Patrick Fischler

Patrick S. Fischler (born December 29, 1969) is an American character actor best known for his roles as Jimmy Barrett on the drama series Mad Men, Dharma Initiative worker Phil on the drama series Lost and Detective Kenny No-Gun on the police drama Southland. He has had more than 60 film and television credits, including the films Mulholland Drive (2001), Ghost World (2001), Old School (2003), The Black Dahlia (2006) and Dinner for Schmucks (2010).

Patrick Fischler
Fischler at the 2018 New York Comic Con
Born
Patrick S. Fischler[1]

(1969-12-29) December 29, 1969
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active1990–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2004)​
Children1

Fischler portrayed real-life gangster Mickey Cohen in the 2011 video game L.A. Noire, which utilized facial performance-capture technology to convert performances in the game's graphics. Two years later he played gangster Meyer Lansky in scenes with Cohen's character in the TNT miniseries Mob City. In 2012, he appeared in One for the Money, a crime thriller adapted from Janet Evanovich's novel of the same name.

The Santa Monica restaurant Patrick's Roadhouse was started by his father and is named for him.[2]

Early life and career

Patrick Fischler was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 29, 1969.[3] His father, Bill, purchased a restaurant on the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, when Fischler was five years old, and named it "Patrick's Roadhouse" after him. The restaurant has since become a hotspot for such celebrities as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Penn, Goldie Hawn and Johnny Carson.[4][5] After graduating from high school, Fischler attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he met and started dating his future wife, actress Lauren Bowles, the half-sister of actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.[4] After graduating from Tisch, Fischler and Bowles moved back to Los Angeles, where, along with other New York University graduates, they formed a theater group called Neurotic Young Urbanites.[4] An agent who saw Fischler perform at a Neurotic Young Urbanites production arranged for him to attend an audition for the 1994 action film Speed, which became Fischler's first film acting job. In the film, Fischler played one of the men trapped inside an elevator that nearly falls due to an attack by a bomber.[4]

In 1998, Fischler starred in the independent film The Week That Girl Died, a romantic comedy about three long-time friends in a small New England fishing town. For the part, he received a best lead actor award by the American Film Institute International Film Festival's New Directions jury, which honors independent films.[6] Fischler appeared in David Lynch's 2001 psychological thriller Mulholland Drive as a man describing a nightmare he had.[7] He appeared in the 2002 television film Gilda Radner: It's Always Something, a biopic about comedian Gilda Radner, where he played the real-life comedian Eugene Levy.[8] He appeared in the films Twister (1996),[9] Ghost World (2001),[10] and Old School (2003).[4] and The Great Buck Howard (2008),[11] and played assistant district attorney Ellis Loew in Brian De Palma's 2006 crime film The Black Dahlia. The character was referred to in the film as "Jewboy"; film reviewer Stephen Cole called his role "a caricature that is as coarsely anti-Semitic as any sequence in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ."[12] Fischler appeared as a guest star in television shows Angel,[10] Nash Bridges, Burn Notice,[4] Lie to Me,[9] Bones, Cold Case, Monk,[13] Star Trek: Enterprise, Girlfriends, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.[5] By 2009, he had more than 60 film and television credits.[4]

Increased recognition

Fischler auditioned for the role of insult comic Jimmy Barrett on the AMC drama series Mad Men, of which he was a fan. Alex Witchel, a writer from The New York Times Magazine who sat in on Fischler's audition, said he was "breathtakingly good".[14] The character, Jimmy Barrett, is a client of the advertising company within the show, and his wife Bobbie sleeps with protagonist Don Draper.[15] Series creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner cast Fischler because he felt the actor had a "New York quality" that he wanted the character to have. Weiner said of him: "Patrick has this tremendous edge. There was something very old-fashioned about the way he dealt with the character."[4] Fischler said entertainer Joey Bishop was a major influence on how he played the role because he wanted Jimmy Barrett to have a charming element to him and make people laugh even while he said horrible things, as Bishop did.[4][15] Fischler received a great deal of exposure and increase in name recognition after his role on Mad Men. During one episode, Jimmy tells Don's wife Betty about her husband's infidelity, then confronts Don and tells him off about his cheating. Fischler called receiving that script "the highlight of my career so far",[5] adding: "After Mad Men I got a lot of 'How dare you speak to Don Draper like that? ... People, mainly women, were mad at me that I told Don off. I took it as a compliment."[4] Fischler had been in talks to appear on the Showtime drama series Californication, but he was unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts with Mad Men.[16]

