Daryl Mitchell Is Part of the Family on NBC's Ed | Profiles in Excellence

Daryl Mitchell Is Part of the Family on Ed

By Joan Leotta

Photograph of Daryl Mitchell. Photo from NBC.com

Photo of Daryl Mitchell from NBC.com

Fans of Ed, an NBC show about a big-city lawyer who returns to his hometown roots and pursues his high school love, enjoy the quirky comedy-drama's character-driven stories. The ensemble cast features Tom Cavanagh as Ed Stevens, the lawyer who impulsively buys Stuckeyville, Ohio's bowling alley in the pilot episode; Julie Bowen as Carol Vessey, the girl of Ed's high school dreams; and various other employees and regulars at the Stuckeybowl.

Breaking into this closeknit network of Stukeyville friends in the show's third season came Daryl Mitchell as Eli Cartwright Goggins III. Eli, a young fast talker with a dubious resume, took over as the bowling alley's supervising manager when Kenny Sundusky (played by Mike Starr), after bowling a nearly perfect game, decided it was time to quit the Stuckeybowl. Real-life decisions drove the plot change: Starr had decided to leave the show to pursue other goals.

Starr's departure left a hole in the cast, and producers were almost content to keep it that way—until Mitchell's audition convinced them otherwise. "Chill" Mitchell, whose acting credits include Leo Michaels on TV's Veronica's Closet, Dexter Walker on The John Larroquette Show, and Tommy Webber in the movie Galaxy Quest, first caught Hollywood's attention as a rapper and comedian. His role on Ed is his first acting job since a November 2001 motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Getting back in the game

From among his other turns in entertainment professions, it was acting that most captured Mitchell's imagination and talent. "I didn't choose acting; it chose me," Mitchell says. "What you see comes naturally." After he landed a small role in the 1990 movie House Party, he decided to pursue acting over his other ventures.

It's no surprise, then, that soon after spending time in rehabilitation at the Sheperd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Mitchell began auditioning again. His portrayal of Eli comes from his own experiences. He tackles the role with "spirit and energy," he says, but in the end, "I just do me."

The role of Eli centers on everyday aspects of the bowling manager's life—his spars with coworker Phil, interactions with bowlers and townspeople—and very rarely highlights his disability. Neither does it ignore his wheelchair entirely: chair transfers and the difficulties of getting dressed with impaired mobility are shown as a part of daily life for Eli. "I know [in this role] I can't change the world," Mitchell says, but he appreciates that his high profile on a syndicated show may make a difference to some people.

Audiences enjoy Mitchell's portrayal of Eli, and many are surprised to find out that the wheelchair isn't just a prop. "They don't believe that I really use a wheelchair to get around," he says, "or that I could possibly need this for the rest of my life."

Opportunities for others

Of course, Mitchell isn't the only actor with a disability to have a chance at the spotlight in Hollywood. As our February 2004 "Profile in Excellence" indicates, CSI, Joan of Arcadia, and Kingdom Hospital all include cast members with disabilities, many as a result of the efforts of California's Media Access Office.

Mitchell acknowledges the difficulties people face in making it as an actor. "The real work" in the profession, he says, is "looking for work." So he's done a lot of auditioning. "The doors have been open," he says. "At least they give me a shot."

For other aspiring actors with disabilities, Mitchell advises, "Luck equals preparation and opportunity, so be ready."

Mitchell's luck is also colored by his personality and strength. Chi McBride, the leading cast member on Boston Public, once told Mitchell, "Chill, you have raised the bar. No one has any excuses."

High praise for Stuckeyville

Critics have acclaimed Ed for the show's acting and writing talent. In its first season, the series won People's Choice Award for "Favorite New Comedy Series," and Tom Cavanagh won the TV Guide Award for "Actor of the Year in a New Series." Ed has also received three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Writing, Directing, and Casting for a Comedy Series. Despite this critical success, however, other priorities at NBC led the network to change Ed's time slot several times in the past two seasons.

Ed's ratings varied as it moved from night to night, but a core of faithful viewers kept it alive. On February 6, Ed finally married Carol, his long-unrequited love. And although no press release heralded the end of the series, the conclusion of this story arc most likely indicates that Ed will not be back for another season.

As often happens on longrunning television shows, cast member relationships on Ed resemble family ties. Asked how he was welcomed into the mix, Mitchell says, "I get water in my eyes every time I think about it. They saved my life."

Edited by Mary-Louise Piner