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A veteran of more than 30 films, Joe Viterelli is best known for his roles in the Robert DeNiro/Billy Crystal laugher, "Analyze This" and the Hugh Grant/James Caan mafia comedy, "Mickey Blue Eyes." A late bloomer as an actor, it wasn't until after receiving an offer to work with actor/director Sean Penn in the early 1980s that Viterelli's movie career really took off.
JOE VITERELLI (Steve Shanahan)
Can you describe your role in "Shallow Hal?"
Basically, I don't carry a baseball bat or a gun and I don't kill anybody - but I was thinking about it during the film.
What did you enjoy the most about making this film?
I'll tell you what I paid attention to the most, and that was trying not to laugh my ass off through the whole thing because it's so funny. That was my biggest problem.
Did playing Gwyneth Paltrow's father come easily to you?
First thing I did when I got into the make-up trailer was tell everybody "A lot of make-up please, because I've got to look old enough to be her father." (laughing)
What kind of a man is your character in "Shallow Hal?"
He's a father that loves his daughter dearly, but he figures everybody is moving on her to get to him. He's very sensitive - he's from the old school. He's actually an Irish-Italian but we don't talk about the Italian because his name is Shanahan. He does carry a stick, though.
What did you think of Gwyneth in her "fat suit?"
That was unbelievable. I did a double-take the first time I saw her. But you know what? She still had that "something."
What is the funniest thing about this film?
Everything is so funny in the movie. The funniest thing about the movie is the transformations they were able to make with the characters. We have actors from other films, from "Baywatch," and so on, and these people are looking exactly the opposite of what they are. The transformations were so smooth, and so funny to watch, it was unbelievable. The funniest thing that happened making the movie was when I went up to Peter Farrelly and said, "Listen, I'm a little pissed off." He asked why and I said, "Because Gwyneth has a fat suit, my wife has a fat suit - I don't get a fat suit?" He looked at me and said, "You mean you don't have one on?" (laughing)
More Interviews with the Cast of "Shallow Hal" - > Page 6
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