Welcome And Ian’s Origin Story

Greg Staffa 0:00

You're listening to the Staffa Corner Podcast, a Staffatarian look at entertainment and life with your host, Greg Staffa. Today I'm joined by actor Ian Lyons, whose credit includes Julia, Dexter, New Blood, The Holdovers, and more. Ian, thanks for joining us today. Thank you for having me, Greg. So tell us a little bit about yourself. What was like growing up for little young Ian?

SPEAKER_02 0:45

Well, I grew up in uh a family. Uh my dad was an actor, and my mom was always directing in like local uh theater. And uh my older brother Christian did a lot of Broadway and stuff, so I was in a family of actors and stage and entertainment, but I never wanted to do it myself, but I got kind of sucked into it. But um, yeah, raised by a single mom after, you know, the dad stuff kind of went its own way. And uh yeah, just been a dreamer and tried to work behind the scenes and then got got sucked into the uh camera side of things.

Greg Staffa 1:20

And what was it about being on the other side of the camera that got you interested in it?

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Being behind the scenes of the camera was my initial love because I just fell in love with movies. Movies were always my escape as a child, as they are for most people. Uh, but I worked in production in Los Angeles for about like seven, eight years, working mostly as a uh production assistant. One day on the set or uh be behind the scenes in the writer's room of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, someone asked me if I would like to audition for this small role as a waiter in this scene, and I said sure, and I auditioned, I got the part. From there I never looked back because it was way more fun than production work.

Greg Staffa 2:00

You said your your mom and your family had some acting in them. Growing up as a child, were you imaginative? Did you like to create little stories in your head? What was your childhood like as far as creativity-wise goes?

SPEAKER_02 2:14

Sure. I mean, I think I always dabbled in attempting to write little things. I never did anything with that. Yeah, sure. We didn't have a ton of money, so I think my imagination and escapism that way was sort of what I leaned into. You know, I had my, you know, G.I. Joe action figures as Star Wars figures, and I'd make up little movies with them as a kid. But yeah, I always um escapism and and uh the arts were always something I leaned into because that was the it was in the family and that was the cheap way to enjoy myself.

Greg Staffa 2:46

It it seems to me in talking to actors around your age and my age, that there was a real generation that grew up kind of in the Star Wars years where imagination and creativity was really running rampant for people that I I don't think that we see in our youth today that I think is missing, and it's kind of unfortunate that we don't have that creative spirit that I think we had in like the 70s, 80s, and you know, early 90s.

SPEAKER_02 3:12

Yeah, I wonder about that. I mean, I I think we had to spend a lot of time trying to entertain ourselves without, you know, cell phones and everything. So maybe in a sense, our imaginations were freer to, you know, play with our action figures or whatnot. But then I do wonder, is there a sense, I mean, everyone's trying to create, I guess, to become famous now with TikTok and social media. So I don't know if that's healthy. It doesn't seem like it is, but I think that does inspire some creativity in some younger people. But uh, I wouldn't give up the way we grew up in any way.

Greg Staffa 3:42

Is there any I mean you worked behind the scenes and then in front of the camera? Your family came from a you know history of actors and actresses. You you also you often hear about people you know going to school for film or going to school to become an actor.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Yeah.

Greg Staffa 3:56

And then you mentioned you know the TikTok culture where they're becoming famous based on being in TikTok. Yeah. Is there you know, what do you think of those different ways that people approach acting? Is there one that you prefer or see as more of a smoother route, or whatever works for that person is works for that person?

SPEAKER_02 4:14

Well, I I would say, I mean, because my my uh trajectory was not going leaning into the acting, it was leaning into the filmmaking. So I was a film major at Emerson College. And I would say for someone who is pursuing uh working in film, I wouldn't say the loans and the expense of college is necessarily necessary, but a diploma is a lovely thing. But uh is it worth the expense? I say just get on set and learn that way. But as far as acting, because I didn't, I wasn't trained as an actor, there are parts of me that wish wishes that I did uh have proper training as an actor, because I can see how other actors can lean on that and uh value that as a uh a way to support their their craft. But I don't think I mean it I think whatever someone feels comfortable doing as far as pursuing their career, I think is fine. I would say just don't spend a fortune doing it.

Greg Staffa 5:08

Uh you spent several years behind the cameras and you weren't necessarily thinking of becoming an actor, but were there moments where you were watching other actors that you said, you know, if I ever became an actor, this is what I would do differently? Or were you learning without realizing that you were learning and that when the opportunity came, you had a wealth of knowledge that you didn't fully realize that you had at your your fingertips?

