Tim Griffin discusses The Gift on iTalk Movies

iTalk movies is a long-form interview series featuring leading members of the film community. In this episode, host Alison Dean interviews Tim Griffin in studio on the Popcorn Talk Network. Chicago native Tim Griffin, often known as, “the actor who is in everything,” has amassed a dizzying list of credits, and over the years has solidified his reputation as one of Hollywood’s nicest, most charming and versatile actors. The son of a pediatric cardiologist, he first discovered acting after being cast as Oliver Twist in a school performance of the musical “Oliver!” As a teen Griffin would star in numerous theatrical productions for “The Body Politic” and “New Haven Playhouse,” as well local movies and commercials. After graduating from Francis Parker High School (among classmates Paul Adelstein, Anne Heche, and novelist Brad Thor), Griffin made the choice to put acting on the back-burner to enroll in the University of Vermont (UVM) where he graduated with a double major in political philosophy and English literature. Griffin performed as a regular member of the UVM Players (as Claudio in “Much Ado About Nothing” and Riff in “West Side Story”). Fate intervened his sophomore year while driving back to Chicago when his car broke down outside New York City. While waiting for it to be repaired, his agents asked him to audition for a TV movie called “Taking A Stand.” He was cast in the leading role of the all-star production (Betty Buckley, Jane Adams, Michael Beach). The show went on to win a Daytime Emmy for “Outstanding Children’s Special.” Following this success, Griffin turned down a scholarship to study abroad at the University of Kent in England, and went to Hollywood. Giving himself the extreme grand total of one year to make or break his career, he enrolled in classes at UCLA and signed with Writers and Artists. He quickly went on to star in high-profile TV shows and movies of the week, including “China Beach,” “In The Heat of the Night,” and Michael Zinberg’s autobiographical, coming-of-age drama “For The Very First Time.” @ThePopcornTalk