Private Practice’s Tim Daly: “The Only Other Thing I’m Qualified To Do Is Manual Labor”

By Sara A. Bibel
Fancast.com

Tim Daly plays Dr. Pete Wilder, Oceanside’s Alternative Medicine specialist on Private Practice. The actor’s lengthy resume includes The Sopranos, a movie about David Koresh and the long-running sit-com Wings. Daly spoke with fancast about his favorite roles, and why he loves working on Private Practice.

We learned a little bit about Pete’s past with Meg on the last episode of Private Practice. Are we going to see any more of her on future episodes?
Yes, we will. We have a very interesting relationship. I was thrilled that she showed up because I like what it does for Pete in terms of making him a doctor of complementary medicine more dramatic because he comes from a place of knowing how the other half lives. He knows about Western medicine. He’s been in that world. Pete, whether he knows it or not, we’re going to find out that he might be happy to have a little bit more of a relationship than he had in the past.

Do you share Pete’s belief in alternative medicine?
Yeah. I think that Pete has a really great take on it, actually having been a Western MD also which is that no one thing is the answer. Complementary medicine is fantastic if it’s called for. Obviously, if you’re gushing blood you’re not going to sit there and not deal with it in a more aggressive way. It’s like a 30 billion dollar business so clearly America thinks that alternative medicine is something that’s not that alternative.

You’ve played so many different characters in so many different genres. What attracted you to the role of Pete?
I’d never seen a doctor of alternative medicine on television before. I thought that was interesting. I also liked that he seems like a really open-minded guy. I like that he’s kind of a womanizer. I liked that I didn’t know everything about him. It seems like there’s a long way to go. There’s a lot to learn about him still.

What has been your favorite episode of Private Practice so far?
We just filmed my favorite episode. We have a wonderful guest star Joel Grey (Cabaret). I got to do some really terrific stuff with him. It was fantastic.

What’s the atmosphere like on the set of Private Practice? Do you hang out with the rest of the cast?
We spend a lot of time together so it’s not like we feel the need to socialize all the time. But we have a really great group. We get along really well. We adore each other. Sometimes we have maybe even too much fun. It’s kind of rare when you get a group of people who get along as well as we do. We have a great time. When it happens, you want to say that we’re like a family but everybody says that, but it’s true. We’re like a nice family.

Other than Pete, what have been your favorite roles?
I absolutely loved my role on The Sopranos. I thought that was a really interesting part. A TV series I did a few years ago called Eyes was an incredible part for me that I absolutely loved. It’s hard. There’s so many of them and I loved them for different reasons. It’s hard for me to pick.

Your 80s series Wings seemed like it lasted forever. What do you think the secret was to its longevity?
I honestly think that its longevity was due to the fact that it was actually just a really good show. It came out and it was vilified by the press. The hated it. They said, “Oh, this is old school.” We were sort of shocked. We thought it was kind of good. But then NBC gave it a chance. I think the reason that it stayed around is that people found it and they loved it. Oddly, when it went to syndication on USA it became even more popular.

In your rare moments of free time, what do you like to do?
I play golf. I like to go to my home in Vermont and play around in the dirt. Essentially, I’m qualified to do acting and manual labor. I also play guitar. It feels like my existence is getting up and going to work at the moment.

What are some of your favorite non-Private Practice television shows?
I would have to say The Sopranos because I was on that show but I love that show. It’s just incredible. Right now I think it’s probably Mad Men, which I discovered last year. I think it’s fantastic. I worked with Matt Weiner on The Sopranos so I know he’s a hugely talented guy.

Can you get him to write you a guest spot?
I ran into him in an airport. I tried to get him to give me a guest spot but I have to do this other show.

Catch up with the most recent episode of Private Practice right here, and watch new episodes every Wednesday at 9 PM on ABC.