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Uh I would say certainly like growing up in my family, I think there was a some sort of natural ability that is pulled into it. But I would say my love of cinema, just watching other actors not really realizing I was absorbing the way they perform, has certainly helped me to I wouldn't say perfect, but to perform the way I do. I I've definitely stolen from people and have uh been inspired by others. And sure, at times I may when I was on set, I wouldn't say so much I was looking at people saying, Oh, I would have done this differently, because I didn't think I could do it then. I was that kid that was terrified to go in front of the class to speak. So acting was not something I gravitated towards, nor thought I had any say in judging others when I was working behind the scenes.

From Set Work To Acting Leap

Greg Staffa 6:15

Uh you've hinted a few times, you know, the the confidence wasn't necessarily there, or you kind of downplayed what you, you know, felt that you could or couldn't do, and yet you went ahead and did it and became successful. What was the turning point of ripping the band-aid off and saying, I'm gonna do it? Because I think a lot of us might not have done what you had done.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

Oh, I think when I kind of fell into that opportunity with Sr Sabrina the Teenage Witch and some other uh early opportunities, I was like, you know, I don't I don't suck at this thing. I mean, some others might think I do suck at it. I think I realized, oh, this is an easier way and more fun way to make money than my other options. And I would say, given my experience working behind the scenes, I realized doing that that was more of a factory job, and I wasn't interested in giving my whole life to working behind the scenes. So I pursued it really because I didn't know I I still don't know if I could do anything else.

Greg Staffa 7:12

You kind of got in the game late as far as some people might consider you might consider yourself a late bloomer. Is that something that assisted you, that held you back in any way, that you didn't have a growing up process of being up, even though your family was in the industry? Hmm. I'm thinking about this one.

SPEAKER_02 7:32

I would say only a positive, because I would say a lot of younger actors, people who started off when they, you know, uh my classmates or whatever that went into acting in their 20s or earlier, they have kind of been got burnt out by the time they're my age. So I wouldn't say it's a survival of the fittest, it's just I'm fortunate that I really started to take it seriously when I turned 40. And uh so I think I've been fortunate that I'm still around only because I started later.

Greg Staffa 8:03

I've always wondered because you know, you see, you know, adults like yourself becoming actors or actresses, you're seeing TikTok people becoming famous and and getting into acting and stuff like that. As a you know, as a person that's looking at a perspective, your family has done it, is there any safety nets or what kind of processes are there to help? I mean, there's not like a other than going to school, there's not really a training class of here's how I do that. If I got a new job at a construction site, I go through training and say, this is you know, let's set up your 401k, let's set up this, let's go through training on how to operate this. To become an actor, is there any kind of safety nets or mentoring, or is it just relying on your manager and publicist to to help guide you?

SPEAKER_02 8:51

Oh, so are we talking strictly in the business side of things, not in the craft? The business. No, I think I mean there's a lot of like you're like what you're doing right now, there's a lot of podcasts and stuff that people can listen to. To like Audrey uh loves actors. That's a good one that people lean on to get you know clues on how to do this as a business, because actors should think of this career as a business if they want to be successful. And for a lot of people, it's recommended that they get backup jobs. I'm fortunate my wife works regularly, so I don't have to worry too much about that. But yeah, and then there are resources, but there's no clear avenue as far as I know of of how one should pursue this career other than listening to other podcasts, maybe reading some books.

Greg Staffa 9:37

And I don't want to jump forward because you brought her up. I don't want to dig too much in your personal life. Yeah. You've been married for over 27 years, is my understanding, correct?

SPEAKER_02 9:46

That is right.

Greg Staffa 9:47

Yeah. That is something not only in Hollywood to be applauded, but just life in general. Thank you. What has that been like? And you know, is there any advice that you've because a lot of actors and actresses don't make it that long for for marriages. What was the secret to your success?

SPEAKER_02 10:04

We are just, I mean, uh so many of our friends and other couples that we knew have since separated. Very few are still together, but I think we're just really lucky. Sometimes you just know we uh I mean we met at college and we dated for six days and said, let's get married, and we've just been honest and transparent with each other and constantly supportive, and we laugh a lot, and we love together. We're just really fortunate. I don't know if there's really any advice then. We just, you know, we we struck the the pot of gold or whatever it is and got we got lucky.

Greg Staffa 10:39

Nice. I didn't want to dig too deep, but you had brought her up, so I wanted to mention that and congratulate you on that because I I do think it's something that we kind of lose sight of when you hear something like that, and uh it should be applauded. So thank you. You can ask me anything too, no, no worries on my end. So you you made the transition. Was there any kind of mental safety net as you started auditioning for for more and roll more roles? Was the leap just you cut the cord and said, I'm gonna do this, and had you know total confidence in at least yourself? I would say I never had total confidence.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

I think again, because I don't have that baseline of training. So I don't have that to lean on. But I wouldn't say I necessarily just cut the cord, because it started slow. Like it would be sporadic opportunities. And I would say when, like I said, after I turned 40, things really I think I aged into a certain place where casting saw me as a certain thing, which is usually a guy in some sort of suit. So I don't I think I just I kind of fell into the position I'm in, uh, but I wouldn't say it came easily, and I wouldn't say I just cut the cord and felt totally confident, because I I think most actors do not feel totally confident in this business. Because even actors at the highest level, uh even once they think they've made it, they're still struggling to get that next job, and they may have peaked. You never know.

