John Douglas Thompson photo from Damon Winter/The New York Times

Good acting doesn’t always have to be that serious.

When I was performing in Julius Caesar I had one brief scene alone with Denzel Washington. This was just before the “tent scene” between Brutus (Denzel) and Cassius. I was Cassius’ attendant, Pindarus and came in before him “to do salutations from him“. Got it?

Before I came on alone, in the “wings” (an area just off-stage) John Douglas Thompson and I would always imagine a little “backstory” scenario for ourselves.

We imagined his nameless soldier was actually the mess hall cook, “Marcellous the Cook”or something like that. And when he had to come onstage after me he’d stare daggers at me: “Why did he have to come here to answer where Cassius was too? I was Cassius’ man. If I didn’t know then no one knew. And besides he had eggs and sausage patties to prep for the morning rush.”

This little game kept the scene fresh for us and tickled me for the entire run.

John was recently featured in the New York Times Arts Section for his achievements in classical theater. I was so proud to see this profile of him and his stellar work.

He’s a fine actor. One of the best I know. And an old friend.

JOHN DOUGLAS THOMPSON was making a comfortable living as a marketing representative for a software company in Wallingford, Conn., when he invited a date to Yale Rep’s production of August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” She ended up changing his life, but not in a way that he expected.

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