write back and say, I don't really care what the New York Times thinks. What does my friend of 20 years who watched the show think? I didn't send that text ultimately because I didn't think it was necessary. But I was like, okay, well, you know, so that was kind of a review bomb, but who cares?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Hi.

[Zachary Quinto]

Thank you. That looks absolutely delicious.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Nice.

[Zachary Quinto]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Zachary Quinto]

This is quite a delicious ferment. Kombucha blue.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It is good.

[Zachary Quinto]

Very nice.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Zachary Quinto]

Thanks so much. Your.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Your character is Dr. Oliver Wolf.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Who's a brilliant neuro.

[Zachary Quinto]

Neurologist.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Neurologist. Neurologist. Who also suffers from. Is it good?

[Zachary Quinto]

Delicious.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Plate share plates. He suffers from. What is it called? A face?

[Zachary Quinto]

Prosopagnosia.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Say again?

[Zachary Quinto]

Prosopagnosia. Thank you. Just some regular water.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, water is great.

[Zachary Quinto]

Do I get half of that or just a bite?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You can have the whole.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, have this and you get half of this.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, you. This is okay. But it's basically facial blindness. He can't recognize people. But this character that you, you're playing is based on a real.

[Zachary Quinto]

A real life person named Dr. Oliver Sacks.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Zachary Quinto]

Who was a world renowned neurologist and lived and worked in the mid 20th century and was also a very prolific author. He wrote dozens and dozens of books about his patients. He wrote case studies about his patients. One of the things I didn't really ever think about until I did this show was that before medicine became exclusively diagnostic the way it is now, technology and medicine have evolved so much in the last hundred years, 150 years, that we have all these machines and all these incredibly finely tuned instruments. So all we care about now is what's wrong with us and how do we fix it? But before the advent of technology, the only way that doctors could learn about their patients was by writing about them. So doctors actually wrote these very in depth case studies.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, damn it.

[Zachary Quinto]

I spilled Chase on myself. No, can't take him anywhere without his diaper.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. But continue.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah. So case studies were the ways that doctors learned, and they would write and they would share their writings with people, and then that art form really died. So there was a humanity to medicine that existed in these writings that Oliver Sacks was very interested in as a young doctor. He had many inspirations and mentors that he looked up to who undertook this practice, and he. He himself decided to resurrect it. So case studies became a huge part of his medical practice, and he ended up writing dozens of books. The most famous one probably is called the man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. But he also wrote a book called Awakenings, which was the inspiration for the movie with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, directed by Penny Marshall. I love all that stuff, and it was so incredible to.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What a gift also to be playing someone who has so much writing available.

[Zachary Quinto]

Absolutely.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You want to. Oh, my God. Hi. Look. Come here, Vanessa Baer. Now for a quick break, because former SNL cast member Vanessa Baer just came to the table, and we need to say hi really quick, but don't go away. When we come back, Zach tells me more about the real life doctor his Brilliant Minds character is inspired by and the significance of being an openly gay actor on a medical drama today. Okay, be right back. So recently, I've gotten back into somewhat of a consistent workout routine. But one thing I did realize, and I'm embarrassed to say this, is that some of my athleisure wear was looking a little worse for wear. I ended up doing a little refresh with some items from Quince. I got a few of the Flow Knit Breeze performance tees and polo shirts. They're super comfy and lightweight. They look really great. And fun fact, the fabric is made from recycled water bottles. All right, but we gotta talk about the price. These shirts feel just as nice as the name brand shirts I have that were quadruple the price. Okay, how is this possible? Let me tell you. Quince partners directly with factories, cutting out the cost of the middleman and passing the savings directly onto you. And I appreciate that they only work with factories that have safe, ethical, and responsible manufacturing practices. Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to Quince.com JTF for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N C-E.com JTF to get free shipping and 365 day returns. That's a year, people. Quince.com JTF this episode is brought to.

[Zachary Quinto]

You by Google Gemini. With the Gemini app, you can talk live and have a real time conversation.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

With an AI assistant.

[Zachary Quinto]

It's great for all kinds of things, like if you want to practice for an upcoming interview, ask for advice on things to do in a new city, or brainstorm creative ideas. And by the way, this script was actually read by Gemini. Download the Gemini app for iOS and Android today. Must be 18 to use Gemini live.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me. Where do we leave off?

