Interviews// Robert Knepper

SPOnG: What was it like actually returning to T-Bag in season one, because his character really evolved over that series? Did you approach his character any differently this time around?

Robert Knepper: I just approached it as I did when I played T-Bag the first time, focusing on the simplest of things in each scene and picking on exactly what the scene required of me, and acting on that. For example, in one scene I knew that, whatever I said, I had to have a charming personality. So that was what I focused on, and it makes the character all the worse off.

It's always been weird to play as T-Bag actually, because he embodies two of the things in life that I can't abide by. I don't like guys that mess with kids, and I don't believe in racism. So it was an odd feeling for me to be playing this child offender, spouting lines about 'the black people' all the time.

I remember having difficulty early on, wondering how I'm going to be able to play this part. The ironic thing to me is that as the series went on, I started sounding more black myself. And I did that deliberately, just to see if anyone actually noticed. It was kind of an inside joke to me, and partly a break from the harsh nature of this character.

I had to get into a mentality that doesn't like other people. You know, it was like – I don't care what colour you are, if you're not doing your part of the work and putting it off on me to do it, I'm going to be pissed off. That was what I kinda tapped into. It was so easy to just stay in the moment and not judge what I was doing or saying.

That was always the trick. Don't judge it. I had to do a scene where I had to put my arm around a girl – I think it was in the second season. And I had to say something like 'Your dad doesn't understand you.' Some of my psychotherapist friends came to me and said 'You know what, that is the fucking moment, right there, the poster child moment.' If a kid's with a paedophile, that's exactly what would happen. They try to win you over and say 'Oh, it's fine, you can trust me.' It was a really hard scene to do.

And again, in my head I had to just keep thinking, 'I've gotta think like he thinks.' I can't judge it. Because it's truly sick and twisted. But once I managed to get my head out of that zone, it was a really interesting character to play. And all of that came back when I picked up the role for this game, too.


SPOnG: Do you find that people in the street judge you based on your character, if you get recognised?

Robert Knepper: No. I mean, the nice thing about people thinking you're a badass is that I can walk into a bar anywhere in the world and the real big badasses don't mess with me. (Laughs) So I am now officially fearless because of the show. A few years after the show got going, women would clock me on the street and I would see them ready to scream or something, before realising that it's just the actor.

I remember staying at a hotel in Dallas – I was there looking for a home for my family – and I'm at the elevator. The doors open up and there's this beautiful young couple from Colorado, it was like John Denver should have been singing Rocky Mountain High or something. They're cooing with each other in this elevator before they turn around and see me, on my own, standing in this dimly lit hallway. The lady sees my face and she lets out a scream... the poor thing, she was so shocked that she inhaled her scream. Really loud. The next second she turned beet red, and said 'Oh, I'm so sorry!'


SPOnG: What's your experience been with voice acting the role of T-Bag instead of being in front of cameras? Any additional hurdles that came from the recording booth?

Robert Knepper: Not for this role, but I wonder how I could have done the voice acting work if I hadn't already played the character on screen beforehand, you know? On the show, it took me around five or six episodes to really build a voice for T-Bag, and it may have been different if this was a character I'd never seen or acted as before.

I sure hope that there will be opportunities for me to come back into the recording studio for voice over work on new projects, for other characters I've not tried yet. I'd like the challenge on that front. But here, the character was already set, and the whole affair was more like an homage to the series. So when you have those things on your head – the cans, we call them – you can really play the character role and get stuck in. You can hear every single little sound and that allows you to really modulate your acting. It feels like being under the microscope in a way.


SPOnG: I have a bit of a cheeky question actually, regarding the name of your character. I know you said you don't play many games, but there is a gaming term known as 'teabagging'...

PR Representative clears throat loudly

Robert Knepper: What is it? I know what it is in real life, but...

SPOnG: Basically, in a shooting game it's a... derogatory action on another player. I'm not sure if you're aware of that at all but...

Everyone laughs

SPOnG: To er, to demonstrate it would be rather violating so I'll just say that it involves squatting on faces. What are your thoughts on that, do you think T-Bag could be a teabagger?

Robert Knepper: (Laughs) I have a funny story to tell you, actually. I think teabagging is a slightly younger phrase than my generation, because when I was in college guys didn't do that to each other! (Laughs) Maybe they did, but I didn't know about it.

But I didn't know what that meant, when I read for the part of T-Bag. In the first or second episode of the show, you get to learn where the name comes from. That's the thing I love about the show, you think that it's one thing when it turns out to be another. You know, you think he's called T-Bag because of that but then you find out his name's Teddy Bagwell. So it's short for that.

I honestly didn't know, though, what T-Bag or teabagging meant. And I wasn't worried about it at first, but then I thought to myself, what if Peter Liguori – the President of FOX at the time – was in the final audition and he asks 'So, how do you think you got the name T-Bag?'

He didn't ask that thankfully, but I was ready. I was so convinced that I knew what I was talking about. I was going to lean forward and say; 'Because I never dip my bag into a cup of water unless it's piping, piping hot.' I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten the part.

After the audition, I spoke with a distant cousin of mine who has spent a bit of time in jail. At the end of the conversation he asks, 'So... you know how you got the name T-Bag, right?' And I said 'No, I have no idea, what is it?' So he tells me that it's... that, and I'm like, 'woah.' (Laughs)


SPOnG: Thank you very much for your time.

Robert Knepper: Thanks a lot, take care.