ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER
Special to The Jewish News
ichard Kind, who plays
Paul Lassiter, the irrepress-
ible press secretary to the
mayor of New York City
on "Spin City," likes to ride the sub-
way to work. While that may not be
the transportation of choice for many
television stars, Kind says for him, it's
not a problem.
"In the morning, the subway is so_.
crowded you can't even see the person
in front of you," Kind says from the
Chelsea Piers Studios, while on a
lunch break.
"Since I am a character actor, peo-
ple aren't certain if they know me, if
they are related to me, or if I owe
them money. After walking away from
me, I [often] hear them say, 'Wasn't
that the guy who ... ?"
Still, Kind is doing just fine with-
out a windfall of recognition. He is a
part of an incredibly talented ensem-
ble cast on one of ABC's hit sitcoms,
and he recently wrapped production
on the independent film Hacks. He
also can be heard as the voice of the
character Molt in Disney's animated
film A Bug's Life.
Luckily for Kind, instead of playing
it safe, he followed his dream and took
a chance on being a working actor.
Born in Trenton, N.J., and raised in
Bucks County, Penn., Kind, who
loved the theater, thought a safe
profession might be the law, or
taking over the family's jewelry
business.
At Northwestern University
he was a pre-law major, and even
took the LSATS. "But my dad's
best friend convinced me to try
acting before I went to law
school," recalls Kind, "because
when I turned 40, he said, I'd
kick myself if I didn't try."
Kind always performed in
school plays, and the friend
"knew my passion for the the-
ater. When I was little, my
mother would drop me off at the
Trenton station and I would take
a train into the city and walk up
to the half-off ticket booth and
go to a play, sometimes with
friends, sometimes alone. It was
in my blood."
Giving himself a year to break
into the business, Kind moved
to New York following college
graduation. He waited tables,
took drama lessons, landed jobs
doing commercials and was cast
in Off-Off Broadway roles. During
the summers, he traveled around
performing in summer stock.
One year led to two,
then three years, then
four, and after his
fourth year in New
York, Kind went back
to Chicago to do a
play. Ready for a
change of scenery,
he wound up stay-
ing in the Windy
City, where he
hooked up with
the Practical
Theater Company,
founded by Julia
Louis-Dreyfus, Brad
Hall and Gary
Kroeger.
Later, he was hired by
Second City, where he was
able to perfect his comedic
skills and work with some of
the country's biggest talent.
"Those years in Chicago, especially
at Second City, were my happiest,"
says Kind. "I was never as smart as I
was then. I think I am good at drama,
but I love doing comedy, thanks to
Second City."
After Chicago, he relocated to Los
Angeles, where he landed roles in a
host of television programs, including
"Carol and Company," with Carol
d:tv1.92 0 95
Burnett; and the ABC series "Blue
Skies" and "A Whole New Ball
Game."
He also guest-starred on "The
Commish," "The Nanny" and
"Anything But Love."
Film offers also came his way, and
he landed parts in Mr. Saturday Night,
starring Billy Crystal, and Stargate,
among others. For the past few
years, he played Mark, Fran's
estranged gynecologist hus-
band, on "Mad About
You."
And then came the
role of Paul on "Spin
City." It makes him
smile just talking
about it.
"I feel so fortunate
to be working with
some of the greatest
actors around," he says
while leaning back on
the couch in his fairly
stark, bare bones dress-
ing room. "I used to see
Barry Bostwick on
Broadway when I was a kid;
he's wonderful. And
[Executive Producer] David
Gary Goldberg is amazing."
As for his character, Kind says he
likes to add a comedic touch to the
character of Paul. "He is very earnest,
feels it's his duty to tell the truth and
really wants to run the city well," he
says. "In the meantime, I try to make
him funny"
What's obvious about Kind, who
is 41, is that his blossoming career
hasn't spoiled him. In person, he is
warm, friendly and unassuming. He
A scene from the hit sitcom "Spin City." Kind, at right, plays the mayor's press
secretary.
Richard Kind: 'My dad's best friend convinced me to try acting before I went
to law school."