Eric Steinberg: Getting To Know You
Spend some time with Y&R’s Eric Steinberg, the man behind Jack Abbott’s newest partner in crime, Ji Min Kim, as he talks about making the transition from primetime guest player to daytime regular.
Soap Opera Weekly: As a daytime newbie, did you get any tips from co-star Peter Bergman (Jack)?
Eric Steinberg: Peter’s been great to me. He didn’t give me so many tips, though I asked. He’s just sweet and kind. He’s an experienced, excellent actor and since I’ve had a lot of experience as a guest star, where you’re on for a week and then you’re off, it’s not hard for me to come in and hit it. It’s the schedule, the plots and not knowing about your character that are new to me. It’s harder to get a sense of what the hell is going on and what am I playing! I’ve been brushing up on the history, as I get in deeper. I’m hoping there will be some powerful turnaround [in the drama building between Jack and Victor]. The more meat on my plate, the better.
Weekly: You’ve recently worked on THE UNIT, DAYBREAK and NIP/TUCK, to name a few. Which of your recent gigs stands out in your memory?
Steinberg: When you put it that way, none of them do, because there are so many and they’re all guest spots. You’re in; you’re out. For the past 10 jobs, it’s been all villains. It’s a new turn in how people perceive me. It’s not something I chose. I think it’s the mixed race thing. [Steinberg’s mother is Korean and his father is Jewish/Caucasian.]
Weekly: Do you like those bad guy roles?
Steinberg: The bad guy parts are fun. Usually, in these mainline, primetime shows, the bad guys are a little more interesting than the good guy, but beyond that? It’s a job and you do your best. I got started in rep theater around the country, so it’s about being able to play ball [with whatever role you’re given]. I just want as much complex and challenging work as you can give me. Then I’m happy.
Weekly: With the variety of roles you’ve had, do you ever get recognized and what do they call you?
Steinberg: They call me all kinds of things — Ji Min, Eric — but usually people who recognize me don’t know me. It’s, “Oh, yeah, I’ve seen that guy.” The great thing about this show is it has such a devoted and loyal fan base. You’ve got to respect that and admire it, and then you have to be grateful for people being so kind and paying attention to whatever you’re involved in. It happened the other day. A Y&R fan recognized me and it was nice.
Weekly: Is there a Y&R fan in the family?
Steinberg: No. My mother used to be an opera singer and my father runs Asian Studies at Georgetown and is a writer. They raised me on [boundary-breaking filmmakers like] Truffaut, Kurosawa and Goddard. They love watching me do classical theater, but for years they haven’t seen my work on TV shows. They ask me if they should watch and I say they don’t have to. I know them. I know what they like and they wouldn’t choose to watch pretty much everything I’ve done, but they do occasionally.
Weekly: Where are you from?
Steinberg: All over, because my dad worked for the foreign services. We lived a bit in Asia, Thailand…but primarily in Washington, D.C. It’s an incredible place. It’s a powerful city, but beyond being the capital and all the tourist stuff, it’s beautiful. I’ve been out here [in Los Angeles] for about 10 years, but you go where the jobs are. Freelance is endless. That’s why coming to the same studio is refreshing. It’s nice to see the same people in wardrobe, makeup and the crew. They’re a great team here [at Y&R] and made me feel very welcome. I couldn’t ask for more.
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