Starting in 2009, Fischler became a recurring cast member on both the ABC drama series Lost and the NBC police drama Southland. He was cast in Lost immediately after the pilot for Southland was filmed and worked on both shows over the course of six months. To do so, he constantly flew back and forth between Hawaii, where Lost is filmed, and Los Angeles, where Southland is filmed, while simultaneously dealing with his wife's pregnancy.[5][16] Fischler said the Lost producers were "incredibly accommodating" to his schedule.[5] On Southland he played Detective Kenny No-Gun;[13] series creator Ann Biderman described him as a "brilliant, incredibly versatile actor".[4] Although originally expected to appear in only two Lost episodes, he ended up guest starring in nine,[5][16] appearing in the fifth season as Phil, a member of the Dharma Initiative during a part of the show set in 1977.[13] When he auditioned for the role, Fischler did not know the storyline would move from the present to the past, and did not learn this until he was handed his first script.[16] In a May 2009 interview, Fischler said, "This is not a joke: a year ago if you were to ask me what are the two shows I want to be on, I would have said Mad Men and Lost."[13]

Recent projects

Fischler appeared in the 2010 comedy film Dinner for Schmucks as Vincenzo, one of the guests at a dinner where rich people bring eccentric guests and compete for who can bring the biggest loser. In the film, Fischler's character has a pet vulture, which he feeds by chewing food and spitting it directly into the bird's mouth.[17] Fischler also portrayed the real-life gangster Mickey Cohen in the video game L.A. Noire, which was released in May 2011. The game uses a facial performance-capture technology called MotionScan to record the performances of actors, then convert them to the graphics of the game. The game's casting directors worked on Mad Men and specifically approached Fischler for the Cohen character, and he accepted because he likes the film noir genre. Fischler said of the experience: "You really get to act in those scenes cause they’re capturing every moment on your face. A slight smile. A small frown. Everything."[18]

Fischler appeared in Red State as ATF Agent Hammond in 2011.

In January 2012, Fischler appeared in One for the Money, a crime thriller film adapted from the 1994 novel of the same name by Janet Evanovich, the first in a series featuring bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. He portrayed Vinnie Plum, a bail bondsman and Stephanie Plum's cousin.[19] He portrayed poet Lew Welch in the 2013 Michael Polish film Big Sur, based on the autobiographical novel by Jack Kerouac.[20] He played the antagonistic Author in the second half of the fourth season of ABC's Once Upon a Time. In 2016, he appeared in The Coen brothers' Hail, Caesar![21]

Personal life

Fischler and Lauren Bowles were married in 2004. They have a daughter named Fia Lucille (born April 2009).[4][13]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Speed Friend of Executive
The Shadow Sailor
Swimming with Sharks Moe
1996 Twister The Communicator
1998 The Week That Girl Died Ralph
2001 Mulholland Drive Dan
Ghost World Masterpiece Video Clerk
2002 Full Frontal Harvey - probably's Assistant
2003 Old School Michael
Something's Gotta Give Stage Manager
2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Waiter Uncredited
2005 The Seat Filler Irwin
2006 The Black Dahlia Deputy DA Ellis Loew
Idiocracy Yuppie Husband
2007 Three Days to Vegas Kenneth
Live! Trevor
2008 The Great Buck Howard Michael Perry
Finding Amanda Kevin - TV Executive
Garden Party Anthony
2010 Miss Nobody Pierre JeJeune
Dinner for Schmucks Vincenzo - Vulture Lover
2011 Red State Agent Hammond
Atlas Shrugged: Part I Paul Larkin
2012 One for the Money Vinnie Plum
2013 Big Sur Lew Welch
The Test Short film
2 Guns Dr. Ken
Haunted Trumpet Short film
2014 The Pact 2 FBI Agent Ballard
2015 The Diabolical Austin
2016 Hail, Caesar! Communist Writer #2
Rules Don't Apply Director
Her Last Will Gill Cotton
2018 Under the Silver Lake Comic Fan
2018 The Standoff at Sparrow Creek Beckmann