Defining Success And The Julia Challenge

Greg Staffa 12:05

What is and I don't know if you have it or not, but what is a measure of success for an actor like yourself? Because you've had some amazing roles, you've had character interactions with some amazing actors and actresses throughout your career. You've done a lot of work. What is your definition of success? Someone could look at your your history and say, wow, he's done a lot of you know film and TV, he's been on a lot of shows. Others might say he he just did guest appearances, but he hasn't had that like major show where he's been on for five, six seasons.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Yeah.

Greg Staffa 12:39

How do you gauge what your success is and your goals are? I mean, are there what are your goals?

SPEAKER_02 12:46

Well, sure. I mean, I because again, because I kind of got really rolling in it when I was older. I've never had any expectation that I would become famous or known or anything. That's not an ambition of mine, but I think one goal might be to make regular dependable money beyond the residuals and you know, the the every few months getting a good solid job, because that's that's generally how it is. So any sort of like regular TV gig would be amazing. But for me, one credit that you would mention when you initially emailed me was Julia, which is interesting because in that role I do not appear on screen, but I played Twin Brothers with David High Pierce. And for me, that was a goal I didn't know I had. Just it I learned so much more about myself in that opportunity, and I realized that's that was for me. I don't think any opportunity could top that because of the challenge of working with actors to such a high level like Sarah Lancashire and playing two roles opposite each other, because David Hyde Pierce and I would switch roles because on camera you only see him playing the twin brothers, uh, and you don't see me. So it was interesting. It was just quite a challenge, a challenge that terrified me before I did it. And then when I did it, I was like, oh my god, I can I can do that. And uh I made a lot of great connections and friends doing that job.

Guest Roles And Set Social Dynamics

Greg Staffa 14:08

Aside from the stability and the longevity of having like a a four-season you know show that you're on, sure. You know, you've done a lot of one episode, two episodes here and there. What's it like coming in as an actor? Is your your preparation knowing that you're only going to be in one episode? Do you create a because I've had you know a couple actors on that have said, you know, this was only supposed to be one episode and it turned into four seasons. So how do you you approach a role where the the expectation is one episode, but you never know with Hollywood where it could lead to? So how do you prepare yourself and hope for that opportunity, or what do you do when you go into these like if I had a temp job where I had you know I was assigned to this, you know, we want you to be a receptionist at this company for one day, my attitude might be a little bit of, well, okay, I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna perform my job, but it's only one day, so I'm not gonna put my heart into anything. I'm not gonna, you know, make friends or anything like that. So I'm just gonna kind of go through the motions. As an actor, how do you prevent yourself from going through the motions of saying, well, I'm just I'm playing a character for one scene and one episode, and that's it. So, you know, I gotta start looking for something else.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

I don't know. I can't, I I don't know of any actor that goes into one of these one-off jobs thinking, oh, well, I'm only in it once, and you know, what's the, you know, I'm not gonna throw everything into it. I think because for most actors, the the opportunities are so sporadic that we maybe even I would say we over-prepare and we are more prepared than the actors that are on the show for four seasons. And of course, we all dream of the opportunity to to come back and recur, and sometimes that does happen. They're like, hey, we wrote you on again, and that's a lovely surprise. But yeah, no, I think we we prepare at the highest level and hope those opportunities come. But I would say there's one thing about, and on my I have a podcast I do when I speak to other actors, one thing that always comes up in these supporting roles when, say, you come on for one or two episodes, you always feel when you join these casts that have been together for months or possibly years, it's like arriving at someone else's family Thanksgiving dinner and sitting down at their table and hoping they talk to you and invite you and make you feel comfortable. It's such an awkward thing to act like you're a part of this team, but when you know you're just there for a day or a day or two, it's uh it's not easy. I would say that's one of the more challenging things of this job.

Greg Staffa 16:39

And overall, our most because I've heard you know some some shows have not been as receptive to guests as others have. Overall, how's your general experience been?

SPEAKER_02 16:51

I would say it's been good. I'm trying to think if there's been any beta uh opportunities. No, generally good. I I would say they're, you know, sometimes people are I've worked with you know series regulars who, when the camera's not rolling, don't even say hi or like shake your hand, say welcome, you know, break the ice. So those few actors I've worked with that have been like that, I I don't have the highest respect for because I think if I were in their position, I would be like, hey, welcome, you know, I want to make you feel at home, so we will all benefit from your comfort. Uh, but generally it has not been an issue. I can think of a couple of actors that were that way.

