David DeLuise Guest Stars on Baby Daddy
One of Our Favorite TV Dads, David DeLuise, Pops Up on "Baby Daddy!"
Most of us know and love David DeLuise as "Jerry Russo," the warlock turned mortal and the Dad to Selena Gomez, Jake T. Austin and David Henrie's characters on "Wizards of Waverly Place." Your grandparents probably loved his iconic actor/comedian father, Dom DeLuise just as much. On April 30, at 8:30PM, the versatile actor pops up on the ABC Family series "Baby Daddy," as a potential father to Chelsea Kane's character "Riley."
We recently checked in with David to talk about his guest appearance, how he keeps up with his former television family and how he bonded with his famous father. Read how the talented actor responded to our questions below!
Q. What can you tell us about this episode of Baby Daddy?
A. It's super funny! It's directed by Michael Lembeck who I worked with almost 20 years ago. Don't tell anybody that because it makes me sound old! There is a big "who is going to be Riley's father?" They had given me a call and said 'Do you want to do this episode?' I was very intrigued by the fact that Chelsea's name is 'Riley' on the episode because I have a 20 year old Riley as well. So I know, I know a little bit about being a Dad.
But in this show, the idea is... we don't know if I'm her Dad or if this other guy is her Dad. I'm a baker in the show, and very silly and very fun. He is a lawyer, the other guy. It's a matter of 'What would it be like for someone to find out who their actual, biological father is very late in life.' The idea of having someone come to you and say 'Oh, you're my father,' it's kind of crazy!
Who is it? Is it him? Is it him? Are there any characteristics that are similar to Riley? There's a lot of comedy in-between as well!
Q. How did this part come about and how did you prepare to play "David?"
A. Some of the people who work on this show, worked on the show I did 'Wizards of Waverly Place.' I think one of the reasons why they called me is because the character is similar to the character 'Jerry Russo' that I played on the Disney Channel show, with Selena Gomez and David Henry and Jake T. Austin. I was kind of a lovable Dad. Silly, very cheap and ate a lot of food! I don't know if this character on Baby Daddy is cheap but I know that I love food and I am very silly on it! That's one of the reasons why they wanted me to be there and play with them!
Well, I went to a bakery and ate as many baked goods as I could cause I was doing research! That's what I was doing!
Q. Was your portrayal of this character based on anyone that you know?
A. Well, my Dad... he loved food! It's funny... it's interesting because our society now, I don't want to get deep, but we all tend not to eat together anymore. We're all watching our computers and looking at our phone. Something that my Dad did, that was such a nice thing, was he would cook on Sundays or he would cook a family dinner and we would actually interact with each other, which is something that I'm trying to do with my kids. If I end up being the father on the show, I'm definitely going to say to them, maybe we should do some sit down food and get to know the characters a little more and maybe even put that out there as an idea for people to do.
Q. What was the atmosphere like on the set?
A. It's very rare that you get a group of people on a television show and everything just mixes. A lot of times you'll get some oil and you'll get some water. As you know, those don't mix. Everybody there is one liquid. They're all a fluid machine and they all love each other. When the camera's aren't rolling, they're making each other laugh and they're having fun.
I was on the show '3rd Rock From the Sun,' I did about 55 episodes of that show. That was the first time I ever experienced joy on a set. It becomes like a family! It's like your sisters and your brothers and the director is your Dad. That kind of thing. I found that also on my show, Wizards. Everybody was so great. When you walk on to a set, like I did here, you can just feel it! It's palpable the joy that they have.
I guess everybody could say that, even if people weren't nice! But I'm giving you the truth! I've been on three sets, 3rd Rock, Wizards and Baby Daddy, it really comes from the leaders that are there, the creator of the show, the producers and the director and the actors... they really want to be there and they want to come to work and they want to enjoy their time there. It was very friendly and they were very welcoming and it was very sweet.
Q. Do you keep in touch with your formal cast-mates from Wizards of Waverly Place?
A. I do I do! I was actually just in Texas and I missed Jennifer by a few days. You know what's interesting? Twitter and Instagram they're there. We're putting ourselves out there on that. I'll see their stuff and we'll interact with each other. Like David Henry is doing, I think it's 'Mall Cop 2' right now. So I got to ask him what that was like working with them. I talked to Selena. You know, she was going through some stuff. I sent her out a text and she called me and we had a nice little chat. She's got a sister now!
I keep more in touch with her parents because they're more my age. I haven't talked with Jake, but Jake is doing the ABC Family show and he's doing great. Everyone once in a while, I'll communicate with David Henry. I went over to his house, there was a big fight on and he invited me over. He's like my son but not really. I have daughters, but David Henry is like the son that I never had. He's a great kid! I think with all the kids that grow up in the business, I just look at their parents and I say 'What participation are they having in their kid's lives?' It's a crazy whirlwind to be in the public eye like that, even for a grownup, let alone a 17 year old kid. It's a really big, important responsibility for the parents to be involved and to give boundaries.
Q. You have directed several episodes of television shows like "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "How to Rock." What's the big difference between in front of the camera and behind it?
A. It's very interesting because the first time I directed was on 'Wizards,' when you get behind the camera, you get into a different mindset, and you also have to be in charge of everything! When you're acting, you're in your room, you're relaxing, then you go to set, you rehearse, and then you go back. I realized how many different components and parts there are to getting a show to completion, when you're directing. The one thing that I did really learn is about camera angles, and also, not thinking about one piece of the puzzle, which would be my part. So as the director, you kind of have to know everybody's part, everybody's lines. You have to know everything! So being a director now, I hope, has made me a better actor because I'm more aware of what's going on and able to be a better piece in the puzzle.
Be sure to watch "Baby Daddy" on April 30 at 8:30pm! Is "David" Riley's father? Will this David get to return? You'll have to watch to find out!
For more on Baby Daddy, visit http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/baby-daddy
Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/D_DELUISE