If you missed Michael Emerson on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, check out the video below. The man who plays Lost‘s Ben Linus (or, as Kimmel suggests, ‘Ben Lini’) says that last night’s appearance as a history teacher in the Sideways world wasn’t a throwaway. “I don’t think it’s just some mild departure. I think it has a big meaning that will play out as we go,” Emerson told Kimmel, before adding: “You have no idea what’s coming in that particular storyline.” Oooh, juicy! Despite not having read the final scripts, Emerson assured fans: “You’re going to have a satisfying conclusion to the series.”
I can usually keep an actor separate in my mind from his or her character, but I can’t do this with Emerson — he IS Ben Linus to me. If I saw him on the street I might have a panic attack. Anyone else think that Emerson will forever be associated with creepy Ben?
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Michael Emerson is an excellent actor – I think he’ll be okay. I will certainly watch him in anything going forward.
or anything going backwards – lol. Proofread, me, proofread!
I might have a little trouble not associating him with Ben at first but he is such a good actor that he will win me over in no time. I would like to see him in a completely different role from Ben.
Not for me. I think I’ve seen him be quite a funny guy in interviews that it won’t be a problem.
Agree on being unable to disassociate Emerson with Ben. Although if I recall correctly, he also played a creepy murderer on The Practice that decapitated people. That would add to the freakout.
I think he also played a child molester on SVU.
Those eyes! those bug eyes! that role in The Practice was amazing, he creeps me out completely, in a very good way
Nah. He is such a great actor. His interviews show him to be a much different guy. I look forward to seeing him in something else.
Emerson’s next role should be James Bond villain.
OMG YES!
T-O-T-A-L-L-Y
i agree wendy .. he is ben linus 2 me .. very deserving of the emmys.. classic line (after blowing up the boat) “so what”
Saw Michael Emerson in a Broadway theater lobby a couple of weeks ago. Very unassuming out of the context of his roles, though totally recognizable.
We actually met him on the streets of NYC outside Joe Allen’s restaurant 2 years ago. As we exited the restaurant he was standing with some people. He looked at me, so I waved, he waved back. As my group walked up the few steps to street level, we stopped to speak with him and oh my, those eyes!!! If I hadn’t been nervous already, it would have made me shiver! As we told him how much we enjoyed the show, he was very charming and it seemed like a normal every day conversation. My brother shook his hand as he commented on Emerson’s role in Saw and Emerson leaned in and with “that look” said, “It WAS creepy, wasn’t it?”. As the conversation died down, grasping for one last thing to say, I asked if he knew which way to the subway (clearly I am not from the city!), he kindly pointed us in the right direction. As we parted ways, my brother leans to us and says, “Do you think this is the right way to the train? You know he doesn’t want us to get off the island!” *smile* It was a very cool moment that will stick forever!!!
Michael Emerson will be able to move past Ben. But I have to admit, I saw him once on the NYC subway with his wife, and although he seemed perfectly calm and delightful I was terrified to approach him and compliment him because all I saw was BEN!
he was pretty funny on a recent appearance on The Soup as well.
he was HILARIOUS on talk soup on E!
Emerson was PHENOMENAL on The Practice as William Hinks (won an Emmy for it), and continues to be phenomenal in that creepy character actor role on “Lost.”
He generally hasn’t had too many roles that utilize his talent in a new direction, though, so it is hard to be confident about his potential impact in other series/movies.
Just a thought, but i believe he said he taught Eastern European History, right? Is it possible we will learn about the societies that at one time inhabited the island and left the ruins through his class? Maybe based on his education he suspects some mythical place where ancient cultures once were that held great power i.e. the Island? I don’t believe that Egypt would be classified ever as ‘Eastern Europe’ but its at least close geographically…Just a thought after all. LOVING this season!
Hmmm … maybe he is searching for proof of “The Island” the same way some people search for proof of Atlantis … nice insight!
It would be a little difficult for me to buy him in a “nice guy” role. That being said, I don’t think I’d be creeped out if I just happened to run into him on the street.
I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Emerson in Hawaii last year. I was set-stalking and was fortunate enough to be able to watch some filming. ‘Ben’ was in the scene and after they were done filming all of the angles, he came over to speak to the small group of fans that were gathered. He took pics with us and chatted about the show. He was in full make up (beat up face). I was literally shaking when he put his arm around me to take a pic. He said to me, ‘don’t worry I won’t bite’ and laughed. HE IS AWESOME, and very nice to boot.