Joshua David "Josh" Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He first acting role was as Leo du Pres on ABC's All My Children and later as the chief of security, Danny McCoy, on NBC's Las Vegas. He then began appearing in films, playing one of the main protagonists in the first three films of the Transformers film series. He has also starred in romance films including When in Rome, Life as We Know It, New Year's Eve, and Safe Haven.
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» All Actor InterviewsHi guys. I'm an actor. I've been in a number of movies and television projects, most recently Vince Gilligan's show BATTLE CREEK airing Sundays at 10/9 c on CBS, on which I play Special Agent Milton Chamberlain.
Victoria's helping me out over the phone tonight. AMA.
https://twitter.com/joshduhamel/status/574002148138057728
Edit: Tune in Sunday to BATTLE CREEK - I promise you won't regret it. And if you do, you can have your money back. Sorry, but i gotta go feed my kid! It's dinner time.
Please give me a quick written ending to the show "Vegas". Or... How do you picture the show with a real ending? And then we can all just forever pretend that's what happened :)
PLLLLEASE?
A quick ending to the show VEGAS?
I would say that it ended with Danny and Delinda had a little baby named Eddie. And moved in with her father, Big Ed Deline, and still live in his basement!
My wife would like to know if you'll marry her? I'm not sure how I feel about that though.
Wait, his wife wants to marry me?
Haha!
Tell her sorry, I'm taken.
What was kissing Katherine Heigl like?
Transformative.
Hi Josh! Because Youtube has archives of everything, I recently came across an old clip of you on All My Children along with a young Elizabeth Banks as a waitress! Was it total coincidence that you two ended up filming the James Gunn sketch in Movie 43 together, or had you kept in touch since All My Children?
No, that was an absolute coincidence. And we both laughed about that. Because it was literally my first day on the set of ALL MY CHILDREN, and she was just starting out herself - I still remember her name was Rosalee, and I was trying to scam her into giving me a free lunch! And then all those years later, you know, she's become wildly successful and an amazing actress and I'm really really proud of her. And we have a laugh about that every time we see each other.
Hi Josh. Thanks for doing this AMA! What's your favorite song of your wifes? And do you two still go through taco bell drive thru, raw as hell?
Hahaha!
Yes, we do still go to Taco Bell. We're very glamorous. My favorite song by hers is one that I think she's about to release. She's keeping it very secret, even from me! I think it's going to be her best one yet.
Thanks for doing an AMA! In Life as We Know It, I noticed there a strong duck theme throughout the movie (toy ducks, duck-themed cakes, etc). Do you know if that was part of the script or if there is more of a story behind it?
You know, I don't remember, but I do remember there being a lot of ducks. I think it was just a little quirky thing that Greg had as a running theme. I can understand it because we have ducks all over our house too - for whatever reason, when you have a kid, people think they need to buy you rubber ducks.
Hi, Josh! What's surprised you most about being a father? Also, what's your favorite place that you've traveled to, and what are some of your favorite movies? Thanks!
What surprised me the most about being a father... I would say just the fact that - how quickly they actually develop, and become walking, talking little human beings that are suddenly living with you until they're at least 18!
Favorite place that I've traveled to? I love Brazil... I was in the Italian Riviera one time, that was really cool...one of my favorite places in the world is Pebble Beach, California, Monterrey, Carmel, and I would say my favorite movies... gosh! Let's see: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST... I would say STAR WARS... I would say DUMB AND DUMBER... and WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON!
Hi Josh, thanks for joining us today!
Can you tell us how you first got started in the entertainment industry, and who's the one person you'd still like to work with that you haven't yet?
Enjoy the AMA!
Well, I got my start - it was a long and bumpy road, but you know, ALL MY CHILDREN really gave me my start in the business. I'd been floundering, trying to get work as an actor for quite a while in LA, and then after I got ALL MY CHILDREN, I got more and more confidence, I ended up landing VEGAS and everything else has sort've happened since then. It started with TV commercials and things like that. It look a lot of convincing to get my agent to send me out to actual acting gigs.