Greg Staffa 17:26

Does any of that go into your decision of taking a role? Let's say a role is offered to you and you've heard that, you know, the set isn't exactly friendly to guest stars, or this the attitude on the set is a little bit different than this. Does that play into anything of a role, or do you have a job to do and that's what you're there to do?

SPEAKER_02 17:46

Oh yeah. I just I I have a job to do. If my agent copying the job, I'm gonna, if I'm not even so excited to work on the job, I'm gonna try to do the best job I can for my agent in hopes that word will get back to her that I did all right and there'll be more opportunities. But uh yeah. I mean, I wouldn't say there's any job I'm like, oh, I guess I'll do it. I mean, sometimes there's like a doctor role where I'm like, I'm not excited about this, but I will do it because that's how they see me, and if that's how Castine sees me, I can't complain. At least I'm working.

Auditions, Rejection, And Perspective

Greg Staffa 18:16

Now, someone that's been married as long as you have might not relate to my next question as well as others might. But I would have to imagine that auditioning for a role has to be a lot like dating, where the people say, it's not you, it's me, you know, and sorry, you're just not my type or not what I'm looking for. What is that process like just on a mental standpoint of going through auditions, being rejected, and and how do you deal with that?

SPEAKER_02 18:44

That takes getting used to. Like when I first started, when the the opportunities were fewer, that was much harder because you needed, you wanted every opportunity. And I wanted my, you know, my wife at the time, I have the same wife, but my wife then, she, you know, I wanted her to know that what I was pursuing was worthwhile. And uh and so when you don't hear something back when you're kind of starting out, or the opportunities are the opportunities are few, that's really difficult. But when business is good and our auditions are pretty regular, I've taught myself, or I've just learned to let them go, and I often forget when an offer comes in, like, what was that role that I auditioned for? Which is so that's a good way to feel when you don't, you know, hang on it. And you also have to think when you're not acting, like, really what is important? For me, it's you know, my life at home, it's my two kids, it's my wife, it's my pets. So none of this stuff really matters. So I try not to uh get too hung up on it.

Greg Staffa 19:43

Now you mentioned in your biography that you had two open heart surgeries. Yes. That has to be a scary thing because you're still relatively young. Yeah. Did that change your approach to acting? Did that change kind of your mindset of what's important and acting is a job, but family and and life is more important. How did that impact you from an actor's standpoint at all?

SPEAKER_02 20:08

Oh, I would say absolutely. I mean, in a in addition, you know, to life things that happen, you know, losing uh loved ones and stuff. It's just one of those things that put puts everything in perspective. What really matters when I'm on my and because that could have been, both of those heart surgeries could have been my deathbed. My my last one I had almost was, but luckily it wasn't. It just puts it all in perspective. And your deathbed, are you really gonna worry about that role on Law and Order or whatever you didn't book? Or that role or that audition that you you know you crashed and burned at? No, none of that matters. Of course I want to work when you know I'm able, but uh, you know, certainly it does help uh put things in perspective.

Greg Staffa 20:47

You're at a point now where I assume you're being offered or considered for more roles, the the work or the the chasing around roles is probably a little bit less than what it was when you started out. What is your approach to accepting roles? What goes into the thought process, or is it still, you know, if I'm being offered work, I'll take it.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

Well, kind of back to your uh last question. Obviously, if my you know my agents uh get me an opportunity, I want to do the best job I can. So uh if they get me a job, I want them to be paid. So usually I'll I'll take it. But uh again, when I get an opportunity, and say I have a family trip to planned or trip planned, do I want, is this opportunity worth me not spending time with my family if I have to cancel this trip or not do that? And I would say for the most part, if there is something planned, the family's gonna come first. So I would say that's the, you know, again, back to your last question, putting things in perspective, that would be how I, you know, I'm I wouldn't harp as much on a job now as I would back in the day, where I'd be like, Oh my god, I have to do it. I have to drop everything and do it. Now I understand I will I would regret the time not spent with family, then the job.

Greg Staffa 21:56

Is there any role out there or a genre where you were offered it and you told the family, uh, we're canceling this trip because this is what I'm doing.

SPEAKER_02 22:06

I wouldn't say I I have friends that have canceled their family trips and I've you know have thought about it. Like there's auditions I've had I'm like, if I book this, I'm gonna have to do it because it is an amazing opportunity. But uh I mean I would say I I love horror movies. So if I get opportunities to work in horror, I'm gonna prioritize that if the opportunity seems good enough. So far I have not cancelled any trips because of this business.

