HOLLYWOOD—HELLO AMERICA! It is always a special moment to have an opportunity to sit down and discuss the entertainment industry with young people who are struggling to make their dreams a reality. When I first met Marty Kove in the early 1970s, I admired his energy, his determination to make his mark as an actor in television and films. His whole life was centered on that objective—and because of his warmth and passion for his dreams, as well as life, one could only feel a great love and respect for him. Now, his gifted young son, Jesse Kove, has arrived with the same energy and excitement that his father possessed. The interview I had with Jesse will make you understand, clearly, what I discovered.
Q: When Did You First Realize That Your Dad, Marty Kove, Was An Actor?
A: “At a very young age, really. My father would bring me on to various sets with him when I was a small boy, and I couldn’t help but watch what he was doing in this environment that was created on set for him.”
Q: How Did You Perceive Hollywood And The Life That Many Actors Have To Live?
A: “I realized quite early that Hollywood is going to do what it needs to do. It’s always changing; you can get caught up in the life very easily. It will always change and I really believe that most actors understand the risk of getting into the business.”
Q: When did you first realize that you might be interested in following in your dad’s footsteps?
A: “Well, Dad and I always watched movies together from an early age, we would watch old classic films like ”˜The Good the Bad and the Ugly’, ”˜How the West was Won’ and ”˜Casablanca.’ He would explain to me about why these films were so great. When he was working, I’d watch him and quietly hunger to be one of the characters in his films.”
Q: Did you appear in any of your school plays or shows?
A: “I was always in a theater class. I took every film class offered at my high school, and I loved it. I had a small role in the play ”˜Inherit the Wind’ and the school was trying to see if they could put on a play after the big winter play for the first time. It was ”˜Bob Cratchits Wild Christmas Binge’ a spoof on ”˜A Christmas Carol.’ I played, Bob Cratchit, who was an over caring loving father with an alcoholic ego-centric wife. I loved it! And it did very well, I’m happy to say.”
Q: Watching your dad struggling, planning and trying to make each step mean something, as an actor, did it make you hesitant or did you have second thoughts in pursuing a career in films or television?
A: “I always enjoyed helping my father with his sides etc. and watching him go through his struggles has, in a way, served as a cheat sheet for me. It opened my eyes to the reality of the hardship in building and developing characters that might be considered complicated or ones with decisive emotional dimensions of sorts. It’s always exciting—a kind of rush, you can’t get anywhere else—sure, possibly drugs, but happily, film is my drug.”
Q: When did you definitely decide that you “had” to be in the business— that it was the only way you could possibly be happy or fulfilled?
A: “When I was a boy, I always made little movies with action figures, and played with my father’s camera. I would perform in front of family members because I wanted to be a magician in show biz. The fantasy world seemed safe and the magic of it all, gave meaning to my small life and world.”
Q: What type of characters do you feel comfortable in creating or developing as an actor?
A: “Characters that are challenging in some way—ones that bring about surprises and unexpected changes. Of course, every character you are able to bring alive, also gives you another level of creative discovery and a more clear focus of who you are, as a growing, needy human being.”
Q: What do you feel about comedy, dramatic productions, whether they are on the screen or stage?
A: “I love comedy. Let’s face it, the world loves to laugh! Comedy has always been easy for me; possibly, I get it from my dad, as you know, he can be extremely funny.”
Q: What current actors do you most admire? What actors of the past have impacted the way you are as a performer or actor?
A: “I admired Heath Ledger tremendously. He had the ability to personalize and create his characters. Watching him work was something special, beautiful. Johnny Depp is another one; he’s truly a gifted artist, he knows his craft. Growing up, I was mesmerized watching Paul Newman. He was one of my dad’s favorites, too.”
Q: What do you think about the kind of films that are produced today, especially, representing what American young people are like or what they believe?
A: “There are films that are trying to change the way we make movies, and the way we watch them. It’s interesting to see where it all goes. It’s my belief is that no matter what, we can’t escape our roots of organic simple film-making. Experimentation is always there, and that’s why our continual journey in film exploration is so exciting, challenging and makes us want to reach beyond the impossible.”
Q: What kind of person do you believe you are slowly evolving into as an artist or generally as a human being?
A: “Well, don’t you agree that this is all a part of the adventure or journey, is it not?”
Q: When you are alone and looking in a mirror, what do you see?
J: “I see the journey that is unfolding, as I travel from one emotional state to another, as an artist.”
