Timothy Olyphant may have landed the role of his career as U.S. Marashall Raylan Givens on the hit FX TV series “Justified,” but besides a few years on “Deadwood” the 42-year-old actor spent most of his time on the big screen. In fact, his numerous credits over the last decade include “Dreamcatcher,” “The Girl Next Door,” “Catch and Release,” “Live Free or Die Hard,” “Hitman,” “A Perfect Gateway” and “The Crazies.” Granted, most of those weren’t big hits, but he’s worked much more steadily than many of his peers.
In between season one and two of “Justified,” Olyphant spent some time playing Alex Pettyfer’s mentor, Henri, in D.J. Caruso’s “I Am Number Four.” If “Four” becomes the franchise DreamWorks is hoping it will be, Olyphant likely won’t return, but his character is pretty important in the development of Pettyfer’s John “I don’t want to be a super-powered alien” Smith. It’s not a stretch to say he’s the Obi Wan Kenobi of the series (assuming it becomes a series).
The always charming Jenna Busch spoke to Olyphant for HitFix late last month and their conversation was…interesting. Olyphant is either trying too hard to be witty, burnt out from too many interviews or is just quirkier than most of us have been left to believe. Needless to say, it’s certainly worth watching.
For Pettyfer’s take on playing the “Four” in “I Am Number Four,” click here.
“I Am Number Four” opens nationwide and in IMAX this Friday.