Richard Kind Didn’t Think His Stink-Eye Joe ‘Only Murders’ Part Would Happen—Here’s Why
Richard Kind is one of the many famous faces to appear in Only Murders in the Building Season 4. However, the actor, 67, had doubts he’d actually end up on the award-winning Hulu original series despite having a part written for him.
Kind’s Stink-Eye Joe part was written for him
Kind, 67, got a big surprise from Only Murders in the Building producer Dan Fogelman on the golf course. “On this one, Dan Fogelman, who I’ve played golf with, says ‘We have you in mind for a part. We’re writing a part for you,’” Kind told The Wrap.
Stink-Eye Joe, whose real name is Vince Fish, wears an eye patch due to “antibiotic-resistant pink eye.” He’s one of the “Westies” at The Arconia who Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), and Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) investigate as potential murder suspects.
In one scene Stink-Eye Joe punches Eugene Levy—one of many celebs to make a cameo this season—during an odd and hilarious conversation with Levy and Charles. In another, he mysteriously gathers with his fellow Westies only to be confronted by Mabel, Charles, and Oliver.
The actor had doubts he’d appear on ‘Only Murders in the Building’
Although the Only Murders in the Building team envisioned Kind playing the part of Stink-Eye Joe, the veteran TV, film, and theater actor wasn’t sure it would happen. The reason, he explained, is because it’s not how things go, at least in his own experience.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that when somebody says we’re writing a part for you, 95% of the time, it doesn’t happen,” Kind said. “You never hear from them, that’s the way it is. I’d love for it to be different, but it’s not.”
“Honorable” Fogelman defied Kind’s expectation. “There was a part and they called and it happened,” he said. “I didn’t think it would happen, but Dan is a great guy.”
“I’ve known John Hoffman for a few years and I know Marty Short. Those are three people who I adore and I know that they like me,” he added. “That doesn’t mean that if they didn’t call that they’re mean people, but that’s what Hollywood is like. These people happened to have called and so I did it.”
Kind wanted to play Stink-Eye Joe no matter what
What he’d be doing on Only Murders in the Building wasn’t a big concern for Kind. As he told the outlet, he was excited to be on set, acting alongside the rest of the star-studded cast.
“If a show that’s produced by Dan Fogelman and John Hoffman, starring Marty Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez says they want you to work with them,” he said, “you drop everything and you do it.”
“I don’t care if they had me on the toilet reading the Yellow Pages. You do it,” he added. “I am drawn to these creative people and I trust them because their talent cannot be contained to a page. They’re just spectacular.”
The Only Murders in the Building Season 4 finale drops Oct. 29, 2024, on Hulu.