[Zachary Quinto]

He's talking about Dr. Sax. But the best part about it is that I'm not playing him. I'm playing a fictionalized version of him. So I got all of the benefit of the source material and the writing and the access to his life. But I didn't have to bring any of the potentially restrictive aspects of playing a real life person into the show. I'd have to create a fictional character who exists in a modern world. You know, our show's set today and I play. It's almost like an imagining of what it would be like if Oliver Sacks was born today, you know, a generation later.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, it's. It's so well done. It has such a beautiful.

[Zachary Quinto]

You haven't watched it?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I've seen all three that are available to me.

[Zachary Quinto]

Oh, no, I'm kidding.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Joanna's actually watched six because we got some. We got two advanced.

[Zachary Quinto]

Do you think? Oh, cool. Thanks. Okay. Nice.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's great. And it has a very, like. It's just. It's well shot. It's a beautiful look at.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, it's different than, you know, a traditional network medical drama.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You guys are really. You work so well.

[Zachary Quinto]

It's a great group. I love everybody.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What I also love about it is you're gay and the series, and it's touched upon so lightly. I've watched three episodes. That's probably almost 2 hours and 15 minutes, 2 and a half hours of television. And I think any reference to your sexuality has been maybe less than 30 seconds in all those episodes. But it's definitely something that colors your character. And obviously that little bit of information colors your relationships as well with some of the other people that you work with. And I just. There was something so refreshing about how it was revealed and Then left alone almost to the point where, like, if you missed it, you missed it. And it will come up again later if it's needed.

[Zachary Quinto]

Right. But I will say, you know, I am the first openly gay actor or character on a primetime network medical drama. And so that is significant in. In a way. But I think that the biggest significance of it is that it's not significant in the context of the show. It becomes significant, obviously, his identity and his relationship to his sexuality, his identity become a huge part of who he is. And all of the aspects of the character that I play are taken directly from the life of Oliver Sacks.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Zachary Quinto]

Oliver Sacks had a very complicated relationship with his sexuality and with his mother. One interesting fact about Oliver Sacks is that he was celibate for 35 years.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, wow.

[Zachary Quinto]

And that was something that I really couldn't understand. I just. I just couldn't wrap my. That is why I really. I couldn't wrap my head around why somebody would make a decision like that in their life to divest themselves of such an essential part of their authentic self. And the other thing that occurred to me was that he lived in a time when, had he come out, his entire identity would have been defined by that one aspect of him. And so he made a choice to sublimate that part of himself for 35 years in order to make the contributions to the field of neurology that he himself was specifically designed to make. And then in his later life, he ended up coming out fully and meeting someone. He had a partner for the last decade or so of his life.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

There's something sort of heartbreaking about that.

[Zachary Quinto]

It is very heartbreaking, Incredibly heartbreaking. And all the more significant that we live in a time when not only can I play an openly gay character, but I can be an openly gay actor. And you're gay. Right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm experimenting.

[Zachary Quinto]

I think now is the time. I mean, people have been talking about it for a long time, but, you know, I think we are so lucky now to live in a time when we're able to tell these stories and be who we are, and that shows the progress we've made. So it's a real special opportunity for me to occupy this space and to have the space that I'm occupying be so significant because of its insignificance.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's also. I mean, we've talked about it privately so many times, but the last time you were on this podcast, you know, we talked about, you know, your resistance to coming out, even at the beginning of your career. So I'm sure That's something you can relate to in those terms as well.

[Zachary Quinto]

But part of what made me come out publicly, as we talked about.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Zachary Quinto]

Is that I couldn't. I couldn't hold the. I couldn't hold the truth for myself anymore when I acknowledged and recognized that expressing that truth, sharing that truth could help other people. And that wasn't really a position that Oliver Sacks was fortunate enough to find himself in in his career. So I recognize that that's a real gift of our collective evolution now.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, I find that you are like a lot of your characters, specifically all the ones you played on American Horror Story, but this one definitely feels like an extension of you. I mean, do you feel like you have. Is it more accessible for you to play this guy? Does it feel like more close to home?

[Zachary Quinto]

Very close to home. I love it for that, actually. A doctor requires a neutrality, and a doctor requires the capacity to hold space for a lot of different experiences. And that's something that I've been working on in my own life. And so it's really nice to apply that to a character. You know, he's got to hold space for people who are going through a lot of big things, and he can't get swept up in it. So it's been really nice. And it parallels my own journey of the experience of filming the show. Right. I have to hold space for people as. As the lead of the show, number one on the call sheet. I have to. I have to hold space for everybody to have their experience, and I can't get reactive, you know?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, that's true. I mean, like, also, you know, I just watched an episode where you're sort of bombarded at home with a group of people and.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

Comes into the house. Right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, having to. Having that ability to sort of adapt to situations immediately and be of service.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And that looks like a.

