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Kevin Tighe felt that his success in television limited him as a film actor
"You’re paid to do this action and be a personality," said the actor.
Though Kevin Tighe made a name for himself in films like Road House (1989) and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), his beginnings in the entertainment industry came from television. Tighe played firefighter and paramedic Roy DeSoto on the popular series, Emergency!
While the series was wildly popular amongst viewers, Tighe acknowledged the limitations that came with working as a television actor.
“It will be a while before I can do feature films,” Tighe said during an interview with The Evening News. The actor also said that his role on Emergency! gave “no sting to the character.”
“You’re paid to do this action and be a personality,” said the actor. However, on stage and screen, Tighe argued that there was more of an opportunity to create a fleshed-out role. “You can achieve more of a definitive characterization,” said the actor.
But with so many years as a television actor under his belt, Tighe understood that he’d have to pay his dues if he ever wanted to become a film actor. “I don’t consider myself a leading man,” said the actor. “I have a lot of work to do to develop a definitive style.”
Tighe said that there was the threat that success in television could cause an actor to “get out of contact with reality.”
“People treat you as a person with a TV series,” said the actor. “The networks pay you huge sums of money.”
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