« Tapping out a thank-you | Main | Bingo Night »
February 10, 2004
'West Wing' actor to talk about Hollywood, Judaism
Josh Malina, best known for roles in Sorkin projects, to share views on the preservation of Israeli state
The Daily Northwestern
The actor who plays the vice president's speechwriter on "The West Wing" will have a chance to air his own views at Northwestern on Wednesday.
Josh Malina, who plays Will Bailey on the NBC drama, spoke with The Daily in a telephone interview Friday from Los Angeles, where he is currently shooting the fifth season of "The West Wing" after joining the cast last year.
Malina developed his theatrical aspirations early in life.
Growing up in New Rochelle, N.Y., near New York City, Malina frequented the diverse range of shows on Broadway -- his father even produced a few.
"I was so hooked from such an early age," he said. "I knew I was going to pursue (acting)."
Malina also saw several plays at a nearby high school in Scarsdale, N.Y., some of which featured a young, then-unknown actor named Aaron Sorkin.
It was the first of many times the two men's paths would cross.
Malina moved home to New York City in 1988 after graduating from Yale University with a degree in theater studies and met Sorkin again at his mother's urging.
"It's classic Jewish mother reasoning," Malina said. "'He's Jewish, you're Jewish, you should call him.'"
It turned out to be a worthwhile call for Malina.
Just a year after graduating from college, the young actor appeared in the Broadway production of Sorkin's play "A Few Good Men."
He has appeared in almost every Sorkin project since, including all of Sorkin's work in television and film.
"He's been very good to me," Malina said of Sorkin.
Hillel Cultural Life is sponsoring the actor's upcoming talk at NU.
Malina's background as a successful, observant Jew and a strong supporter of the state of Israel made him an appealing choice when Hillel was searching for its annual Winter Quarter speaker, said Weinberg sophomore Rachel Sacks.
His experience in the entertainment industry allows him to address an even wider range of issues and appeal to a wider audience, Sacks said.
"Hopefully, his speech will appeal to a lot of different people and people will get what they want out of it," said Sacks, who serves on Hillel's board of directors.
Malina said he has always considered his Jewish heritage very important.
"My Jewish identity is really sort of the core identifier that I recognize," he said.
Malina said he first began to express his religious and political views in public after he attended a Los Angeles rally supporting Israel in 2001.
Many entertainers choose not to be so open about their political beliefs.
Despite the number of prominent Jews in Hollywood, Malina said he was disturbed by how few high-profile celebrities attended the rally or were willing to defend the state of Israel publicly.
"Somehow Israel has become politically untouchable," he said.
Malina later expressed his concern with this issue in an interview with the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. After the interview appeared, invitations from various Jewish groups began pouring in to his office.
Malina's schedule has prevented him from accepting many of the offers.
Although he has attended and helped organize a number of rallies and events, especially in the greater Los Angeles area, he has only recently begun accepting speaking invitations farther away.
He addressed the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in December and is scheduled to make speeches in Baltimore and New York in June.
"I sort of felt a responsibility, to a certain extent, to back up what I'd said," Malina said.
The actor is tailoring his NU address to reflect the broad audience he is expected to draw.
"I'm going to talk about my Jewish background, my career and how the two have started to intersect," he said.
Malina's appearance will include a question-and-answer session, and his speech will be followed by a reception at the Fiedler Hillel Center, 629 Foster St.
Posted by Jo at February 10, 2004 03:41 PM