Showrunner Steve Franks recalls how James Roday Rodriguez stood out during auditions for Shawn Spencer in Psych by channeling Val Kilmer's character from Real Genius. Rodriguez embodied warmth and comedic spirit, contrasting other actors' aggressive performances. Over eight seasons and three films, Kilmer's influence persisted, with references woven into scripts. A noteworthy highlight was Kilmer's role in the series finale as Officer Dobson, a character often mentioned. Rodriguez reflects on Kilmer's profound impact on his determination to pursue performance in lieu of other career options, showcasing a deep personal connection to the actor.
Val Kilmer is unequivocally my boyhood idol. He's the reason I found myself gravitating toward performance and away from what I thought I was destined to do.
As I continued to consume his work... I built a vocabulary of how to act in my small and unformed little Texas brain. By the time Psych came along, I had an ability to read a script, absorb a character, and apply this stuff.
James Roday Rodriguez took a different approach: He would embody the comedic spirit of Chris Knight, Val Kilmer's character... giving Shawn a warmth that the others lacked.
In a major casting coup, Kilmer ended up appearing in Psych's series finale... portraying the never seen but frequently mentioned Officer Dobson.
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