John Leguizamo's Complicated 'Kill Point' Bank Robber

The Emmy Winner Chats About His Role as an Iraq Vet and His Tell-All Book

Related Links More About John Leguizamo More About 'The Kill Point'

July 16 -- Emmy winner and Tony nominee John Leguizamo's eclectic resume includes everything from 'Miami Vice' episodes and one-man Broadway shows to 'Moulin Rouge' and the 'toon 'Ice Age.' Now, add war vet/bank robber to the list.

Leguizamo's the scene stealer of Spike's new drama 'The Kill Point,' playing an Iraqi War vet who's trying to secure a future for himself and his forgotten fellow vets by robbing a bank. (Read his co-star Donnie Wahlberg's interview).

The star talked to AOL TV's Kimberly Potts about his timely role, his plans to return to Broadway and his tell-all book, which shines an insider light on famous types like Kevin Costner, Leonardo DiCaprio and The Governator.

What made you take the role in 'The Kill Point'?
It was a great character. This sort of troubled leader, a guy trying to do the right thing but making the wrong decision. And how does he get out of it now with his men intact? And then the whole thing that I find so powerful, so important, is what happened to our heroes when they came back. What's happened to them? No one's dealt with that, talked about it. They brush it underneath the rug, and this show talks about it under the guise of an action/thriller.

Your character, Wolf, is very hard to read, too, which adds to the fun of the watching the show unfold.
Every time you think it's going to get preachy, or it's going get too action-y, or it's going to get too theatrical, the writer, James DeMonaco, does something to twist the whole genre and twist the whole plot. Like when [my character] is giving a speech to the crowd to rouse them up and make a point and to really help the vets, you wonder: Is this guy doing that for that reason, or is he doing it to use the crowd to get some sympathy so he can escape with his boys, ya know? And it's always like that. DeMonaco is always flipping it. Do the hostages have Stockholm syndrome, or is it the hostage takers who have Stockholm syndrome? It's eight hours, and you don't know where it's going to go.

You've made some great TV guest appearances, like last season on 'My Name Is Earl', and your guest role on 'ER.' Would you consider doing a regular series?
I don't know. I like the miniseries idea, because it's almost like doing a movie. It's limited. I like the limited situation. Because I'm limited. I just like knowing, beginning to end, what's happening. I like charting that course. When you start doing a series, you don't really know where things are going.

It would be great to see you in a sitcom, though, something really sharp or quirky, like 'My Name Is Earl,' where you would originate the character.
That could definitely be fun. That's a different beast than a one-hour drama, that's for sure. Or maybe something on cable, where you do 12 episodes, and then you're done to go write the next 12 episodes, so there's a little more, I don't know, quality check?

And what about going back to Broadway? 'Freak' is one of the best shows I've ever seen on Broadway.
Oh, wow, thanks. Yes, I definitely want to go back. I've been wanting to do a straight play first, and then go back to do one more one-man show. But I want to do a regular play first. And I've had some nice offers, but they've always come at times when I was busy doing other stuff, unfortunately. I'm looking forward to doing something like that, though. I love theater. I think theater's the end all.

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