For fans of political drama House of Cards, Doug Stamper is something of a low-key legend. For the first two seasons, the character — played cleverly and quietly by actor Michael Kelly — was the right-hand man to Kevin Spacey’s scheming, scary, psychotic Frank Underwood, doing anything for his boss out of duty and devotion. That was until season three came along and a major meltdown saw Doug dealing with murder, brain damage, and alcoholism — a series of situations that required such emotional intensity that it won Kelly an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (unfortunately he lost out to Peter Dinklage, who played Game of Thrones‘ Tyrion Lannister). But in the fourth season, starting this week, we see a Stamper with renewed focus, diligence, and simmering malevolence. We caught up with him to discuss how to play a stealth character, how to make you fond of a murderer, and how the current, crazy presidential nominations race might almost make House of Cards seem tame.
I love Doug, which is a bit weird because he’s cold, calculating, and a murderer. Can you talk a bit about investing the character with something warm and appealing despite all this?
I came up through The Actors Studio in New York and Arthur Penn was someone who took me under his wing and taught me a lot. One of the greatest things he taught me was to bring as much of yourself to the character as you can to really ground it in the reality that’s comfortable to you. No matter what Doug does, there is inherently some goodness that shines through. I think he’s a very complicated man who’s done bad things. There is this other way Doug Samper could exist in the world, in which he has a family and a somewhat normal relationship with the physical therapy girl, but he ultimately chooses to go to what makes him tick. He has that addictive personality: work is an addiction for him, his loyalty to Frank is an addiction, alcohol. He’s just addicted.
And when you took on Doug Stamper in the first season, did you know this journey he’d be going on?
I didn’t. Beau Williman [the show’s creator] keeps everything very tight. Unless we need to know about something, we’re not gonna know about it. In season one, what he said to really help create the character for me was two very simple things: “Don’t emote” and “I want everyone at the end of season one to be like, ‘Who the fuck’s that guy? What’s going on there?'” The foundation of the character came from those two simple things.
So you didn’t know all the Doug drama that coming your way in season three?
No, I didn’t, because Rachel [one of the characters Doug keeps in hiding] in the beginning was only supposed be in two scenes and then be done. So there’s no way we could’ve known Doug would have been living a life of hell with a TBI [Traumatic Brain Injury]. It’s all a product of what happens while we’re making this show. They have a very broad stroke of what the season’s gonna be, but if things start to happen.
Everything happens more organically…What was the last season like? It must have been very intense.
I’ve never been so scared in my life to take something on. I did a ton of research on TBIs and learning about what people go through with brain injuries. One of the best brain surgeons in the country was at my disposal and I could call him at any time to try and understand what someone is like when people have a TBI. It’s a broad spectrum, and of course you have to take cinematic liberty when we’re doing television, especially on how quickly he recovered — it’s typically nothing like that.
It’s been a while since I watched season three, so watching season four just now, I’d forgotten the feeling of the hour-long tension that comes with watching an episode. I don’t get that from many other shows.
I think this year it sort of goes back to that season one feeling of “I have to watch the next episode!” Like you said, that tension is so strong because the stakes are so high this year. And what’s happening in our world is so crazy right now.
Yes, there’s the US presidential party candidate race in the series, which is coinciding with the real life race. The intrigue and drama of House of Cards doesn’t seem quite as crazy now that we’re seeing the whole Trump run.
What’s happening in the primaries in our country right now is making House of Cards not look crazy at all. I would much rather have Frank Underwood in office than several of the candidates! It’s really scary. And I’m baffled right now. I’m seriously questioning a lot of things. Are we really this crazy of a country that we could consider Donald Trump as President? It’s insane. It’s so offensive. It’s terrible.
Did you research the inner workings of Washington?
I spoke with a prominent Chief-of-Staff, but that was really about understanding the day-to-day grind of what they do. I had a pretty decent understanding of the political system. I studied political science in college and fell into acting. I’ve always been interested in politics, especially in the last 10 years because I think that it’s very important right now. The issues of the two sides opposing each other on, like, gay rights and abortion — that’s just common sense to me. It’s sad that it’s created such a division in the country. Now I have an actual voice in DC. I’m there working, lobbying for the Older Americans Act for senior citizens in our country and helping push the bill through and get more funding for seniors because it’s such a big issue in our country.
How did you get involved in that?
My mother has worked in Atlanta in a non-profit organization called the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund for 30 years. I became involved with that. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom and dad’s support — not financial but constant encouragement and their belief in me to do something that’s really far more impossible than I thought it was. I was very naive. But having a constant encouragement from them allowed me to do what I’m doing today so. An issue that’s important to her is an issue that’s important to me.
Life imitating art then. The man behind Doug Stamper is actually getting involved in American politics!
Yeah I went there about a month ago and we set up a handful of meetings and walked the halls of Congress. By the end of the day we immediately had 15/20 meetings. They were like, “Holy shit, Doug Stamper is walking the halls!” They’re like, “Come on in! The Governor would love to talk to you.” It was amazing. What we were able to accomplish in that one day I feel so grateful for.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump actually becomes President. There was a time when it was a bit of a joke but now it’s becoming serious.
I’ve been saying for the last six months, “Look he’s having his fun. Great. It shows that in our country anyone can do anything, this is total proof.” But now it’s scary. This guy could become the President of the United States and that scares the hell out of me.
After the cultural sensitivity of Obama, it would be the worst.
Obama’s been so good. It’s just for the world, right? He’s a good man who’s doing the right thing and that’s why I’m behind Hilary 100% because I believe this is a woman who has been working for the people her entire life. And she’s someone who knows the system, foreign affairs and how to get things done. Bernie Sanders is saying some great things, but if he gets into office, you can pretty much guarantee that the Senate and the House is going to be controlled by the Republicans, and nothing will get done for four more years. Obama was shut down, and you could imagine what they’re gonna do to someone they consider a socialist.
Season 4 of House of Cards starts on Netflix today.
Credits
Text Stuart Brumfitt
Photography David Giesbrecht/Netflix