Name: Benjamin Walker
Age: 27
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Actor, currently playing Andrew Jackson in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, at the Public Theater.
Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
The jazz trumpet player on the 2-3 platform in Times Square. He plays the changes with his left hand on a keyboard on his lap, and alternates between playing the trumpet with his right hand and singing. His ability to handle and entertain one of the hardest crowds in the world, New York subway riders, and his commitment to his music are truly astounding.
What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
A pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
I tell stories.
Would you live here on a $35,000 salary?
I’ve done it for much much less.
What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
A Behanding in Spokane — the cast (Christopher Walken, Anthony Mackie, Sam Rockwell, and Zoe Kazan) is unstoppable.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
Sometimes.
What’s your drink?
Bourbon.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
Not as often as I should.
What’s your favorite medication?
Jumping into a new role on a new project.
What’s hanging above your sofa?
A ceiling fan.
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
25 bucks. I’ve paid more than that, but 25 bucks.
When’s bedtime?
What’s bedtime?
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I’ve only known the Disney one. It’s romantic to imagine it as it was back in the days of seventies films, but then again, getting stabbed would be unpleasant.
What do you think of Donald Trump?
Donald Trump?
Question:
Who gives a fuck?
Answer:
LOTS of people! You gotta hand it to him.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
When people won’t fill in on the train so other riders can board.
Who is your mortal enemy?
Haven’t met him/her. But I’m sure they’re out there.
When’s the last time you drove a car?
A couple of months ago, sitting on the 405 in L.A.
How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
Hasn’t. Broke then. Broke now.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
Times.
Where do you go to be alone?
I like walks late at night when businesses are closed and the streets are quiet.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
The ability to co-exist and persevere in an environment composed of every type of human being imaginable.
