‘Accidental Texan’ perfect fit for Thomas Haden Church

Thomas Haden Church had no problem deciding how to play the complicated character of Merle in the new feature film release “Accidental Texan.” On the surface, Merle looks like just another loud-talking, big-boasting oilman from Texas. The deeper Church drilled into the character, the more he knew and understood him.

“He’s a man that could have been easily taken out of my life 50 years ago growing up in South Texas around ranchers and farmers and oil men. These were men who were friends of my dad who we went to church with,” Church says. “Because I knew that sort of man 50 years ago, I just sort of brought him forward.”

Church had a basic idea in terms of the character but when he initially read the script, he didn’t have a complete handle on how to play Merle/ That didn’t worry him because he had the knowledge of knowing enough men like him to provide the elements to take on the role.

The important thing to Church was that he played the role with authenticity. The last thing he wanted to do was slip into the stereotypical performance of a Texas oilman that has been displayed in television shows and films. Having lived most of his life in the Lone Star State allowed him to see how different Texans are from those stereotypes.

The way Church brought the character to life can be seen starting April 23 when “Accidental Tourist” becomes available on Digital HD from Amazon Video and iTunes. No date has been announced for the DVD and Blu-ray release.

Church’s main approach was to focus on how Merle got a second chance on life when Erwin (Rudy Pankow), a fresh-faced recent Harvard student, comes into his life. After Erwin completely flames out during his first professional acting job, the young actor flees the New Orleans set to return to Los Angeles.

It is a short trip as his car breaks down deep in a small town in the heart of Texas oil country. While he waits for his car to be fixed, Erwin accepts a job offer from Merle. It proves a beneficial relationship as Erwin’s acting skills could be the key to helping Merle save his business.

“They very quickly form this surrogacy of father/son. These characters are undeniably attached. Once they get rolling it becomes clear that I need Erwin and Erwin needs me,” Church says. “That’s what I really loved about the film.”

Church instinct about roles comes from his 35 years of appearing in television and film roles. After establishing his comedy credentials with 123 episodes of “Wings,” Church went on to appear in such projects as “George of the Jungle,” “Sideways,” “Easy A,” “Over the Hedge” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

His role in ‘Sideways” has had the biggest impact on his career. The performance that earned him his only Oscar nomination has been what Church has banked on for all jobs that have followed. Getting the nod from the Academy raised his profile with producers and casting agents over the past two decades.

The one constant in the acting roles Church has played over the years is that there is no constant. He has gone from pure slapstick comedy to being a super villain. Selecting the next job for Church always has been a very simple process.

“I read it and I know, or I read it and there is no way,” Church says. “Sometimes there are so many other variables. When I read ‘Sideways’ I thought there was no way I would ever get the role, so it is not even my choice.

“Some how or another the gods opened the heavens, and I was able to do it.”

Church knew after reading the first 10 pages of the script for “Accidental Texan” that he would take on the role because he saw so much of himself in the role. The similarities range from his graduating from the University of North Texas to his current residency in Texas. When he goes to town, Church is not looked at as a Hollywood actor but as the local farmer known to everyone as Tom Church.

Church was comfortable taking on the role in “Accidental Texan” because in many ways he has always felt as if he had been born 50 years too late.

“I would have loved to have been a rancher or an oil man or whatever at my age in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Church says. “I think I would have fit into that era really beautifully.”

He can’t go back in time to test that theory but the role in “Accidental Texan” gave him the chance to come as close to that world as possible.

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