[Zachary Quinto]

That.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That looks a certain way.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know?

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Also, can I ask you. I hope this doesn't fuck you up, though.

[Zachary Quinto]

What?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Your glasses on the show.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you know, like, you. You wear them like a doctor would wear them.

[Zachary Quinto]

Why?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

They're, like, a little crooked, and they, like, sit like. Like you just slapped them on really quick to, like, do something. Like they're not like you place them on your face.

[Zachary Quinto]

No, I just put them on and take them off a lot. I noticed this thing that I do on the show when I've watched it that I. When I take them off, I, like, turn my head to take them off like that. It's very Funny, anyway. Well, it's funny that you mention that because actually, if you've only seen the first few episodes, I changed the glasses. I got a new pair of glasses after the third episode, I think, because.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It'S a whole episode of all Throne.

[Zachary Quinto]

They were really flimsy. They were cool. But what are these called?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The arms, the bands, The.

[Zachary Quinto]

The part that goes back over your ears were very. They weren't reliable to, like, pull out of a pocket and put on my face. So that's probably why you noticed that. But, yeah, I think that there are a lot of things about Wolf. This is, I think, probably a little bit different than me personally, but there are a lot of things about Wolf that require his attention right away. And he just goes where he needs to go and find and everything else will follow, essentially.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, he seems to work on instinct and then deal with consequences later, right?

[Zachary Quinto]

Absolutely. I mean, in the fourth episode of the show, and this was true of Oliver Sacks, the story is that a woman comes in in a wedding dress covered in blood, and she's completely out of it, and nobody knows what happened, and it's not her blood. So they find in her belongings, they go through her purse and they find drugs. And so it's clear that she's taken some drugs and that that's led to whatever happened. And so in order to understand what she's gone through, my character takes the drugs. And that was true of Oliver Sacks. He was a well documented psychonaut. He took a lot of psychedelics in his life to better understand the human mind and to better understand what his patients were going through. And so he is somebody who is very iconoclastic, rebellious, and goes against the grain as long as it's in service of his patients. So that is true of Oliver Sacks and true of my character as well.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, we get into his sexual tension with Dr. Nichols on Brilliant Minds, and he tells me about his full circle moment with Broadway icon and on screen mom, Donna Murphy. Okay, be right back.

[Zachary Quinto]

This episode is brought to you by Dutch Bros. Get stoked for all the.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Holly jolly vibes this season at Dutch.

[Zachary Quinto]

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Order ahead and start Earning Rewards.

[Zachary Quinto]

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

See for [e-mail] and we're back with more dinners on me. When this episode airs, I think it's gonna be around the time Joanna's a few episodes ahead of me, but around episode seven. Around episode seven where. So there is another doctor in the hospital who's sort of in the early episodes, kind of your arch nemesis. Yeah, but there's a very will they, won't they very Jack and Diane sort of thing about Sam and Diane. Very Sam and Diane thing about them. Jack and combining sitcoms. What? First of all, this is the guy who plays this Teddy Sears.

[Zachary Quinto]

He's a neurosurgeon and I'm a neurologist. Right, yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And Teddy is his name. He and you worked together in American Horror Story.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, we played lovers on the first ghost lovers on the first season of American Horror Story.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

So it was great to be reunited with Teddy. I love him.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Sure, yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

Great guy.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Can you tease anything about that?

[Zachary Quinto]

I can say this, right? Oftentimes the people that we encounter who trigger us the most trigger us for a reason. And I think one of the aspects of Wolf's journey is recognizing that trigger and digging a little more deeply underneath it to see what it really means. And also in the show, not for nothing, but one of the primary dynamics is between Wolf and his mother, played by Donna Murphy.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

By Donna Murphy, two time Tony award.

[Zachary Quinto]

Winner, played by Donna Murphy, who they Have a very complicated relationship. She's his boss at the hospital, is the reason he didn't want to take the job at Bronx General in the first place. And then this relationship that he has with Dr. Josh Nichols is something that we'll explore through the season for sure. Yeah, yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wait, I saw. I don't know if it was on Donna Murphy's Instagram or your Instagram, a photo of the two of you. What looks like a production of Oliver. It was this must have been in.

[Zachary Quinto]

Pittsburgh in 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 33 years ago.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She was obviously playing Nance.

[Zachary Quinto]

She was obviously playing Nance.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Who were you?

[Zachary Quinto]

I was playing Charlie Bates.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I did all of her when I was a kid.

[Zachary Quinto]

You did?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was just a workhouse boy.

