Portraying a character that becomes beloved by so many can be bittersweet. After audiences become attached, an actor can find himself on the receiving end of some less-than-enthusiastic reaction as he transitions into other roles.
Although it would have been easy for “Entourage” star Jerry Ferrara to sit back and bask in the success of his stint as lovable slacker “Turtle” well beyond the series end in 2011, it was never an option. Proving that he was more than just a one-trick pony was a challenge that he took head-on, putting any doubts to rest with a nonstop schedule that includes roles in the upcoming films “Last Vegas,” “Lone Survivor” and “Think Like a Man Too.”
Diehard Turtle fans can rest easy, though: Although he's moved on, he hasn't forgotten the role that wormed its way into so many hearts. A feature film based on the HBO hit series is in the works, which will reunite the “Entourage” once again. So, although he's ticked off a number of marks on that career to-do list, he's still got his sights set on the future.
Question: Given the huge success of “Entourage,” did you worry that people would be unable to see you beyond the character Turtle?
Answer: Yes and no. I can kind make points for both sides. It, obviously, is a concern in the sense if it is a long-running series, fans of the show grow an attachment to you as that person, and they want you to always be that person. I'm just a believer in the sense that times are kind of different; that whole TV-to-movie typecasting situation was a lot more relevant in the '80s or the '90s, but when you look around now, there are actors out there who are starring on a TV show and doing movies. I think with so many different platforms now, all the rules are different.
It could be very easy for me to sit back and enjoy “Entourage's” success and take whatever roles maybe come my way. I just didn't have that approach. You gotta kind of work. You've gotta show you do have different sides to you.
Q: Sometimes it seems viewers have a harder time letting go of a character than the actor does.
A: In a way, it's almost like a victim of success in the sense that you play the character as believable and people believed you as that guy or gal. Sometimes, it's just a really interesting thing that in life, especially in entertainment, perception sometimes is reality. Even though it might not be my own reality, what you think of me, what's your perception of me, that's your reality. And it's up to me to figure out a way to change that.
Q: A lot of attention was given to your dramatic weight loss, which you've said was an evolution to distance yourself from Turtle.
A: That was a side effect, for sure. That was definitely part of it, and in thinking about it, the character being a little heavier, and I was just naturally that size, and it just kind of fit because he was the lazy, pot-smoking friend. But the decision to get into shape was definitely that I had turned 30 and was the heaviest I had ever been. And I just had a doctor tell me that I was not in any physical harm right now, but was just like, “You're a young man, you just turned 30; physically, you're fine; and, yes, you're overweight, but you're not in physical danger. But if you continue on this path, you know, maybe when you're 40, we might be having a different conversation. I'm not trying to scare you, but why not start now?”
He just said it very simply. And I just kind of started. It was a side effect of me trying to change my life for the better, health-wise. It wasn't like, “I want to lose 50 pounds because I don't want to play Turtle anymore.”
Q: Any apprehension about stepping back into that role for the feature film?
A: Yes and no – apprehension is not the proper word. I think that you would owe it to the fans of the show that if there's a calling for a movie, you've got to do it. I guess it would cross my mind that if we're bringing that character back, do I have to fight that whole battle again? And, I'm just at a point where if that's the case, that's the case, and I'll fight that battle when it comes. I'm not afraid. Recently, what I've found is that things that make me nervous, career-wise, are turning out to be the most rewarding.
Q: There seems to be this strange dynamic in Hollywood where body image is obsessed over, yet people like Melissa McCarthy, Kevin James and Kathy Bates are lauded for their “real” physiques. What's going on?
A: I don't know. Honestly. Because I see the one side, where there's just an obsession, especially with women. I don't even know how women go through or deal with the competitive nature of body and weight loss. I don't think you can necessarily blame the Hollywood community. It goes to people who are watching and commenting, and everyone has a forum now to comment on other people's work and other's people's bodies and shapes and looks. I am very, very happy that I've never been a guy who is judged on his looks. I've done well kind of going through the whole “mediocre” department.
Q: So, given all the success that you've had, what's left on your career bucket list?
A: I would be lying if I said working on this movie, “Last Vegas,” didn't knock off a lot of them. Just having the chance to work with Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, in one movie, definitely checked a lot of columns to me, which is awesome.
Directing is something that is, absolutely, on my bucket list, but it's something I want to do as soon as possible. My bucket list consists of a couple of roles I'd like to do. I always picked different things that I wanted to be when I was growing up. And with acting, you actually get that luxury. I've been very lucky. Someone's looking out for me. ... I'm very aware of that.
