Richard Schiff in DirecTV’s Rogue: Marty Is a Megalomaniac

Hold on. Emmy Award-winner Richard Schiff is shaking things up as Marty Stein in the suspense-drama series, Rogue, exclusively to DirecTV and AT&T U-Verse customers. The season premiered March 23, and airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET. Richard joins the cast that includes Cole Hauser, Sarah Carter, Ashley Greene and Derek Luke. The show is DirecTV’s first entry of original scripted drama.

The series pits crime against authority, with the Russian mafia and government espionage thrown in for good measure. Watch the trailer here and sit tight for future episodes.

At 60, Richard’s talent resume is miles long, but he’s probably still best known for his portrayal of Toby Ziegler on The West Wing. He talks his craft with us here, and shares all the projects he’s seen in now. Count them…

First let’s talk about your Rogue character, Marty: lawyer, powerbroker, kingmaker. You ran a Chicago gang and stole weapons to smuggle overseas. Yet, you are undetected. What’s Marty’s secret?

He’s not a small character. This guy is big megalomaniac [a person obsessed with their own power]. He’s someone who doesn’t care about the consequences and ramifications of his actions, as long as he gets what he’s going after. People like this are scary, maddening, charming, and make you think they’re going to give you what you want.

And what about this role appealed to you?

Marty reminds me of one person in particular that I had to take to court. I was willing to die rather than lose to this guy. He was willing to intimidate me and run over me to try to make me unravel. Most people’s parents didn’t coach us to stand up to bullies. I’ve always wondered why people don’t operate in a fashion that helps each other, versus “me, myself and I.” Those people look at life as win-lose instead of win-win.

You’re most frequently associated with The West Wing, and rightly so. When you take on a new role, does Toby speak to your subconscious?

No, he’s not really with me. But he looks like me. Half of my tweets are about The West Wing, and there is a whole new generation of people catching up to it. But I’m not tied to that place any more—seven years was a long time.

Tony was a tough character to embody. He was dark, carrying the world on his shoulders. The day the show was over, I felt so much lighter.

You’re a classically trained stage actor. Do you prefer stage to small and big screen, or do you share the love with all three mediums?

The stage can be phenomenal, with people really hanging on to every word, waiting to see what happens next. When I start a role, it’s like jumping off a cliff and seeing where we land. When it’s good, it’s great, but there’s nothing worse than being in a bad production. It’s so hard for me to turn down theater because of other work. But I have to remember that I’m lucky to have choices. I love doing work that is satisfying, with great writing and a great cast.

You also direct, and did so with off-Broadway theater—Angela Bassett! And then a West Wing episode. Do you miss directing or are you still contemplating doing more?

If I direct again, it will be something I write. When directing episodic TV, you’re a traffic cop for somebody’s vision. I had a theater company in New York throughout my 20s, and then I started acting in my 30s and had a really good reason to. There’s a whole lot of planning, prep to do as a director.

So, how do you take care of yourself now? 

I do a lot of yoga—twice a day when I’m doing a play, in fact. Normally, I also go to the gym and do my vocal exercises. I’ve never been in better shape. I’m very controlled about what I eat when I’m working.

It’s easier to work out when I’m in a play. With TV and movies, I’m at work by 6:30 a.m. During The West Wing, I’d work out for 45 minutes at home, then do my 16-hour work day. By the 13^th hour, I was the only saying, “Let’s get going!”  The physical workout increases your energy.

How’s your diet?

I’ve been playing around with my diet. I sometimes do high protein, then I might fast—I once fasted for eight days. It puts me back on track. Then, yes, I might binge a little and eat my cake.

Being in the public eye, the ups and downs of working in show business—can all be very stressful. Plus, we’re creatives, and we have feelings. How do you manage your emotional balance?

As an actor, you’re vulnerable to stimuli and to becoming reactive. In the beginning, managing the emotions you need to bring to work can also impact the public or private aspects of life. That was really hard for me. I was so happy to let go of Toby for I became too much of him. My wife pointed that out. Now, I can move on from my characters, separate work from the rest of my life.

Have you ever talked to someone professionally?

I always feel like I need to see a therapist, but I don’t. My wife and I are in a constantly changing, growing relationship in which we challenge each other and talk about so much. We recognize and stop patterns that are destructive. We’re more in love than we’ve ever been.

Any other upcoming projects?

On TV, I’m in The Affair on Showtime and it’s been picked up again. I was in Manhattan on WGN America, which just got canceled. I’m also in House of Lies on Showtime, which we recently shot in Cuba with Don Cheadle. The new season premieres Sunday, April 10. Next, there’s Ballers on HBO, premiering Thursday, April 28.

I’m in three independent films: The Automatic Hate, American Fable and Take Me to the River.

Wow! I’d better let you go because I know you have a lot to do. Thank you, Richard.