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Knots Landing Office Worker #2 Episode: "Blind Side"
1993 Love & War Delivery Boy Episode: "The Big Lie"
Flying Blind Steve Episode: "The People That Time Forgot"
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Guard Episode: "Crystal Hawks"
1994 Sister, Sister Lenny Episode: "Free Billy"
1995 Double Rush Anthony Episode: "The Show We Wrote the Day We Found Out We Were Going on Opposite Roseanne"
1996, 2001 NYPD Blue Johnny DuMont / Ken Thornton 2 episodes
1996–2001 Nash Bridges Pepe Recurring role; 11 episodes
1997 The Pretender Toby Episode: "Exposed"
2001 18 Wheels of Justice Andrew 'Andy' Jacobs Episode: "Past Imperfect"
2002 Off Centre Donald Episode: "Marathon Man"
Charmed Foreman Episode: "Trial by Magic"
Gilda Radner: It's Always Something Eugene Levy TV movie
Judging Amy Phil Brown Episode: "Thursday's Child"
2003 Birds of Prey Dr. Will Kroner Episode: "Feat of Clay"
Angel Ted Episode: "The Magic Bullet"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Mr. Lee / Wolfie Episode: "Fur and Loathing"
Line of Fire James Henkel Episode: "Undercover Angel"
2004–2007 Girlfriends Clark 3 episodes
2004 ER Chamber Tech Episode: "Blood Relations"
My Wife & Kids Director Episode: "Hand Model"
The West Wing Walter Sprout Episode: "Impact Winter"
2005 Monk Eddie Episode: "Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra"
CSI: NY Brent the Screenwriter Episode: "The Fall"
Star Trek: Enterprise Mercer Episode: "Demons"
CSI: Miami Vince Nolan 2 episodes
E-Ring Mark Sinclair Episode: "Cemetery Wind: Part 1"
2006 Four Kings Server Phil Episode: "Night of the Iguana"
The New Adventures of Old Christine David Episode: "Open Water"
Him and Us Dr. Parker TV movie
2007 What About Brian? Schmitty 2 episodes
Drive Brad 2 episodes
According to Jim Darryl Episode: "Any Man of Mine"
Veronica Mars Russell Marchant Episode: "Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down"
Moonlight Alan Episode: "B.C."
Bones Gil Bates Episode: "The Boy in the Time Capsule"
2008 NCIS George Stenner Episode: "In the Zone"
The Middleman Dr. Rollin Newleaf Episode: "The Manicoid Teleportation Conundrum"
Burn Notice Jimmy Episode: "Breaking and Entering"
Mad Men Jimmy Barrett Recurring role; 4 episodes
Cold Case Monty Moran '53 Episode: "Pin Up Girl"
Pushing Daisies The Waffle Nazi Episode: "Comfort Food"
2009 Lost Phil Recurring role; 9 episodes
2009–2010 Southland Detective Kenny 'No-Gun' Recurring role; 8 episodes
2010 Dark Blue Ray Blake Episode: "Brother's Keeper"
Weeds Don, the hotel manager Episode: "A Yippity Sippity"
Lie to Me Olson Episode: "Darkness and Light"
The Whole Truth Medical Examiner Episode: "When Cougars Attack"
Chase Ed Castwick Episode: "The Longest Night"
Law & Order: LA Josh Solomon Episode: "Ballona Creek"
2011 Criminal Minds Jack Fahey Episode: "Lauren"
Franklin & Bash John Stills Episode: "Big Fish"
Curb Your Enthusiasm Stu Episode: "The Smiley Face"
Grimm Billy Capra Episode: "Lonelyhearts"
2012 County Hendricks TV movie
Body of Proof Joey Jablonsky Episode: "Occupational Hazards"
Grey's Anatomy Jake Steiner Episode: "Migration"
The Finder Jason Stefanian Episode: "The Boy with the Bucket"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Gene Brightman Episode: "Strange Beauty"
Veep Ken Episode: "Baseball"
Scandal Arthur 'Artie' Hornbacher Episode: "Hunting Season"
Castle Leo Episode: "After Hours"
2012–2013 Californication Gabriel 4 episodes
2013 Hawaii Five-0 Ryan Webb Episode: "Hana I Wa'la"
Newsreaders Bram Strunk Episode: "CCSI/Boston"
The Mentalist Gary Beinhart Episode: "Red Velvet Cupcakes"
Mob City Meyer Lansky Episode: "Stay Down"
2014 Maron Ted Curtis Episode: "Radio Cowboy"
2014–2015 Married Jay 2 episodes
2014–2016 Suits A. Elliott Stemple 2 episodes
2015 Battle Creek Attorney Milner Episode: "The Hand-Off"
Silicon Valley Dr. Davis Bannercheck 3 episodes
Grandfathered Frederick Episode: "Deadbeat"
Shameless Wade Shelton 2 episodes
2015–2017 Once Upon a Time Isaac Heller Recurring role; 8 episodes
2016 Fresh Off the Boat Mr. Jaffey Episode: "Rent Day"
2017 Rosewood Chuck Furwell Episode: "White Matter and the Ways Back"
Code Black CDC DD Gareth Reddick 2 episodes
Doubt ADA Alan Markes 2 episodes
Scorpion Kapper Episode: "Strife on Mars"
Twin Peaks Duncan Todd 6 episodes
Kingdom Dan 3 episodes
2017–2019 Happy! Smoothie Main cast; 16 episodes
2018 Timeless Joseph Pope Episode: "The Salem Witch Hunt"
2020 Defending Jacob Dan Rifkin 4 episodes

