Actor David Rysdahl based his ‘Alien: Earth’ character on a St. Olaf professor

David Rysdahl’s biggest TV roles, a car salesman with an enigmatic wife in the fifth season of “Fargo,” and a brilliant technician in the hit “Alien: Earth,” have a few things in common. Both characters are moral compasses who are tougher than they first appear.

But the most important thread may be the shows’ creator Noah Hawley. The red-hot writer and director isn’t in the habit of working with the same actors from project to project. But when it comes to the New Ulm native, he made an exception.

“David Rysdahl is my secret weapon,” Hawley wrote in an email. “He’s incredibly appealing. He comes across on screen as the last decent man.”

Rysdahl wasn’t featured much in early episodes of “Alien: Earth,” which launched earlier this month to more than 9 millions views in the first six days of streaming. But his character moves front and center starting in the fourth episode, which premieres at 7 p.m. Tuesday on FX and Hulu.

The eight-part series — which deals largely with the ramifications of creating human-like robots and trying to conquer outer space — is the latest triumph for the 38-year-old actor, who also appeared in “Oppenheimer” and “The Luckiest Man in America.”

Rysdahl, who is married to Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta,” “Joker”) spoke via Zoom last month from his Brooklyn home about his favorite horror flicks and the St. Olaf professor who inadvertently helped him develop his latest role.

Q: When was the last time you were in Minnesota?

Q: Forget being in an Oscar-winning film. That’s real fame.

A: I agree.

Q: Were you a fan of the “Alien” movies growing up?

A: I was. I saw the first one when I was like 14. You know how everyone has that older cousin that shows you things a little too early? I had one of those. It terrified me. Later on, I watched it again and I saw a whole different movie. You see the political ramifications, the class hierarchy, the greed of the corporations.

Q: What other horror movies do you like?

Q: Why is sci-fi horror so hot right now?

A: I think it can be a lens into the problems of the day, but with a certain kind of distance and escapism. “Alien: Earth” is about trying to live forever and the expansion of AI. But the series also has monster scares and action sequences. There’s a little sugar with the medicine.

Q: The timing of this series is incredible.

A: Noah’s been working on this for years. It was a little annoying it didn’t happen faster, but it’s interesting when something takes the time it’s supposed to take. Maybe it’s in the zeitgeist. We had one day of camera testing in Thailand before we were shut down for the [2023 SAG-AFTRA] strike. That turned out OK for me. I had this little mustache for my character. Then I had four months to think about it and realized the way I was approaching him was wrong. I grew out this big beard, and I had a whole different way in.

Q: How can a beard change things?

(Rysdahl confirmed by email later that the teacher was John Giannini, currently professor emeritus).

Q: Noah said that you listen better than any actor he’s worked with. Where does that come from?

A: I did some Meisner training, which is all about listening. I always remind myself to be present. I played basketball growing up and there were times you stop thinking and your body takes over. You’re in the zone. That’s an addictive feeling I’m always trying to get to as an actor.

Q: I can see how that may be easier to do in a project like “Fargo” than it would be in “Alien” when you’re acting with special effects and CGI.