As far as someone that I would want to work with... I wish I could've worked with Jack Lemmon! He's one of my all-time favorites.
What was Topher Grace like to work with?
He was great. Topher and I are still friends. He's a really talented dude, and very specific, you know? He comes ready to go, you know? He thinks a lot about his work. And I love that. Because whenever you've got someone who comes in with as many ideas as he does, it only makes it that much better.
How much fun did you have blowing shit up in Transformers with Michael Bay?
It was amazing.
Working with Michael was something I'll never forget. He's like a big kid with a giant playbox of the coolest toys. Some of the stuff that you see on that set - you just don't see! It's such a massive production - whether it's jets flying over, or giant explosions, or guys flying out of the sky in suits - all that stuff, you feel like a tiny cog in a giant machine on his set, but it's fun to sit back and watch it all.
In fact, I remember one day when we'd been working all day, on Michigan avenue in Chicago, it looked like Armageddon, and I was exhausted, and I went up to my room, and down below you could see where the set was - my hotel room faced Michigan Avenue. And I started watching from up there, because they were still working and people were watching from the buildings all around - people would bring coolers, and lawn chairs, and sit and watch the fireworks. It was truly a sight to see.
I gotta say..... I love your battle creek character. Do you find it difficult to jump from character to character? How do you prepare for such a thing? (I mean getting used to playing one persona and suddenly having to take on a character that could be completely opposite) Also you have some serious eyebrows...... does that effect the roles you are offered? I don't mean that in a bad way, but you kinda sport the tough guy look, are you only offered that kind of role?
My eyebrows?! That's hilarious. I've never heard that, but I'll take it, thank you.
Let's see... well, a lot of it depends on how much time you have to spare. But that to me is one of the most fun parts of what I get to do -preparation, getting ready, why it is that this character does and says the things they do and say. So a lot of it, like I said, depends on the time you have. I'm about to start this character that I've been working on quite a bit, the character of Bill "Spaceman" Lee, that I'm starting on Sunday, so I feel ready because I've had a lot of time to get ready for it, but then I jump right into another one after that, so I have to prepare for that one while I'm working on this other one. So...
Knowing that you've been in a variety of movie genres from Bay's explosions to Sparks novel adaptations, sort of role do you feel the most comfortable playing? Or rather what comes most naturally when you play a character?
You know, I think it just depends on the character and the story, you know? The better the writing, the easier it is to sort've become that character. It isn't necessarily a comedy or a drama. It's how well it's written. That's why I think I have so much fun on BATTLE CREEK, because this character is so hard to pin down - there's something mysterious about him. Is he this character that he's perpetrating to be, or is he pretending? They do a really good job writing, so that the viewer can't really tell, so that makes Milton really fun to play. He's really fun to play, because he is so undefinable - it leaves it wide-open for me, so there isn't a specific way I have to play anything.
Hey josh
I'm Farah from Syria I wanna tell you that all Syrian people loves you !!
And I wanna ask you
How u imagine yourself after 10 years ? :D
Where do I see myself in 10 years? Coaching baseball...and hopefully making great movies or great TV. Happily married, coaching baseball, and making great movies or TV.
Hi Josh, Would you like to come to Peru?
I've been to Peru. Accidentally. I was flying out to Brazil, to surprise my wife, and my flight to - where was it - my flight to Sao Paolo was re-routed to Peru, so I had to go LA ->SF-> Peru -> Sao Paolo.
I wanna go back. Isn't Machu Picchu in Peru? That's one of the places that, before I die, I will see Machu Picchu.
What's your favorite color?
My favorite color...I'd say green.
What's the biggest difference before you became famous to life as it is now?
I don't really take fame that seriously, to be honest? I don't feel it's that real. I don't do it for that reason. There are some great benefits to it, but at the end of the day, I'm truly no different than I was when I got into this business.
What is your favorite kind of pie?
My favorite kind of pie?
I would say... my grandma's pumpkin pie.