Choosing Roles Without Losing Life

Greg Staffa 22:32

So you've played doctors, you played lawyers, you played judges, businessmen, you know how much research because you always hear you know I did research for this role. But so many times Hollywood is hyper exaggerated or whatnot. Yeah. You know, is it more about the character than what the resume of that person is that is important to you or how much when you get a role as a doctor do do you do the the research?

SPEAKER_02 23:00

I don't really do the research. I wouldn't say I mean the doctor roles for me, I think I look the part that's why I get so many doctor opportunities. But I gotta say, and if casting's listening don't listen to this par casting I would say those are the least interesting roles for me. I do not enjoy them, but I will take them because they pay but I don't do much research. I'm trying to think of any jobs where I really have or if they've required it. Because I mean a lot of roles I take are businessmen and the real like careers that I know nothing about. So I just wing it and just try to know any jargon that I have what I'm talking about. I'll look that sort of stuff up but generally yeah not too much research.

Greg Staffa 23:42

So you start off behind the camera and you did that for several years and then you became an actor and went in front of the camera and you've done amazing things like Gotham and the blacklist and you were in movies like The Judge.

SPEAKER_01 23:56

Yeah.

Greg Staffa 23:57

When you do all these roles and your resume is quite long your IMDB is quite long with all the things that you've done have you picked up a lot of little things that make you eventually might want to consider going back behind the camera as a writer, as a director are you learning things that a return to the other end might entice you shh there it's that's a dream that has never gone away my ever since I saw the movie Empire of the Sun back in like 1988, it was February, I have wanted to make movies and that has never gone away I mean of course being on set I see people directing and seeing the the characters that writers have created and that still is a a little itch I want to scratch but then I see all of like a lot of these indie films that I work on just the the difficulty of getting a movie made the financial end of things and the stress and you know using up their life savings.

SPEAKER_02 24:55

I'm just like I don't that's I guess I uh maybe I'm scaring myself or talking myself out of it but the itch is still there but I don't know if it's something I need to scratch. But I'm definitely inspired by a lot of the people I work with.

Robert Downey Jr. Story And Secrets

Greg Staffa 25:08

Robert Downey Jr. is someone that you've acted with yeah and we all know him from like the Marvel films. What was that like and as a fan of film you know is that something where you could go to like an Avengers movie and see Robert Downey Jr. and just kind of have a flood of memories of working with him and being you know are you celebratory of other actors and watch their work and go, I acted with that guy and now he's this and it's kind of pinch me moment all the time.

SPEAKER_02 25:36

I mean it's it's very cheesy like my wife and I joke all the time when I'm watching something on we're watching something on TV and there'll be people I worked with I'm like jokingly we'll both say oh it's your colleague or it's my colleague where obviously I don't truly think of them that way. That opportunity working with Robert Downey Jr. turned out to be my biggest disappointment in the business just because we had this great scene I booked the role I was in the working on set with Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall and David Dopkin the director for three weeks in the jury and there's this one piece where he and I had this great back and forth. Robert Downey Jr. is accusing me of siding with the the plaintiff or I forget what it was but we had this great back and forth and uh we did reshoots in Los Angeles and when we were doing the reshoots I asked David Dopkin I'm like are we all still in the movie? Because he had time to do some editing and uh he's like yeah and then when it came out I was not in the movie. So I you know I still get residuals for it but my role's not there. You just see me sitting there so I appear that I'm a background actor. So it was so cool to work with him. Robert Downey Jr. held that set together he was wonderful for all of the the background actors he took all of this Ironman memorabilia and he autographed it and he said to them everyone take uh any piece of memorabilia and that's you know his thank you and his showing his appreciation to the extras for us who played the jury he and his wife because she was producing it as well they gave us these little Tiffany keychains it was a nice little note and he just he was just so lovely and the tension between David Dobkin and Robert Duvall was it was palpable. Like Robert Duvall was getting very grumpy with David Dobkin and and having breakdowns and Robert Downey Jr. would come in between them and say hey hey it's okay it's all right and try to make the piece so of course I totally celebrate uh him and he was just such a lovely lovely lovely person and he made that set really cool that was a great opportunity just disappointing in the end but you'll still always have I mean it's an interaction that you'll never forget I I've been an extra in one film and the memories and the stories I have you know they may not show up on film but they're some of the the fondest memories that I ever have and so I I love it but that just must be fascinating to to interact with these people as people and then get to see them on screen even though you're one of them yourself. I got I have to imagine in his position in someone certainly working at his height everyone wants a piece of these people. So you know when I act opposite someone at that you know that level you don't want to act like you're another person that just wants a piece or like I I took a selfie with him and even that I felt like I was taking too much because everyone wants to do that. But I just couldn't imagine what it is to be like an actor at that level. And one thing I'll give some behind the scenes stuff that maybe I shouldn't tell but he wore an earpiece in his ear and his assistant would read in his lines off stage into this earpiece and he would just repeat the lines his assistant was reading to him. And then he would riff on the lines. So he would do his little Robert Downey Jr. isms in addition to what the assistant was reading to him.