Video Games
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 L.A. Noire Mickey Cohen Voice and motion capture

References
  1. According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com
  2. "Patrick's Roadhouse". Patricksroadhouse.info. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  3. "This day in history". The Boston Globe. December 29, 2009. p. G20.
  4. Bradner, Liesl (July 16, 2009). "Patrick Fischler: Have you seen this actor?". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  5. Mollow, Tim (May 20, 2009). "Lost, Mad Men and Southland's Patrick Fischler Can Take a Punch". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  6. Klady, Leonard (November 1, 1998). "'Fire-Eater' burns bright at AFI fest". Variety. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  7. "Mulholland Drive – Filmcritic.com Movie Review". AMC. April 9, 2002. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  8. Gallo, Phil (April 29, 2002). "Gilda Radner: It's Always Something". Variety. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  9. Poli, Chiara (November 8, 2010). "Lie to Me – Il finale di stagione". Fox International Channels Italy. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  10. "Angel - Season Four". DVD Talk. September 7, 2004. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  11. Chang, Justin (January 20, 2008). "The Great Buck Howard". Variety. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  12. Cole, Stephen (September 18, 2006). "Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia is one nasty noir". CBC.ca. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  13. Carter, Kelley L. (May 11, 2009). "Patrick Fischler feasts on his tasty roles". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  14. Witchel, Alex (June 22, 2008). "'Mad Men' Has Its Moment". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  15. Koo, Carolyn (January 23, 2009). "Q&A - Patrick Fischler (Jimmy Barrett)". AMC. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  16. "Lost (2004 - 2010): Exclusive: Season 5 - Patrick Fischler Interview". MovieWeb. 2010. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  17. "Film review: Dinner for Schmucks". The Scotsman. August 31, 2010. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  18. Gaskill, Jake (May 17, 2011). "Interview: L.A. Noire's Patrick Fischler Spills The Beans On Playing Mickey Cohen". G4. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  19. Nguyen, Hanh (August 6, 2010). "Debbie Reynolds as Plum's Grandma Mazur: Yea or nay?". Zap2it. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  20. Zakarin, Jordan (April 15, 2011). "'Big Sur': Kerouac Adaptation Film Cast Announced". Huffington Post.
  21. "Hail, Caesar! Review". sootoday.com. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
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