When he filmed The Dish in Australia in 1999, Patrick Warburton had not long finished his run as ‘Puddy’ in Seinfeld.
The role was what helped him land the gig from Working Dog, filming in Melbourne and Parkes, NSW, as Rob Sitch confirmed to him.
“I said, ‘Rob, you only know me from Seinfeld, I guess at this point?’ He said ‘Yeah,’” Warburton recalls.
“‘I’m Al Burnett, the NASA scientist, the least funny character in this film. What made you think I could do it?’
“He goes,’ I just reckon you could.’
“I was so thankful because what an opportunity and a pleasure. It’s one of the best work experiences I’ve ever had, getting to work with them, with the great Sam Neill, the whole team, being in Melbourne for a month. I love the city and I love the country.
Even spending time in Sydney at home with Sam Neill, the shoot was his introduction to Aussies in their home environment.
“Aussie people as a whole, I’ve always found from my trips down here, have sort of a level of authenticity and realism,” he tells TV Tonight.
“They’re not that terribly impressed by anything outside of just who you are. I’ve just always loved the authenticity I felt here when I was here doing The Dish.
” I got to know Geoffrey Rush. I was at Sam Neill’s house, we had a barbecue and one night the first two to show up were Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman, then there was Tim Finn the founding member of Crowded House and Split Enz, and Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward … even with these big stars, everybody in Australia seemed to be really grounded and normal.”
Warburton is currently in Melbourne for Metro Comic Con this weekend.
While The Dish may not be high on the Q+A radar, there are plenty of questions about some of his othe 190 acting credits.
“Primarily it’s Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove. It’s Disney stuff. It’s Seinfeld. There are The Tick fans. Definitely, a lot of Family Guy and then there’s a lot of Series of Unfortunate Events now. Those are the biggest ones. Then there are those that that might be Rules of Engagement fans or different other projects,” he explains.
Fan conventions can be lucrative business, and a hefty investment for devoted fans. But Warburton is fully aware of the spend shelled out by those seeking autographs, photos and a brief window to meet their screen idol.
“I try to make a connection, I really do with everybody that comes through. I know they pay money and they wait in lines. Sometimes the Con people say, ‘We gotta get your line moving a little faster’ but that’s really hard for me to do. I want to make every every connection as special as I can, make eye contact and ask them a question. I don’t like to rush people,” he insists.
“If I just want to make money I’d be on Cameo which would be really easy. I’ve been approached by the Cameo people a number of times, but I just don’t feel like doing tha right now.
“I took MetroCon as an opportunity to come here and meet the fans in Australia and Melbourne, which is a very special place for me.
“I know a lot of actors are making a fortune doing Cameo but there’s something that’s more authentic about meeting people, shaking hands, giving hugs, taking pictures and hearing stories. It’s wonderful. Every now and then you’re taking a picture with somebody and they’re shaking and they have tears. As an actor who does voice,work, I don’t get that. But I can appreciate that because I have that same fandom for, let’s say Eddie Vedder… I’ve been preaching the gospel of Eddie Vedder for three decades. He’s Bob Dylan with the voice of Eddie Vedder and I’ve met at a number of times. He’s always been very gracious, very sweet to me. I never really know what to say because of the impact that his music has had on my life.”
If he gets to speak to his upcoming projects, Warburton will tease paranormal comedy feature, The Unearthly, UK film Mad Props and feature film The Duel.
“Grindstone acquired The Duel and then Lionsgate took it and bumped it up from an indie to a theatrical release. So that’s gonna get released on 500 screens in the States on July 31. I believe that’s going to be here in Australia, too ”
metrocomiccon.com.au July 13, 14 Melbourne.