[Zachary Quinto]

I was basically a workhouse boy that had a couple more lines than the other Workhouse Boys, but not as many lines or songs.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I remember Charlie.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, the artful Dodger. But, yeah, I played Charlie Bates and she played Nancy. But I remember Donna being so infinitely connected to what she was singing and what she was doing. And she was so. I just. I loved her even then, and I didn't really know why. And I think now, all these years later, it's because of her commitment and because of her investment in. And I was just starting out as a kid, you know, but I recognized it in her. And I would literally stand off stage and watch her sing that number from the wings, and I was able to tell her that. And now, all these years later, to be in this very fulfilling and complicated relationship with her as an actor, you know, it's really.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I love when things like that happen.

[Zachary Quinto]

Just really shows the kind of grand design, doesn't it? Right. Like, it really shows that if you pay attention to the path you're on, all these little miracles reveal themselves. In retrospect, you know, the fact that I met Leonard Nimore the night before my Star Trek audition, you know, and then became such dear friends with him and his wife. And now his wife is one of the guest stars on episode eight of our show.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow.

[Zachary Quinto]

I called Susan, who hasn't acted in 35 years, and I said, susan, this part is literally. There's no one else who can play it. Are you interested in acting again? And I knew she would say yes. I didn't know how enthusiastically she'd say yes, but I brought her up to the show and she did an amazing job. So those kinds of full circle moments, like the other one for me is, you know, heroes was the job that changed my career. Right on NBC 15 years ago. And it's the. It's the job that changed my life. And so to come back to NBC all these years later, the catalyst of Heroes, for anybody who didn't watch it, was that in the pilot, there's a solar eclipse. And the solar eclipse somehow awakens all of these powers in people all around the world who didn't know that they were special. And then one day they wake up and this eclipse happens, and then they start exhibiting all these powers. And that's the catalyst for the whole series. We started filming brilliant minds on April 8, the day of the solar eclipse. So this full circle of combat towards decay, were you. Yeah, see? Yeah, I mean, that's right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Goosebumps.

[Zachary Quinto]

Totally. That's so insane. Yeah, that's really crazy. All that kind of stuff is really magical to me. And those moments of magic have become much clearer for me lately. And that is also, I think, really attributable to my meditation practice. Just being more available to the magic because the magic is all around us and within us.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And you're probably also just more open to seeing it when it happens.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, exactly. You're more. You're more attuned to it because you're not so focused on, you know, the stress, the things that, you know, the anxiety, the frustrations, the. So, yeah, anyway, Donna and the show and all of it. So it's all full circle.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Not to repeat things we talked about, but I'm sort of interested in this. You know, we talked a lot about your mom in the last episode. But do you think that this show and these conversations that you're having around this character have made you look at the way we handle healthcare and mental illness in a different way?

[Zachary Quinto]

Absolutely. The humanity is something that I feel so driven to find ways to support and amplify. How do we make mental health care, for example, more accessible to everybody? You know, I've benefited. I know you've benefited from therapy. Yeah, I've been in therapy for over 25 years, and it's absolutely changed my life and helped me understand and integrate parts of myself that I might never have done if I had not been in that process. I think that's something our show explores. I always say if people see themselves in our stories, if they see what they're going through or their loved ones are going through and they feel seen and represented, then that then we're doing our job, you know, and that's a good thing to be part of. I've played so many dark, twisted up people, and it's so Nice to be at a place in my journey as an actor where I'm playing a role that is just coming from a place of compassion and generosity of spirit. And I think it's actually reflective of my own journey. And, you know, I've really done the work. I've dug deep, and I've never taken my foot off the gas in terms of knowing myself more and loving myself more. And I think that is. Not to get cheesy about it, but I think that there's no mistake that I'm now a part of a story that is putting light out into the world and putting a message of optimism and hope out into the world, because that's where my own evolution has brought me. And not to say that I was as twisted or psychopathic as some of the characters that I've played, but that I certainly have gone through my own journey through the dark night of the soul. You know, I certainly have definitely, in many different ways, struggled with, you know, addiction, struggled with depression, struggled with challenges within myself, but I never stopped doing the work. And now it's led me to. I can honestly say I've never been more fulfilled in my life. I've never been happier. I've never been more at ease. I've never been more in love with life. I've never been more grateful. I've never been. I've never been happier.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That makes me so happy. Yeah, I know we were talking on the phone about a week ago, and, you know, you were saying how you were kind of sort of recreating your house, which I think is also a sign that you're in this sort of renaissance of your. Of yourself. I know that you. You know, you got this apartment that you're in now when you were in a relationship. That relationship has been done for a very long time. You know, I know you've. You've moved on in so many ways, spiritually, emotionally. Talk to me a little bit about, like, advice on how to find comfort in that evolution, because I've always found for myself, change is scary, even when I sometimes know that it's for the best for myself.

