IN CONVERSATION WITH ASHER GRODMAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actor Asher Grodman stars in the hit CBS series ‘Ghosts’, which has been renewed for fifth and sixth season. Asher’s character Trevor is a fan favorite on the show, and recently received a Critics’ Choice award nomination for this performance. 

 ‘Ghosts’ has become a massive hit. What was it about the role of Trevor Lefkowitz that initially drew you in? 

The writing. I remember reading the pilot when I got the audition and feeling that Trevor was so well-crafted on the page. Trevor represents this hyper-specific time and place. While I definitely related to some parts of him, as I went to an Ivy League school, have friends in finance, and was a, very subpar, member of a frat, what I really loved about him was his ego, desire to win, and the joy he brings to everything he does. Trevor’s whole life was a party and he wants to keep the party going into the afterlife. He’s not done living. Trevor is the kind of guy who would say yes to almost anything. He’s fearless and I wish I had a little more of that in me.

Trevor is a fan-favorite character. Why do you think audiences connect with him so much? 

In regards to the ghosts as a whole, there are two fun dynamics at play with the audience. First, the audience always knows more about the world than the ghosts do and it’s endearing to watch these goofballs play catch up. Second, the ghosts are all from our past, so they can teach the audience where we came from and how we got here. As for Trevor specifically, he’s got an edge, but also a big heart and a playful, puppy-like spirit, so that juxtaposition catches the audience off guard. Finally, I think of the 1990s as a time of optimism. We hadn’t really come to terms with the complexity and implications of the internet. Smartphones and social media hadn’t yet taken over our lives. We didn’t know what was coming our way geopolitically with the new millennium. Trevor is frozen in time in that era of optimism and he really embodies that. 

What’s the most surprising or funniest fan reaction you’ve received since playing Trevor? 

The Trevor halloween costumes are fantastic. I’ve seen all genders and ages partake in the pant-less-ness. It’s an honor to be a halloween costume, and absolutely surreal. And I got to hand it to you ladies, my costume shirt was built for pants-less-ness. There are straps, etc. to keep me covered. But you ladies dare to bare your thighs without the wardrobe tricks and on a cold, late October evening. That takes chutzpah. My hat goes off to you. 

Trevor has a unique look - always pant-less. What’s the biggest challenge of filming scenes in that state? 

The biggest challenge is making sure we don’t show any more skin than we need to. I learned early on that I had to be pantless in rehearsals so I could coordinate with our camera department to make sure there were no stray eye-lines. It takes a village to keep things hidden. I have immense respect for anyone who has had to sit and stand in a mini skirt.

The show balances comedy with heartfelt moments. How do you approach playing those emotional beats in such a fun, supernatural setting? 

Fundamentally, ‘Ghosts’ is a comedy about death. So, there’s always proximity to issues of mortality and big existential questions.. But the brilliance of the show is that it makes death more accessible, perhaps mundane, and even a bit friendly. As cast, we’re always assessing when to lean into an emotional beat or play against it. Luckily we have an incredible ensemble, so a lot of that push and pull is found on set as we work together.

The show has also been renewed for fifth and sixth season. What can the fans expect from the upcoming seasons? 

The world that our show runners, the incredible Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, have built is so rich and far-reaching. They’ve planted so many seeds with each of the ghosts. I imagine we’ll see those continue to grow and come to fruition. Trevor’s got a daughter out there now, he’s got his finance job which keeps him busy and gives him unusual access to the living world. Plus, the audiences can certainly expect to see more of the rich dynamics among the ghosts. The Trevor/Hetty relationship is especially fun. There’s so much tension and combustibility there, who knows where it’ll lead.

Before ‘Ghosts’, you worked in theater and independent film. How has this show changed your career? 

I had never really done a television comedy before ‘Ghosts’ and, to be honest, I didn’t really consider myself funny. In fact, I remember before we shot the pilot feeling relieved that I would be pantless as my pasty thighs were a sort of comedic safety net. It’s still kind of surreal that I’m now primarily associated with comedy. It’s certainly opened doors that I never anticipated, both as an actor and as a filmmaker. Recently, I wrote and directed a mockumentary called ‘It Was Written’ about the NFL being scripted, starring the Jacksonville Jaguars. It won awards at the Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes Lions, and the Webby Awards. None of that would have been possible without ‘Ghosts’.

You’ve also directed and written short films in the past. Do you have any plans to step behind the camera again? 

Absolutely. I just finished directing a short film for Paramount that will be featured at their up-fronts this year. Filmmaking, especially directing, has always been a passion of mine and I’ve been lucky to work on a variety of types of projects. My first time directing was a short, that I also wrote, about a holocaust survivor, starring Academy Award winner Eli Wallach, called ‘The Train’, which had a nice festival run. My next film was the Jaguars mockumentary short, ‘It Was Written’, that I wrote and directed, which starred NFL players. 

Needless to say, it couldn’t have been more of a departure from a Holocaust film. The Jaguars film was really so special because no one in that cast or crew, save for one actor and one producer, had ever worked on a narrative film before. Everyone was courageously trying something new and humbly taking a risk. We created a safe space for people to play and it was a thrill to work on it. I’m still so grateful that the Jags trusted me and my idea.  

For me, the greatest joy of directing is the opportunity to collaborate with people from the many different departments that bring stories to life. After four years and 72 episodes, one thing I am certain of is that I have never known or loved a group of artists as much as I love our ‘Ghosts’ cast, crew, and writers. It would be a thrill to collaborate with all of my favorite people from the director’s chair. It's no secret that I would die, pun intended, to direct on the show.

What’s one fun fact about yourself that fans might not know? 

I was a fencer for about 10 years. Fenced foil throughout high school, we had a pretty good team actually. Our foil team was 2nd in the state my senior year. I continued in college at Columbia and was even on the US fencing team for the Maccabi Games where we got silver medals. 

What’s next for you outside of ‘Ghosts’? Any upcoming projects or dream roles you’d love to tackle? 

I’m always looking for variety so perhaps something darker, more dramatic would be fun. Would definitely love to get back on a stage again, especially in New York. There’s a play I’ve been in love with for years, called ‘Chester Bailey’, written by the brilliant Joseph Dougherty. That would be a dream. 

CREDITS:

photography JOHN RUSSO