European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 28, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Profile Richard Mulligan a serious talk with a funny Man by Charlie Bowden Munich Bureau Richard Mulligan whose name has become synonymous with a series of film characters depicted of both sincere and  funny does t consider himself to be a funny Man. I enjoy doing comedy bin i m Mil necessarily a funny Guy Mulligan said then art1 some actors who Are just funny. Me i m in actor and i do whatever my Chancie is  generally Mulligan s characters have been i diverse tit Strung together in one Way or another by Low key characterizations that come across As comical no knee slapping bully aching funny just comical. In title big Man directed by Arlhur Penn and is Ming Dublin Hoffman Mulligan played a slightly , Hill Ben few Des my Gen. George Armstrong Cutler. Niiler he would Rockel to stardom As Burt in the smash television comedy so in. In the Blake dwards film . Mulligan played the part of Felix a producer not playing with a full deck and in the heavenly kid he portrayed a Flakey Angel trying to be his charge Uptown. Lilt big Man was a strange kind of comedy Mulligan said during an interview on the set of b,t6es in toy Lewt a fantasy adventure being filmed at bavarian film studios in Munich. Arthur Penn had seen me play some very serious heavy dramatic stuff As Welt As comedy. And in hat film you needed both. You needed someone who could make Custer a Little frightening and scary Strong and then All of a sudden Weir Rily  Mulligan s comedy career mushroomed from in almost accidental Start in the theater. In the Heater in new York i could t get a comedy part. They would t touch me for a funny role. And then director Gene Saks cast me in the comedy nobody Loenid it led to acting recalls Mulligan. At age 25 he found himself biting the streets Reading for parts in the inter. I be been an actor about 23 years and the first 15 were All in theater. The Resl have by in almost exclusively film or  despite working both stage and screen Mulligan says he has no , la s it ally tin material that you re doing and the people you re working with that make the difference nut the medium. It s kind of Tike everybody else s Job who your co workers Are is vitally import int. If you have a Good 1 healer company or film company and get along Well with your co workers it s wonderful. Bul the opposite is equally As True on Ibe Oiler hand he admits to a love affair with movie sets. I love movie sets Antl my fascination Wilh film increases All the Lime As i begin to understand Mure Aboul How it goes and works. I love the Crew the cameramen ii grips Ihu prep Masler ind the wardrobe people and the actors. They All become very important to me because they re the people with whom you re spending All your Lime and trying collectively to make something  As Wilh Nuis performers roles Are important to Mulligan but m l to the Point of being an overriding Factor in going w Ith or pitching a potential script. Some roles capture your mention More Ihan others while sometimes it s a Case of in being the Only thing available that you want to do at the time. You make your picks and choices alone he Way asked to pick his favorite role Mulligan leaned toward Custer hut after a moments though edged Manfe in favor of Felix the suicidal producer in . "1 loved doing thai. Ii was a wonderful piece i hat a Greal character find it was one of the Best working groups i be Ever been Wilh Mulligan . Hal film spawned a relationship with Blake Row ids  iiiniini.il", today. I if recently finished a Fine Vliss. His fourth Edwards Direll d film from that first film 5.o.bj, Blake Mil 1 by ame friends which does t always happen. You become Friendly with Dirc Durs bul we bet Amo friends. I be worked Wilh two do in directors and inure Are Only one or two that i have a continuing personal relationship Wilh where1 we Visil and share my mulls together. Blake is one of those. A Luilly. I probably would have done every film he s done since except for  probably his most memorable character however is Burl from the 1979 television comedy Lerit. So i a. Hut role earned Mulligan an emmy and Inlet Lional Fame Filer it was syndic Alc d worldwide. I had different Success us along the Way but Ihnn 5 hard to make things really funny. Then you want to do something straight something More natural jus for a change of Pace. Bul if i were forced which Al he moment i m not to do just one thing then Lei in be comedy. Because As hard Asil is to do it s very rewarding when you hear a laugh or see people set in out. Then comedy k great  tit gift 28, 1986 in Ristl i Guin 17