You are now listening to Post-Mortem with Mick Garris where the most influential voices in horror cinema will spill their guts, literally, to the renowned horror director, writer and producer.

Now here's your host, Mick Garris.

I'm Mick Garris and from Nice Guy Productions World Headquarters overlooking the glamorous San Fernando Valley, this is Post-Mortem.

Consider the character actor. Movie stars come and go, some of them last and become institutions, some flame on and overwhelm the world and flame out with the onset of age or fading popularity.

The character actor is defined by his range and versatility, his unique qualities, the many facets he would be called on to display.

The movie star is almost always the good guy, the hero. Although he can be tempted by the dark side, by the time the credits roll, he is almost always redeemed.

His human frailties only amplify his heroism and sex appeal.

The character actor can have all those qualities too, but is not hamstrung by heroism or lasting good looks and facelifts.

A single character actor can be a good guy, bad guy, expository vehicle, henchmen, psychiatrist, best friend, worst enemy.

The best of them bring unique personalities and physicality to their roles, and they are often called upon to be buried under piles of latex and still have their emotions and characters shine through.

It's tough to be sympathetic wearing sawdoth horns and yellow contact lenses, but from the days of Boris Karloff's heartbreaking vulnerability in the 1931 Frankenstein, right before he tosses the little girl in the lake, actors with deep reservoirs of heart and soul can shine through the pounds of makeup under which they labor.

The actors age and evolve, and the best of them have careers that are limitless in the variety of their roles.

And if they can bring to the set a list of characteristics that are singularly their own, they dig indelibly into the consciousness of the viewers.

One of the best examples of this special fraternity is the rightfully ubiquitous Ron Pearlman.

I've been lucky enough to work with Ron several times over the years, and we're going to put him on the slab and find out what makes him tick.

Ron Pearlman, welcome to Postmortem.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

No face lift here, baby.

Proudly.

In fact, the fact nothing is lifted at all.

But we'll get to that.

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