One nice thing about Mitch Pileggi is that he can do Creation panels for both Supernatural and Walker!
Jensen Ackles recently came onto the “Walker” scene to direct an episode. What was that experience like, and what kind of energy and creative vision did he bring to the director’s chair?
[Jokingly] It brought back bad memories. That was nothing but bad memories. I swear, having the two of them together, ganging up on me, it was relentless, and it was uncalled for. It was unnecessary … No, it was so much fun having Jensen there because he’s part of the family, and to have his face there, and his energy, and his humor, and everything that comes with it, was absolutely brilliant. I was so happy that he came in and did an episode, and I hope he gets to come in and do more. But to have those two knuckleheads together was … Phew, you can only imagine.
[Laughs] What did they do to you?
Nothing. They didn’t do anything to me — well, yeah, they did. They like to pick on me. It gives them joy, and if it makes them happy, then it makes me happy. So there you go.
Did they prank you or anything?
No. It’s our relationship, and how goofy we are, and how silly we get, and it’s not only when Jensen’s there. This cast and this crew, it’s pretty amazing. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but this is the most amazing cast and crew that, I believe, I’ve worked with. I’ve been doing this for four years, and this is a hell of a way for me to end it.
What was that dynamic like between them, going from co-stars to actor versus director?
Jensen directed episodes of “Supernatural,” so it was something that they had … It was already in their makeup, so it was a natural thing.
Do you have any favorite memories from working on the “Supernatural” set?
It was fun. I was working with a lot of the guys, [and] a lot of the crew on “Supernatural” were “X-Files” crew, so it was a real treat. Kim Manners was there when I came and did the first episode, so I got to spend a little bit of time with him before he passed, and I’m so grateful for that.
Most of all, was [that] I met Jared Padalecki. The day that I met Jared Padalecki was a very important day in my life because he is one of the most outstanding individuals that I’ve ever come across, and I’ve come across a lot of people in my 70 years. I told him the other day, I said, “One of the best days of my life is the day that I met you.”
You wouldn’t believe some of the things that he’s done for me since we’ve been doing this. His brother did my shoulder. I had shoulder replacement. They gave me a couple of episodes off. Jared and Anna were like, “You’ve got some time off. We’re going to give you time off, get your shoulder fixed.” I had Dr. Jeff Padalecki, do my shoulder surgery.
His brother replaced my shoulder, and he’s one of the best surgeons I’ve ever encountered because he did an amazing job. I got a new shoulder, and it’s my good shoulder now. Jared and Genevieve [Padalecki] took a big portion of the cast in during the [Texas] snowpocalypse last year.
There were 15 of us in his house. 15 people and five dogs, and they took us all in without a blink of [an] eye and took care of us for a week until we were able to go home, and that’s what it’s like on this set. The atmosphere and the chemistry between us on this set [are] something I’ve never experienced before. There [are] no divas. There’s no drama. This is the happiest set I’ve ever been on, and this crew is frigging outstanding. They’re stellar, and this cast is … Like I said, I’m so blessed to be, at this point, doing this in my career. It’s pretty awesome. I got nothing but good things to say about all of this.