What was the funniest thing that the baby Axl ever done?
Haha!
Oh man... he's doing funny things, every day he's doing something funny.
Let me think... what did he do that's funny? He just does so much. It's hard to pick just one.
I think the other day I accidentally said a swear word- and he looked up at me and said it with those big innocent eyes and I was thinking Woops! guess I can't say that around him anymore. Oh yeah, what a great father.
Hey Josh,
You were awesome in transformers, it sucks you weren't in the newest one! any chance you will be coming back? Would you be open to it if asked?
Any funny interesting moments on set? Hows working with Shia?
Have you ever challenged Fergie to a Dance off?
I had a lot of fun doing that. It would depend on what he was doing. It would depend on the character, really. But I would love to work with Michael again.
Any funny moments from the Transformers set...? Let's see... well, working with Shia is awesome. He's a really smart, talented kid. I would say one of the things that he did one time that I thought was pretty funny was Michael didn't want us eating sunflower seeds on the set, since they got all over the place, so Shia went and poured an entire bag of seeds into Michael's cooler. I thought Michael was gonna be pissed, but he actually laughed about it!
When are you planning another trip to minot??
I'm coming back to Minot very soon. Depends on when I get a break from work. I miss my mom's cooking.
Hi josh, it's almost 4 am here in Kuwait and I have to get up early tomorrow to study for an exam. I just wanted to say that you are an amazing actor and a sweet person! I love you! Loved seeing you back on television!... My question is: What do you like more, to appear on television or in movies?... I love seeing you in both! :D
First of all, good luck on your test!
And you should be in bed, getting rest!
Hopefully you're up studying. And what do I like more? You know, I don't know. I had a really good time shooting BATTLE CREEK, I really did, and i like the idea of getting to be home, it feels a little bit more stable, you go to the same place to work every day. But movies are like adventures, every day is an adventure. So if I could keep doing both, that would be ideal.
Happy Friday Josh! What's your favorite song to crank up and sing in the car?
My favorite song to crank up and sing in the car?
Uh... I would say... "Here I go Again" by Whitesnake. But I like all kinds of music.
Which power ranger would you tattoo on your ass AND WHY? Answer me, Duhamel.
I would tattoo the... yellow one. Because it wouldn't stand out so much, hahahaha!
Do you have any good James Caan stories from the set of Las Vegas?
Yes, but I'm afraid I might end up with a horse head in my bed if I tell you.
Who's better looking; your next door neighbour or Adam Sandler?
Who's better looking?
Adam Sandler.
Hey Josh, which movie could you watch over and over without getting bored? :)
DUMB AND DUMBER, hahaha! I just love that movie. It's probably not what you wanna hear, but...
When's the last time you were on skis or a snowboard?
Whew! Last time I was on a snowboard? It's been a while. I used to go skiing ever year, in Montana, but I haven't been skiing for years. I plan to start again, when my boy is old enough to go. But I'll wait until then.
What's your favorite book?
HAVE GLOVE, WILL TRAVEL. I'm about to start the movie based on that book on Sunday.
I'm from Battle Creek and I was wondering what was your favorite part of visiting the town?
My favorite part about BATTLE CREEK was I got to meet the undercover cops unit there, the guys that work the streets there, and I got to meet the police chief. It reminded me of home a lot. It's just a really cool group of people that live there. I wasn't there long enough to see that much, but one of my favorite things while I was there was that there's an actual BEACH there, on this lake. So I had some time to kill, so I went out to the beach with my towel.
I just recently saw you at the Pebble Beach Golf Tournament. What made you get into golf? Is that your favorite hobby?
I got into the tournament several years ago, when I got the invite to play. And I've played I think 5 times since? It truly is one of my favorite things to do every year, just because it's so beautiful. And is it my favorite hobby? It probably used to be, because I played a lot more before I had a kid. But now I'd rather spend 5 hours of time with him than playing golf, to be honest.
Hey Josh, can you tell me what is your favourite car?? :-)
My favorite car?
