He's played a Barney Fife-like deputy in the contemporary western "Longmire" and Duke, the rude stablehand trying to seduce Chrissy Metz's Kate, on "This Is Us." This week, Minnesota native Adam Bartley will slip into the real-life role of Eden Prairie High School alumnus, speaking at his alma mater Monday in support of excellence in public education.
The 1997 grad, who has just been cast in a Dick Cheney biopic (he'll play pollster Frank Luntz opposite Christian Bale and Steve Carell) spoke by phone about being in demand on the small screen:
Q: Your character on "This Is Us" wasn't very likable. What kind of reaction did you get from viewers?
A: I've been playing such a lovable, gullible, oafish sweetheart on "Longmire" for seven years and I finally got to be kind of a jerk. The response on my fan page was hilarious, fans saying, "Leave Kate alone! How dare you!" They really take all of it to be real and internalize it. It made me realize I was doing my job right.
Q: Will Duke be back this season?
A: You never know. If the writers are sitting around and think it's a good idea to bring him back, I'll be there. That's life when you're a recurring character.
Q: Any theories on why it became a runaway hit?
A: I think the show really lives up to its name. It makes a real effort to connect with most of the people in the country when politics couldn't be more divisive. I think it just hit the right chord with people who want a real escape.
