Stephen Tobolowsky talks about ‘Freaky Friday’ role

When Stephen Tobolowsky’s team encouraged him to audition for a movie called “Freaky Friday,” his first thought was “Oh God, how low we have fallen.” The Dallas native and Southern Methodist University alumnus was fresh off a stint on Broadway with a Tony nomination for his role in “Morning’s at Seven” to show for it. That career high came after playing a slew of memorable characters — the oft-quoted, pestering Ned Ryerson in 1993’s “Groundhog Day,” a Ku Klux Klan leader in the 1988 thriller “Mississippi Burning.”

But Tobolowsky would change his mind about “Freaky Friday,” the 2003 body-swap flick that became a cult classic, after reading its script. “This is amazing,” he thought. Now, more than two decades later, he is reprising his role as the grumpy teacher Mr. Bates in the reboot “Freakier Friday,” which again stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as mother and daughter.

Ahead of the sequel’s theatrical release on Aug. 8, Tobolowsky, 74, spoke with The Dallas Morning News from his home in California. He had not yet seen the movie (jury duty caused him to miss the premiere), but reflecting on his appearance, he said, “My first experience was so good, I assumed I would have a good time again. And I did.”

What do you remember from filming “Freaky Friday”?

I show up the first day to “Freaky Friday” and Jamie Lee Curtis has called us into this classroom — all the actors — and she’s at the front of the class. She said, “Everybody, this is a very important movie we’re doing and I want everyone to be on their best. We don’t want anyone being late. We don’t want anyone goofing off. We put all of our fun on the screen.” She was this great leader.

So I shot “Freaky Friday.” It’s kind of a cute movie, OK? And I’m walking down Hollywood Boulevard one night. This is just absolutely the weirdest story in the world. And Mark Waters, the director of “Freaky Friday,” comes out of a movie theatre across the street from the Chinese Theater. Mark Waters says, “Oh, Stephen, have you seen any of ‘Freaky Friday’?” I go, “No.” Mark brings me into this theatre and he starts showing me scenes. I’m thinking this could be one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.

What stood out to you?

We all have this desire to see where we were before. (“Freaky Friday”) plugs into the idea of, where was I? Where did I make the mistake? Where did I do the thing right that I didn’t expect I would do right? It’s the magic of being able to look back.

Did you have any teachers who reminded you of Mr. Bates?

Several teachers at Kimball (High School). My physics teacher, Melvin Moses. There’s a little bit of Mr. Bates in him. My algebra teacher. They both fancied themselves as kind of humorous, but we were always so scared of them because they were so strict. But when you’re an actor, you don’t try to let the tail wag the dog. I don’t want to say, “Well I’m playing a teacher so I’m gonna take elements of one of my teachers into it.” (Mr. Bates), he’s someone who never achieved what he thought he could achieve. And because of that he is a little jealous and a little envious.

If you could swap bodies with someone, who would it be?

One of the greatest people I ever knew was our Black maid, Lenora. We grew up in an incredibly racist area. She went from being our maid to eventually a district manager of Avon (a cosmetics company). And then she came over to our house and said, “I’d like to buy your house and every stick of furniture in it.” My Mom and Dad said, “OK.” She said, “I always wanted to live in the house where I worked and I wanted to own it.” Doing stuff in show business, it’s make-believe courage, but to know someone with real courage and going through real obstacles, that would be somebody whose shoes I would like to step inside.

Tribune News Service