Uh... a Corvette. Is it the '64 or '66 split window? The '64 Split Window Corvette. Black.
What is your favorite food? Praying for you and your family. Stay safe
First of all, thank you for the prayers.
My favorite food... my mom makes meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy that's just unbelievable.
Where would you live if you weren't living in L.A. and do you miss snow? Thanks for doing this AMA...and all the best to your family & with your new show...I love me some Battle Creek! <3
Thank you!
Let's see... where would I live, if I wasn't living in LA?
Maybe Northern California, or Central California. Either Solvang, or San Francisco, or Carmel. I would love to live in Carmel. It's a great town.
Hey Josh! Looking forward to seeing Battle Creek as i'm a Michigander myself :) Is the show actually filmed there? What's your favorite thing about Michigan and/or Battle Creek specifically?
We actually shoot the show in Los Angeles, which is difficult because there are a lot of palm trees in California. I'm hoping, if the show's successful, that we do get to go to Battle Creek and shoot, because I think that would make the show that much more rich. My favorite thing about Michigan is -- the air is really clean there. I like that a lot.
Just wanted to say that I so enjoyed keeping score for you at Pebble Beach on Valentine's Day. What is your best round of golf ever? Have you ever had a hole-in-one?
My best round of golf EVER was the 4th round at the AT&T Pebble Beach tournament several years ago - I think I shot a 77, which is one of my best rounds. And no, I've never had a hole in one.
I've been close though.
How is Battle Creek Different from Breaking Bad? :)
The biggest difference, I would say, is - BATTLE CREEK is a much more offbeat, quirky - I hate to use the word "quirky" but there's something strange about the way the crimes that these guys solve happen. BATTLE CREEK is more of a procedural, while BREAKING BAD was more of a drama. There's a lot of intensity at times in BATTLE CREEK, and it's unpredictable. I think those are similarities.
I think tonally, it's different - because BATTLE CREEK is funnier. It's a funny show. If anything, because these crimes happen in a town like Battle Creek as opposed to a big city, there's something more personal about it. Even the criminals are 3-dimensional.
Did you ever see TWIN PEAKS?
It's got a strange - there's something strange about these people. Not that the people of Battle Creek are strange, but there's something strange about the tone of the show that makes it the most interesting.
would you like your baby to be in tv or do music like mommy and daddy?
I'm not going to push it on them. And if he does, I'd rather he go through school and live a regular life before he gets into it. He'll know that when he gets a little bit older, but for now, I just want him to be a regular kid.
Hi Josh! I'm a little late to this I suppose, but do you ever miss Minot? Also, my aunt (who used to lifeguard with you) says hi!
I always miss Minot. And yes, I did lifeguard at Oak Park Pool!
What's your favourite animal?
My favorite animal?
The 3-toed sloth.
Hi! What's your favorite type of cheese?
And... if you weren't filming, what career would you have pursued?
My favorite type of cheese?
Monterey Jack.
It would've had to have been something creative, because I wasn't very good at crunching numbers. I would say... an artist of some sort, like a cartoonist or something along those lines. Probably a cartoonist.
Out of all the 13 episodes of Battle Creek which one would you say is your favorite one to film & what was the most challenging part about filming them? :D
My favorite episode is the last one, number 13, called "Sympathy for the Devil," because you finally get to see who Milt really is, and why he ended up in Battle Creek. I'd been anxiously awaiting the reveal of who this guy really was, and you get a good idea of who he is in the last episode. The hardest episode to film was also the last one, because it was really intense. It's a really - there's a lot of very complex dialogue in the show, so it's a lot of work - you really got to be on point, because the writing is so good, you have to give it your best shot.
Growing up were you ever subjected to bullying? Or how about now, is there an idiot out there now that would dare try it? 💕 And admire you and your work!
Yeah, yeah I was bullied when I was a kid. There wasn't an awareness about it back then like there is now. So I really like the fact that there's a lot more attention put on anti-bullying campaigns and things like that, because it really does affect kids and how they grow up.