He oversaw the production from a distance. He had casting approval, and script approval. So he acted as the big man on the mountain.

It's a good development and keeps them on track for the U.S. approval probably later this year.

[Soon after he called his family.] The phone is ringing off the hook, and my poor 9-year-old is like 'What do I do?' ... This is surreal.

The most challenging part of being a dad is self-restraint. So often your instinct is to teach and tell. I am constantly reminding myself to listen to them.

Prior to 'The Shield,' basic cable was just a wasteland of reruns and NASCAR. When we came along, I think there was a collective, 'Hey, if they can do that, why can't we?' from the basic-cable networks of the world. We ended up being the cornerstone for a network, and a great one.

He didn't want to travel like the others. He had a career as a working actor in Los Angeles.