Robert Patrick talks ‘Scorpion,’ Elyes Gabel and meeting the real Walter
Fans may forever remember him as the liquid Terminator, or maybe moved on to embrace his stint on X-Files, but Robert Patrick co-stars on CBS’ new hot show Scorpion. Patrick is the government liason to a band of super-geniuses, based on the real life Walter O’Brien, as the solve and prevent bizarre and complicated crimes.
Patrick recounted meeting the real life Walter, “…I met him at lunch while we were filming the pilot. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go over initially. You kind of get intimidated wondering what a guy is going to be like who has a 197 IQ, but when I met him he was a really nice, personable guy. He told us some great stories and great things that he is involved with. He gets these assignments and is gone from us for a while and then he pops his head in every once in a while to say hello and visit us on set.”
He plays Cabe Gallo: “He’s a smart guy, college graduate, but also has street smarts. Something has happened in his past with his own family where he lost a daughter. He met Walter at about the same time he was going through some personal crisis and Walter sparked something in him. He was really intrigued with Walter and his intellect and decided to nurture that and created a relationship by giving him the tools that Walter needed to reach his full potential. Walter didn’t really relate to his father very well, so Cabe kind of becomes a father figure to him.”
Scorpion also stars Elyes Gabel, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Ari Stidham, Katharine McPhee and Ernie Hudson and Patrick talks a lot the relationships, getting a steady gig and tells TV Wise about working with Elyes.
“Elyes is terrific and he’s a wonderful guy to work with. We really do have a great chemistry and it’s funny because we are nothing alike and we both come from two completely different worlds and backgrounds. Even with that, we are really comfortable with each other and we trust each other as actors. We enjoy doing scenes together and I think we got lucky that we like each other. I think that translates and it makes the job that we are doing so much easier. He’s very funny and makes me laugh all the time and sometimes he frustrates me, but it works. When you are making a television show, you are a family, especially a show with this many cast members. For the most part, you are together all the time and you really do become a family, crew included. You have to hope you get along with each other and we are really lucky that we do get along. We generally care for each other and I hope that comes across to the viewers.”
Check out the full interview at TV Wise HERE
Scorpion airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