Greg Staffa 28:53

But I thought that was interesting to know at the time I would imagine someone like him where he has film on top of film and I mean it has to get hard to put it in the but if you're able to pull it off then why not? Yeah exactly if I could do that I would do that. I've I've seen a similar thing happen with an actress where she could not learn her lines and after several times we finally they finally put them on big giant cue cards.

SPEAKER_02 29:22

Wow forced her to read it and it was torturous but if you can do it as a skill then that's totally different but yeah it's hard yeah especially yeah because they're they're you know leading these films and TV shows and to memorize all that dialogue I couldn't imagine and that was part of the joy I had from that Julia experience because I was like oh my god I'm actually able to memorize that much stuff but uh I can imagine that's a challenge on a regular basis you've worked with some amazing actors and actresses I mean we mentioned Robert Downey Jr.

Dream Directors And Big Set Energy

Greg Staffa 29:56

Is there's still kind of like the little giddy kid in you that you get a script and you realize who's attached to it that you get to work with and is there anyone in particular that you would love to just work with someday?

SPEAKER_02 30:07

Oh totally all the time. When I see like say I get an audition and then I look it up on IMDb who's attached I'll be like oh my God that's so cool. Uh no all the time especially as a because first and foremost I'm a movie fan definitely more so than TV but I just love movies. So when I see that I'm working with someone who's either directed I'm more excited by directors than actors uh or directed something I love I'm just like oh that's so cool. But I would say uh even though I didn't love his last film, Spielberg would be uh just one of my dreams to work with and uh also P. T. Anderson. I love both of their work. Why P.T. Anderson? Oh I've just ever since Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love is one of my very very very very favorite films. I just uh I think he's a visionary director and I just really connect with his work so that would be I mean one I actually did uh I did extra work on a movie several years back and he was on set and I'm like I know this guy who is this guy he wasn't working on the film but his wife was Maya Rudolph and I'm like why I do I know this guy from college and then it dawned on me I'm like oh my god that's P.T. Anderson and then I was so excited but that was a P.T.

Greg Staffa 31:22

Anderson is one of the directors that I mentioned that I was an extra on a film. Yeah what's that was Perry Home Companion? Oh I never saw that direct it was directed by Robert Altman and he was getting old in his years and so the insurance required that a secondary director was brought in just in case something happened during production and he was brought in yeah and he was brought in as kind of like a secondary which is kind of morbid like here's the backup director in case you dropped dead but I never heard of that that's crazy. That's a cool story and Maya Rudolph which you mentioned is his wife he was in the the film too so uh they were it was an interesting experience. It starred uh Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C. Riley and it was an amazing experience because Meryl Streep is you know this amazing actress. Yes. Uh but she was very human. And it wasn't until Tommy Lee Jones arrived on set for one day that you realized who God was. Wow really mean like Meryl Streep even kind of bowed to like Tom I mean Tommy Lee Jones was the epitome of God coming onto set and you felt it after a month of shooting you felt it when Tommy Lee Jones showed up and everything was all tense and everything until finally Woody Harrelson who was across the room from him waved and he nodded back and it kind of broke the tension but it was interesting to see the dynamic of some major Hollywood stars but uh did you work on that for several days I was on it for about a month. That's amazing that's so cool. It's uh I mean not to take this into me but no no I like it it's Prairie Home Companion is a Minnesota based uh radio show and so they turned it into a movie and they wanted a real audience to react to the jokes and stuff like that. So the audience wasn't really shown much at all. Okay. It was all focused on the stage but they wanted real reactions. Like if something was funny you laugh if it's not you don't yeah and so we were in the audience and because ninety nine percent of this film took place in a theater there was no paparazzi there was no people so when they yelled cut Merrill and you know Woody and them would just be in the theater with about 30 of us extras for a month and they would hang out and and talk to us and so PT Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson uh was brought in as a insurance in case Robert Altman who I don't know how old he was at the time but this was back in what ninety I'm trying to remember when it was uh 96.

SPEAKER_02 34:14

Oh so this is like 2006 sorry oh okay okay I was gonna say that was like when PT was just getting started.

Greg Staffa 34:21

So did he did PT Anderson I'm sorry to be asking the questions on your show but did PT Anderson end up doing any directing or he was just standing by he was they hired him as uh like a standby director so he was there at all times and he was you know he would take over like this my the minor minor stuff but it was very much still Robert Altman's film but uh he very you know Anderson very much uh you know directing with Robert Altman.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

Well and Altman's legendary as well so to be on set with both of those people wow.

