We recently had the pleasure of catching up with the delightful Kurt Fuller, who plays the enigmatic Dr. Kurt Boggs on the Paramount+ hit series Evil.
Fuller, a seasoned actor with an impressive resume, shared insights into his character, the show’s peculiar charm, and his personal take on the entertainment industry.
Speaking with him is a genuine pleasure, as he exudes the same wit and charm he brings to so many unique characters.
When asked about Dr. Boggs’ perplexing journey, especially after his eerie entanglements with the sinister Leland in season three, Fuller admitted, “Well, here’s the thing, all right? This is the most logical question to ask: he goes through all that, and then he’s just a therapist again?
“And the way I have had to play it … When Boggs goes down the rabbit hole, he’s in almost an alternate reality.
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“When that was over and when Leland sort of used his influence, turned his beam somewhere else, and all that paraphernalia was gone, I think it was sort of like Boggs went from that reality into his normal day-to-day reality.”
Fuller’s portrayal of Boggs navigates this duality masterfully. The character seems unaffected by his bizarre experiences until they resurface.
“It’s almost like did you ever see the Men in Black movie? They’d use that thing, and they’d click it, and the people would forget everything. I think that’s what happens to Boggs,” he mused.
Despite his character’s dubious past and questionable therapeutic methods, including a penchant for overmedicating patients, Fuller finds a way to humanize Dr. Boggs. “Let’s face it. Boggs over-medicated people, and he over-medicated himself.
“I think he’s over-medicated Sheryl, and he certainly, in Season 2 or 3, over-medicated Kristen. He is a pill pusher. He could be the presidential doctor, the way he’s throwing pills around. It’s a big flaw in his practice,” Fuller candidly confessed.
Season 4 sees Dr. Boggs unexpectedly thriving, even amidst his personal and professional chaos.
Fuller couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of his character’s rising success. “In spite of himself, he’s coming up in the world. In spite of his bad writing and enormous personal mistakes. He’s doing quite well.”
As the show progresses, Dr. Boggs continues to draw in clients, some of whom wouldn’t typically seek therapy.
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Fuller reflected on this surprising development, noting, “Ben is coming to him now. I mean, Ben would never; what is Ben doing in Dr. Boggs’ office? It’s kind of amazing that … well, I don’t think [Kristen] tells on me. I don’t think she spreads any information to anyone.
“She’s the one who’s really on her guard against me, which is one of Dr. Boggs’ biggest regrets, really, that she’s not his patient anymore. But she doesn’t tell Ben not to see me.”
Regarding the future of Evil, Fuller expressed a mix of hope and realism. “You don’t expect top shows not to keep going, but we’re in a brave new world of show business now. I don’t know. Nothing really makes sense to me. Not that anything ever did, but it makes less sense to me now than ever before.
“I think people are having a tough time making decisions because everything is … Things are going bad right now.” However, he remains optimistic about the show’s impact and its potential continuation.
Fuller is genuinely passionate about Evil and holds it in high regard compared to his extensive body of work.
“Absolutely. It’s a perfect show. I’m sorry. It’s a perfect show. It’s the best show I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a lot of them. And so, yeah, I’m happy for whatever we got, but God, it’s doing so well.
“It’s a top ten, top five? What? Why are you stopping this show again? I don’t know, but I’m not in a position to make those decisions or understand the economics of it.”
He’d like to do more, which is a common thread through the cast, which has been active on social media, helping to drive viewership to the series.
As for his future roles, Fuller is selective, prioritizing quality over quantity. “Well, first of all, I’m 70 years old. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve done hundreds of things.
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“I’ve been a regular on ten different series. I don’t have to work anymore but I do want to still keep working. I love it. But I don’t want to do anything bad anymore.
“I won’t take a job just to take a job. I will only take a job [if] I can expect it to be as good as Evil. That’s almost impossible but it will have to be good, or I just will play golf instead.”
Fuller hinted at a satisfying conclusion for Dr. Boggs in the upcoming episodes. “Yes, it is a satisfying ending for Boggs. It is. Yes.
“It happens in the second to last episode but it’s a satisfying ending. Yes. I am in the last episode, but Boggs’ fate is decided more in the penultimate episode.”
As for the four episodes written to conclude the series run on Paramount+, Fuller says nobody expected it to end at the finish of the original ten episodes. “Oh, a huge turn,” he teased of the final episodes, but he wouldn’t spill anymore.
We’ll just have to discover how far a turn the series takes to wrap up this cherished show by continuing to watch.
With his characteristic wit and charm, Fuller left us eagerly anticipating the unfolding of Dr. Boggs’ story, the series as a whole, and whatever intriguing projects he takes on next.
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As always, Fuller’s performance is one to watch. It promises depth, humor, and a touch of the unexpected.
New episodes of Evil drop on Thursdays on Paramount+.