Zombie shows have come a long way since George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. With the improvement of technology over time, the advancement in special effects has been gigantic; making what once was obviously make-up, now look like the most real thing a person’s ever seen.
Zombie popularity has soared over the past decade, thanks to shows like The Walking Dead (still airing, returning to the screen on AMC for the final half of season 10, on Feb. 23, 2020, as well as Syfy’s Z-Nation, which ran for five seasons, concluding in December of 2018. It was this writer’s honor and privilege to get a chance to speak and work with Russell Hodgkinson, who played the gregarious, much-loved “Doc” on the hit show. Check it out!
MANDIE STEVENS: How did the opportunity to work on Z-Nation come about?
RUSSELL HODGKINSON: I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I had done a few guest-starring appearances on TV shows like Grimm and Leverage down in Portland, Oregon, so it was exciting to know that Washington was getting a TV series of its own. Most of the actors here expected to be cast in guest-starring roles, assuming the leads would be cast out of LA. Needless to say, I was thrilled to get to play Doc.
MS: I know you’ve been in the acting business for a while, 40 years! What gave you the acting bug? What was your first performance?
RH: I’ve never considered it a business; it’s what I did for fun! Most of those 40 years were spent doing local theater, for little or no pay. I always had other jobs. My first experience with acting came about by accident. I was in the 7th grade waiting for my friend after school. She was auditioning for The Wizard of Oz. The teacher saw me in the hallway and asked if I wouldn’t mind reading one of the male parts. Afterward, she offered me the role of the Scarecrow. I fell in love with the whole process of putting on a play: rehearsing, working on the set, building props, painting. It was massive creativity. That’s when I got hooked.
MS: What was life like for you early in your career? Did you ever have a “star-struck” moment?
RH: After I got out of the Army, where I performed regularly at the Fort Bragg Playhouse, I moved to NYC. I was 23 years old. My first job was selling clothes at a trendy clothing boutique on Columbia Avenue. One day a woman came in and bought a pair of socks. After she left, the guy next to me said, “Do you know that was Mary Tyler Moore?” I was like, “WHAT???!!!” I ran down the street after her, tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Mary?” She looked down expecting to sign an autograph…Instead, I just stared at her, kind of frozen, and said: “I love you.” I know…Super dorky. She was really nice about it, though!
MS: Did you ever expect to work with zombies, in the horror genre?
RH: I had done a movie called Zombies of Mass Destruction. So, the horror genre wasn’t completely foreign to me. Honestly, I was just excited to have a real acting job that paid a living wage. The fact that it was a compelling story with interesting characters was a bonus. I love being part of an ensemble and we had a dream-team on Z-Nation.
MS: Doc was a fan favorite early on! What about this guy makes him so loveable?
RS: He’s funny, self-deprecating, easy-going and resourceful. He can definitely kick some zombie ass…AND he comes with a big bag of pain relievers! What’s not to love?
MS: Was Doc based at all on your real-life persona? What about his impeccable style?
RH: Doc was certainly not based on me initially, but as the writers got to know me they started to write with my personality in mind. He was supposed to be a high-end drug dealer, but kind of morphed into a laid-back hippie-character. I didn’t want to cut my hair or shave, it didn’t make sense to me! Who has time for grooming in the apocalypse? I thought the baggy patched-up jeans made perfect sense and the custom T-shirts were brilliant, very fashion-forward for Doc.
MS: Did you have a favorite go-to weapon?
RH: As for the weaponry, I personally felt a little awkward with a gun. It didn’t seem to suit my character’s style, so I was much happier working with the crowbar and hammers, even though it was a pain getting in and out of vehicles.
MS: What was Doc’s real name? What was his life like, pre-Z?
RS: Steven Beck was his real name. He was a military veteran, with several ex-wives. He had regrets over the son he never got to know, which helped forge his relationship with 10K. He was a recovering drug addict who eventually became a rehab counselor. I felt it was important to show his struggle with addiction and was happy they included it in the flashback episode. Doc could always find an excuse for a little relapse. Hell, it’s the apocalypse!
*SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET BUT REALLY SHOULD!*
MS: Did you know in the beginning that Doc would be one of the few surviving members of the first season? Were you ever worried about “getting bit”?
RH: I never felt in danger of being written off the show or having my character die. Many people considered Doc to be the heart of the show (so I was told). As an actor, I was also on my best behavior. I realized how easy it was to get fired or replaced on a zombie show. One bite and you’re history! I wasn’t about to blow the opportunity by getting too demanding or needy.
MS: What are some of your favorite episodes, or memories from your time on Z-Nation?
RH: Too many fond memories to list but, my favorite episodes were ‘Doc Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest’ and ‘Doc’s Stoned History’. However, the best part of all was just being on set every day. Our crew was awesome, so supportive. I loved meeting the guest stars and zombie extras. The food was always fantastic. We definitely had difficult days and faced unexpected challenges, but I will always look back on it as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I wish I could do it all over again.
MS: Were you happy with the way the show ended? Since the finale, fans have been demanding more (an online uprising!) and would love to see a season six, or even a movie. How do you feel about that?
RH: I would love it. I could have played Doc for the rest of my life. I was fine with the way they wrapped up the show but was incredibly unhappy to say goodbye to my Z-family. I felt there was so much more we could have explored. I’m hoping for a reunion show or movie sometime in the future. Keith Allan (Murphy) and I have talked about doing a movie together. He’s got a great idea in mind and sent me a rough draft. That could definitely happen. Otherwise, I’m enjoying my time off and expect to be working on something soon one way or another. But for now, it’s safe to say there will be no season six.
MS: Can we expect to see you on-screen soon? How have you been spending your off-time?
RH: Since we wrapped Z-Nation I’ve done a couple of independent films and a national commercial. Most of the work I get these days comes from friendships I’ve forged over the years, which is perfect because I’m not very aggressive at generating work for myself. Things are pretty much back to normal now. My old philosophy used to be, “Say yes to everything.” Now, it’s, “Say yes to almost everything.” In the meantime, I’m just hanging out, getting through the winter. I live in an old house built in the 1930s, so there’s always something that needs fixing. I like to paint and work in the yard. I enjoy hiking, being out in nature, and staying fit. I definitely enjoy cooking…I consider myself a “foodie.” If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter.I’ll try to keep you posted on upcoming projects and stuff!
MS: Okay, ‘bonus’ question time! Do you have a favorite fan encounter?
RH: I was at a Comicon recently when a little girl (about 8 years old) saw me and hollered across the room, “DOC, I’M GETTIN’ FINGERED!” (Referring to the episode in which a zombie’s finger burrows itself into Doc’s stomach). Needless to say, her parents (and I!) were mortified.
You can watch the whole series on Netflix now!
Written by Mandie Stevens
