Over on TVLine, they chatted with Robert Sean Leonard who plays Wilson on the Fox hit, House M.D.. In the interview, Leonard touches on his returning to Broadway & this being his last contractually obligated season of House and such.
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First up is that Robert Sean Leonard is returning to Broadway for the play, Born Yesterday. He’ll be part of a cast that includes Jim Belushi and Nina Arianda. Right now the show is in previews, but what I did not know was that Leonard has a bunch of Tony nominations and a win under his belt for his work on Broadway.
But on to the crux of the matter and that’s
Robert Sean Leonard’s Contract with House
I’ve seen some article titles out there that suggest that Leonard is leaving House. At least you are led to believe that when human nature kicks in and reads between the lines. But to be blunt, it looks like Leonard does not know what’s up with his contract.
He noted that there is no deal for the Fox series House with anyone and he goes on to add that
“because Comcast bought NBC Universal and no one has a deal.”
He is in his last season of his contract and he was trying to debate about his schedule because he can’t do both Broadway and House M.D.. With that in mind, he chose to get on board with Born Yesterday since he had heard nothing about a new contract.
On if this is his last season of House, he replied,
“when my contract was not renewed this season… The long and short of it is, I don’t know. I would love to make more money. Money is nice. I also really miss [living in] New Jersey. I also really miss theater. I miss my friends. Gabby misses her family. I’m sick and tired of living in a place I don’t feel at home.”
(I hear ya there bud!)
He later says that as he’s sure there will be another season of House, he’s sure he will also be a part of it but, he adds,
“I can’t say for sure.”
But with the show coming back, we will, unfortunately, count on Leonard taking a break, much like with Olivia Wilde‘s filming schedule.
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With Wilson not around as a go-to punching bag, who knows what Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) will do? Who will he go out of his way to go visit and badger? Who will keep showing up to talk sense into him, and then have him not take the advice?
This bromance is one of the stronger underlying roots of the series.
Oh what will we do?
It’s too bad that the new entity of Comcast owned NBC didn’t move sooner with contracts, but then again, Robert Sean Leonard is going to be back doing what he loves best. With better work hours and such, I see the draw.
But one thing he kept tossing out there, and that is that He. Loves. Money. and then made a point that he’s still driving the car he bought when he landed in L.A. to do the series and that he and his wife don’t really spend the money they make.
I have to wonder if those statements were the first lobs in a potential upcoming contract negotiation?
One thing is for sure… even if he signs up for House in a limited capacity, the show will never be the same and Wilson has a lot of fans. Kudos and congrats to Leonard on returning to what he loves best.
[tvline]
ROBERT SEAN LEONARD Bio
(Dr. James Wilson on HOUSE)Robert Sean Leonard has carved a distinguished career on stage and screen. Leonard won a 2001 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance in “The Invention of Love.” In 2003, he was nominated in the same category for his performance in “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” which also starred Brian Dennehy, Vanessa Redgrave and Philip Seymour Hoffman. He was most recently seen on stage in “The Violet Hour.”
Leonard’s extensive theater credits include the Broadway productions of “The Music Man”; “The Iceman Cometh” with Kevin Spacey; “Arcadia”; “Candida,” for which he received a Tony nomination; “The Speed of Darkness”; “Breaking the Code”; and “Brighton Beach Memoirs.” He also appeared in the West End production of “Our Town.”
In 2001, Leonard starred in Richard Linklater’s film “Tape” with Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, and was in the ensemble drama “Chelsea Walls,” directed by Hawke and based on the play of the same name.
Born in New Jersey, Leonard began acting at age 14 at the Public Theater in New York. At 19, he made his film debut in the acclaimed “Dead Poets Society” starring opposite Robin Williams and Hawke. His film credits include “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Age of Innocence” and “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge.”
While filming HOUSE, Leonard lives in Los Angeles with his wife, daughter and two dogs.
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