Greg Staffa 34:56

Yeah it was an amazing experience that I I was laid off at the time for my day job and yeah like well we need a group of people for about a month so about 30 of us for a month just sat in the theater watching them perform and the movie basically 99.9% of it takes place in a theater in St. Paul Minnesota and that's so that's home base for you. Yep cool wow that's what an experience so yeah so I can rub it in that I've worked with Paul and Thomas Anderson or PD and jealous.

SPEAKER_02 35:30

I um this sort of connects sort of to your story I during COVID right at the start of it it was uh in in 2020 there was no jobs because of COVID and there was this opportunity casting reached out to me and they're like hey this is a glorified background role but they have been giving lines to people giving dialogue to actors would you be up for this opportunity working on this film called Don't Look Up uh and the scene would be that uh Meryl Streep is president you would be her vice president and they're like it's you know very possible you could get lines I'm like oh my god Meryl Streep though I'm a huge fan and you will be sitting between Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio and on the other side of Leo is Kate Blanchett across the table is Jonah Hill and Jennifer Lawrence and I'm like how can I say no to this opportunity and this brought me to one of those uh situations where do I take this opportunity to work with Meryl Streep who maybe I'll never get to work with in an actual good role or do I stay home with the family for Christmas because we had to quarantine we had to quarantine for two weeks uh before we worked with them because obviously we didn't want to get Meryl Streep and Leo DiCaprio sick. And so I quarantined we did Christmas like two weeks early which ended up being a beautiful white Christmas so I'm glad we did it then. And I did this job uh and it was so cool. And like you said she was so cool and down to earth and Leo was super nice but that was an interesting job during COVID.

Greg Staffa 37:03

She's super friendly but has a major potty mouth which I never expected.

SPEAKER_02 37:08

I didn't know I don't think I noticed that I remember Leonardo DiCaprio offered to buy us uh Chick-fil-A and then Merrill Streep spoke up she's like you're gonna eat that he's so you know the owner of Chick-fil-a is so anti-gay and and gay rights and stuff and he's like well yeah I mean I like it and so we go on lunch break we come back and I think she had like a some like a Chick-fil-a soda in front of her and I'm like did you you had it she's like well I had to know what I was you know talking about and criticizing so it was so funny but they were it was a cool experience.

Greg Staffa 37:42

Well her and Lily Tomlin were always going back and forth at it and wow a memory I'll never forget to be able to sit in a theater and just watch you know these act you know Tom or Meryl Streep Lily Tomlin Harold Woody Harrelson Lindsey Lohan just sitting there talking with no press no you know just hanging out between takes and no place else to go so that's so cool you have that are there other films that shoot in your area or is that that was just like a once in a lifetime sort of deal the the film or the the show is recorded in St. Paul Minnesota Minnesota based thing. The guy that's behind it is um uh Garrison Keeler oh yeah I know a writer so it's his show so it they created this movie's story about it and they set it where you know it actually is recorded often and so uh it was kind of a unique thing. I mean we've had other films filmed here but nothing you know not often you know the Mighty Ducks was the first one was filmed here a couple other films were filmed here but this is one and the timing worked out great for me because like I said I was laid off and it's like we need someone for 30 days and basically just I'm on screen for like 0.01 seconds where I can recognize myself. Yeah and I'm the only one that can recognize me because I know exactly where I was and of course and whatnot. But uh yeah that was a a fascinating experience for my myself.

SPEAKER_02 39:18

Oh I get it. Yeah no that's so cool that you you get to keep that memory.

Greg Staffa 39:21

And I wasn't doing this at the time either so it was kind of a precursor to that. This is so cool that you're doing this. But let's uh well I can go on but we won't uh we won't talk about me we'll talk about you. Whatever um and we're wrapping things up because wow the time is going by fast. So you mentioned Steven Spielberg before you weren't a fan of his last movie. But if Steven Spielberg came to you and said I have Steven Spielberg money uh but I'm out of ideas is there a story that you like to tell that I can back what would that story be?

SPEAKER_02 39:55

Oh my goodness uh specifically I don't know I'm a huge fan of projects that are about loss as that is something we all deal with and that's something I connect with.

Greg Staffa 40:06

But specifically I'm not sure that's a really interesting and tough question on the spot uh I don't know what I would have Spielberg do, but I'm sure if this happened I could come up with something and you've played various roles you know Dexter Newblood had a kind of comedic edge what is your most kind of environment that you feel most comfortable in is it drama is it comedy? What gets you going and excited?

