Jeff Goldblum, who first made a mark with a single line in "Annie Hall" and has since been in such memorable movies as "The Big Chill" and "Jurassic Park," hits Broadway this month in "Seminar."
Goldblum is taking over for Alan Rickman in the witty play, which co-stars Jerry O'Connell and Justin Long, and he chatted with The Huffington Post about some of his memorable teachers, navigating New York City and playing the piano.
Are you nervous about taking over for Alan Rickman?
Those are big shoes, those are enormous, gigantic, Herculean shoes and he’s spectacular and you know, I’m, I’m...
Spectacular, too.
Well, bless your heart. I’m humbled but excited, and trying to put my best foot forward.
You play a writing teacher in the play. Have you been inspired by your teachers?
I’ve had some great teachers. I also had some not-so-great teachers growing up in grade school. When I was 17, 18, I moved to New York and studied acting with Sanford Meisner. He was wonderful, and very fierce and very scary. He unmoored you and freed you and shook you and did lots of things like that. It was very provocative.
That’s pretty wild that you moved to New York when you were 17.
It was wild. It was adventurous and I’m glad I did it. It was an experience.
Did you get mugged on your first day?
No, it wasn’t like "The Out of Towners." No, my parents were supportive. My mom came and got me a very orderly apartment situation near the school where I studied, so I was set up in a nice, protected way.
You play jazz piano. Do you have a giant glass on the piano to collect dollar bills?
(Laughs) I’m pretty cheesy, but not in that specific way.
Girls love the piano playing, right?
Er, well, I like the whole atmosphere when I play. Yeah, I like it; it’s very enjoyable in many ways.
Does that include the ladies?
Well, currently I have a girlfriend [rhythmic gymnast Emilie Livingston], so I’m very happy to focus my attention on her.
Is she the one who was photographed putting her leg behind her head?
Yeah! She was on the Canadian rhythmic gym team that went to the Sydney Olympics. She still performs.
So was the ability to put her legs behind her head the clincher?
No, that wasn’t the only thing. She was and always is a spectacular specimen to me. She has many other things going for her.
You’re very tall. Everyone always says movie stars are short in real life. Do you agree?
Oh yes, they’re all tiny, minuscule. I almost trip over them.