[Zachary Quinto]

Sometimes change is scariest when you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It'S the best for yourself.

[Zachary Quinto]

You know, that's when it's. That's when it's the scariest to leave what's comfortable. Yeah, I did. I decided to stay in that after that relationship ended, and.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I know you had complicated feelings around that.

[Zachary Quinto]

I did originally.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

First of all, it's a fucking great apartment.

[Zachary Quinto]

I understand why it was. There were months after the after it all went down, where I was like, why did I stay? Because now I'm just looking everywhere and being reminded of this time that we shared here. But. But that's okay because it was part of the story and the story was beautiful. We had a beautiful story until it wasn't beautiful. And so what I did was I started to reconnect with the space and change it in ways that made it just more mine. But what I did recently. So I was just away for about a year. In the last year, I've lived in my apartment for four weeks because I was in LA for five months, and then I was in Toronto for six. And so I got back home after all this time away. I hadn't lived in my house. And it's so interesting because it was in the two weeks leading up to the premiere of the show. So I would, like. I would just be, like, unpacking boxes and taking things out of every closet, every drawer, off every shelf. I took all of my books and went through them and got rid of so much stuff and pared down and pared down and pared down. And then it was where all of my attention was going as I was also getting ready to launch the show. And so it took me about 10 days. And when I tell you that it's the biggest level up that I've ever experienced in my life, that, you know, you'll come to my apartment and you'll be like, it doesn't really look that different.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

But to me, it is an entirely different place. It's the most current representation of me that it's ever been. And I'm so grateful that I did it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Because if you're there.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, exactly. I'll be there for the next rehearsal.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

For your play when I start in a week. Okay. So this play is at Second Stage.

[Zachary Quinto]

Second Stage, where you did take me out. Same theater, Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway. The second stage space on Broadway. It's a new play called Cult of Love, written by Leslie Hedlund, directed by Trip Coleman.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Love.

[Zachary Quinto]

Trip Love. Trip Coleman. Known Tripp for 25 years. 23 years, and we've never worked together.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, really?

[Zachary Quinto]

It's like nothing else I've ever done before. And I'm really excited to dive in.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah. You'll come?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Ah, I'm busy that day.

[Zachary Quinto]

Really?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, of course I'm gonna come. Wait, is this your first time doing an original play on Broadway?

[Zachary Quinto]

It is, yeah. Most of my career as an actor on stage has been American Classics, Glass Menagerie, Angels in America, Boys in the Band, who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? You know, I've done a lot of, like, really great American classics, and I've done one new play off Broadway, but this is my first new play on Broadway. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's really exciting to be able to lay the groundwork and blueprint for a.

[Zachary Quinto]

Character with amazing people around me. Amazing actors. Shailene Woodley, Mare Winningham, David Arashi, Rebecca Henderson, Molly Bernard, Roberta Calendres, Christopher Lowell, Chris Sears, Barbie Ferreira. It's a really Too many people.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You're gonna have to share dressing room times.

[Zachary Quinto]

Yeah, I don't think so, babe.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's not good.

[Zachary Quinto]

We'll see. Maybe. I'll be happy to share.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm really excited about that.

[Zachary Quinto]

I'm excited, too. It'll be fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Back where you belong on the boards.

[Zachary Quinto]

I love to go back to the theater.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I am so happy I caught you while you're in town.

[Zachary Quinto]

Thanks for having me. Both coasts on me. Yeah. That's a real honor.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You're like the Amy Sedaris for. For Letterman.

[Zachary Quinto]

I'll take it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Anytime he needs someone, I'll take it. No. We're so happy you came. Did you want anything from the store here?

[Zachary Quinto]

No.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Are you gonna buy anything? I mean, dinner's on Me, but I'll buy you some spice, too. This episode of Dinner's on Me was recorded at Cookbook Cafe in Larchmont Village, California. Next week on Dinners on Me. You know her as Sally Draper from AMC's Mad Men and Sabrina Spellman from the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. But she has a new slew of projects coming out, including the holiday film Redone alongside Dwayne the Rock Johnson and Thanksgiving rom com sweethearts. It's Kiernan Shipka, and if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today, Dinner is on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Angela Vang. Sam Baer engineered this episode, Hansdale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.