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Since starring in 1998's Happiness, actor Dylan Baker has made 11 major feature films. But people just can't seem to forget his indie-movie turn as a psychiatrist and family man who's secretly a predatory pedophile. Fortunately, his unsavory — however critically praised — image often proves a blessing in disguise. It sure helped when he auditioned to play Chris Rock's presidential campaign manager in Head of State. "I walked in to meet with Chris Rock and [screenwriter] Ali LeRoi, and they were giggling away!" says Baker. "I thought my fly was down. They said, 'You're that guy from Happiness.' They were laughing and giggling like
Since starring in 1998's Happiness, actor Dylan Baker has made 11 major feature films. But people just can't seem to forget his indie-movie turn as a psychiatrist and family man who's secretly a predatory pedophile. Fortunately, his unsavory — however critically praised — image often proves a blessing in disguise. It sure helped when he auditioned to play Chris Rock's presidential campaign manager in Head of State.
"I walked in to meet with Chris Rock and [screenwriter] Ali LeRoi, and they were giggling away!" says Baker. "I thought my fly was down. They said, 'You're that guy from Happiness.' They were laughing and giggling like little girls. I finally said, 'Yes. Should I read these scenes? Can I actually audition for this movie?' So I did, and they just kept giggling as I walked out."
Baker was certain he was out of the running, but Rock later told him: "I went home and wanted to look at those [audition] tapes again, 'cause that was that guy from Happiness!" With that, he landed the stereotypical role of a bow-tied white guy who learns to let lose and hang with the likes of Rock and Bernie Mac.
On the small screen, Baker's scored yet another gig thanks to Happiness: Fox's new, oddball family sitcom The Pitts. "[Creator] Mike Scully decided he really needed a wholesome family-values couple for the parents," Baker explains. "He knew that I had done Happiness, and that was a damn fine start. Then, he picked Kellie Waymire, who played the prostitute on Six Feet Under. Now there's a picture of American values!"