Hes also been in movies likeThe Bone CollectorandThe Spanish Prisoner.
Den of Geek: Did you do any sort of preparation for this?
Ad content continues below
Ed ONeill: I found my parking space in the lot.
And I got there and I walked in.
I think I had a piece of fruit and then went it and started recording.
The people who did the research are the animation guys.
What a job they did, huh?
I couldnt believe it!
But for my end, its just my voice coming out of an octopus.
You dont have to do a lot of research for that.
Did you interact with any of the other actors?
None of us do.
I think Ty Burrell did with Kaitlin, because they were almost a team.
Ellen and I worked different days.
That would get very tiring quick.
So it was a bit challenging…You keep in the back of your mind, OK.
I have to change up here.
But yet, you have to maintain an energy level that is tricky.
Thats the thing you have to be careful of.
Its almost like a singer.
You dont want to over-sing.
Because you have to know what it is you are trying to accomplish in a scene.
And then once you get down with, OK. We have to get out of this place.
And you keep that in your mind always: What am I trying to do?
So you are tired when you leave there after a four-hour session alone.
How did Andrew pitch this character to you initially?
I said, Fine.
Send the script over.
He said, Theres no script…I said, Well, what is it?
I said, Ill do it.
Ill do a day.
It wont hurt me.
So I thought it was a cameo.
And then it just kept going and going, and I said, This cant be a cameo.
And all my scenes are with Dory.
It was like Groundhog Day, for Christ sake!
No one ever told me it was a major role.
Finally, I figured it out, which doesnt speak well of me.
It should have happened way before it did.
But I finally went to Andrew after a session and I said, This is not a cameo.
He said, What?
I said, Nobody told me a thing.
this is one of the starring roles.
Well why wasnt I told?
Did they show you any of the…?
And I was like, Wow.
How are they doing this?
You start watching it and you go, How do they do this?
Its so well made.
Its so well made.
And theres so many levels it’s possible for you to enjoy them on.
So theyre doing amazing work.
Is it weird to see your voice come out of a mouth of an anthropomorphic animal?
Im sure that it should be.
How did you figure out the voice?
It starts out with a bit of royalty and then it starts to become feeling responsible.
Its a slow progression to a real friend, which is really nice.
And the caring; the caring for others, which he had lost way back.
The characters are well drawn out by the writers.
And then, of course, you are along for the ride.
I always say just dont get in the way of it.
Just dont get in the way of it.
You are starting Season 8 ofModern Family.
What keeps it fresh at this point?
Well, the writers are great.
Really, I could say thats all there is.
As actors, of course we like to think that everything we do is fully invested.
He said, No.
everybody gets the same thing.
That means everything I do, I do to the best of my ability.
And, for the most part I think thats true.
Im sure Ive phone in a few things.
But I think, for the most part, its true.
And I said, No.
everybody gets the same thing.
But you want it to work.
If youre a pro thats what you do.
And hope for the best.
April 5th, 1987.
Was that when it started?…
Its like, My god, 30 years.
How do you feel about it looking back?
I loved doing it.
It was a great job.
It was a wonderful time.
I never regretted doing it.
I was always happy for it.
Finding Doryopens in theaters Friday (June 17).
