Bradley Whitford made a recent appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden that left audiences laughing and feeling a sense of nostalgia. As Whitford discussed his time in acting school, he shared a hilarious and humbling experience that he had as a student.
Whitford attended NYU Tish, a prestigious acting school in New York City. He recalled his first day of school when his class gathered in a circle with their teacher. The teacher introduced a unique technique that involved imitating a slug on the floor. As Whitford humorously described, the entire class found themselves “slugs on the floor” as they tried to master this unusual exercise.
Reflecting on this rather avant-garde approach to acting education, Whitford couldn’t help but wonder what his father would think. His father had attended Juilliard, another highly respected performing arts school. Whitford jokingly shared his inner thoughts, contemplating how his college education had turned into a slug impersonation class.
While Whitford’s performances at acting school weren’t initially open to the public, he eventually had the opportunity to take plays to high schools for touring performances. These high school audiences weren’t always receptive to the productions, and Whitford even mentioned getting pelted with objects during some shows.
However, one memorable experience stood out during an after-play discussion. Whitford, known for his quick wit, would engage the audience with jokes and banter. At one particular show, as Whitford was making the crowd laugh, a guy in the back caught his attention. Whitford called on him, expecting a question about the play, but instead, he received a remark about his hair.
The audience member asked, “What’s the matter with your head? Did you shave it or are you going bald?” Whitford recalled the devastation he felt, comparing it to a scene from a dramatic movie. Little did he know, one of his classmates had orchestrated the prank. To get back at Whitford, his classmate paid the guy to ask that particular question, causing the actor to question his own hairline.
Despite this embarrassing encounter, Whitford was able to laugh it off, showing his resilience and sense of humor. He even shared that his classmate had printed and distributed signed eight-by-ten photos of Whitford in local coffee shops with a humorous message about fan support and making stars like him.
Whitford’s appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden not only provided audiences with an entertaining story but also gave insight into the amusing moments and challenges actors face throughout their careers. As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming season of his show, they can appreciate Whitford’s ability to find humor even in embarrassing situations.