SPEAKER_02 40:35

I would say I mean any kind of role where I have a little bit more meat to delve into anywhere I can connect with a real human as opposed to like just a doctor delivering you know you're gonna die information. But yeah I would say I I I think as a person I'm more of a comedicky goofy person. But I would say drama is something I really connect to anything I can really again because loss is something that I can really connect with anywhere I can kind of use that and and pull that up that's always uh rewarding. Or again the the kind of elevated horror stuff is so fun which I've just sort of started getting into but I would love to do more of that.

Video Store Picks And Streaming Reality

Greg Staffa 41:12

Now years ago we used to have a thing called video stores. Oh yeah and at video stores there used to be kind of a wall where it's a employee recommendations and employees would pick like their favorite movies maybe there are things that you hadn't heard of before but let's say Ian Lyons had a video store of his own and he could pick the five recommendations of Ian Lyon films whether it was just a short appearance or voiceover or even just standing in for another actor what would be the five videos of Ian Lyons that Ian Lyons would put up on his wall oh jeez I Ian Lyons would not do this but if I was forced to uh I worked in video stores I I worked at three or four or five video stores back in the day I missed those but if I had to put my own projects up there of things because of the projects that they were or because of my own performances just something that you're excited about that you wish other people may have seen or that didn't get the recognition or that you had fun.

SPEAKER_02 42:13

I mean just they're your picks you don't have to justify it just okay uh I mean I am in the movie Holdovers very very very briefly but that is one I'm very happy to have been a part of even though it is in the smallest way possible though there are no small roles uh there's this movie Shattered Ice I did that is slowly making the festival rounds and hopefully we'll find a home where everyone can see it. That's just a beautiful moving drama. So I would say Shattered Ice the holdovers again you don't see me in Julia but I would say Julia just because it that was the most wonderful set I've ever been on just for everyone at all levels everyone was wonderful. So just so people can see a project that was made with so much love that would be cool. I would say Widow's Bay which uh I have a role in the third episode that's just a cool show I'm really not a fan of TV shows but that's like one I really uh enjoyed as a a viewer and then one other one that I'm in uh is it only one more that can be enough if that's all you can think of. Okay I mean yeah yeah there's like the last good nights a recent drama I did but yeah that is a a taste of what I would recommend.

Greg Staffa 43:31

I just have two more questions and we'll wrap things up but we're going a little bit late so I apologize for that. No problem. But we mentioned the video stores and one thing that used to happen back in the day is that an actor like say Matt Damon could make a Bourie that would make you know 300 million but then he'd make we bought a zoo and that might not do as well in the theaters but it would find life on video and people would rent the videos or they'd buy the DVDs and that would supplement some of the the expenses and end up making it a profit.

SPEAKER_02 44:04

Yeah nowadays video stores are gone best buy and stores are not selling DVDs like they used to yeah it's all going to streaming is that a concern as an actor that's been doing it as long as you have have you seen kind of a decline in these movies that are more independent not having a way to make up that income like some of the movies used to be able to do I would say I mean from the actor's perspective because of streaming there haven't been as as far as residuals are concerned because those would be bank you know something that ran on TV repeatedly would bring in a good amount of residuals and now with streaming it's really hard to track where you know how many people view it for from the actors uh we don't know how many people watch it or or what kind of audience it gets so it's really up to the the networks to tell us how much um so residuals have really suffered from that but for indie movies I think because of streaming there's a lot of smaller films that get more opportunities because so many streaming uh platforms would take them on because they're so inexpensive for streaming networks to put on but certainly for some of the bigger projects without video stores and stuff uh there's things suffer and fade away very fast.

Who Ian Sees In The Mirror

SPEAKER_02 45:19

Final question and again I appreciate you coming on but it anytime anyone talks about Ian Lyons they always say things like Ian Lions of Julia or Dexter Newblood or the holdovers uh your bios all have those and they mention the roles that you've played but when you get up in the morning and you go into the bathroom splash a little water on your face and look in the mirror who is it that you see uh just some goofy husband dad that's who I see yeah that I'm just I'm some lucky guy that's what I see all right and one last flipping question is there anything out there that you want to promote that we should be looking forward to you seeing you in the near future upcoming I mean there's just some indies this again this movie called uh Last Goodnight uh that I did the short film and Shattered Ice I think people should look out for and this movie Imposters because again I'm excited to get more horror thriller opportunities this movie Imposters is so good uh not necessarily because of me but it's a great project and most recently Widows Bay Walking Dead Dead City and Super Troopers 3 are projects I had fun doing that are recently out.

Greg Staffa 46:31

Which in Supertroopers 3 you played douchey guy which I assume is a a proud thing on your resume but it is they call me douche all day on set I loved it. Nice well Ian Lions thank you so much for coming on it's been a real treat to talk to you. Thank you. Sorry we talked a little bit more about myself than you no I asked I wanted to hear but uh I appreciate you coming on no thank you Greg it's been it's been really nice talking to you