Q&A with Actor Juan Riedinger

Writer Jade Fabello

Photographer Tony Redmer with Forge Artists

Hair and Makeup Shannon Van Horn with Trove Agency

Stylist Devin Mazza

Wardrobe Media Play PR with The Park Showroom

Archived Sept. 20, 2019

Flames engulf an eighteen-wheeler after one of Juan Riedinger’s characters flicks a match onto the contraband inside. Dressed in a well-fitting tee, he walks towards the screen with a cold stare as the truck explodes behind him. Juan Riedinger is an award-winning actor that often finds himself playing the role of a dangerous man. The Canadian performer is known for his roles in Netflix’s “Narcos” and TNT’s “Claws.” Season four of the CW’s “Riverdale” will see Riedinger as Dodger, the latest nemesis of Archie. An actor, director and a father of twins, Riedinger is a craftsman that has been in the business for over 15-years. Fero’s sat down with him to chat about his career so far.

You played drug lord Carlos Lehder on Netflix’s Narcos. What challenges came with portraying a real person?

Playing a real person definitely adds pressure to capture the truest essence of that individual. Ideally, if they’re alive, you get to meet that person and interview them. Unfortunately, Carlos is in witness protection and impossible to track down. But I did find a documentary about him which helped a lot in my research.

How was working with the dialect coach?

It was definitely a nice luxury to have. Even though I’m fluent in the language, I hadn’t acted in Spanish many times before, and working in a specific dialect is always a challenge. The immersive experience of actually shooting in Colombia for months also added a layer of authenticity to the Spanish our characters were speaking.

You’ve directed 14 short films, you edit and even have a few writing credits. How does knowing other parts of filmmaking affect how you think about acting?

As an actor, it’s easy to buy into the notion that everything revolves around you, since you’re the one the camera is pointing at. But having experienced the other side over the years has taught me how collaborative the process truly is. It has definitely made acting less precious for me and allowed me to enjoy it more as a result. 

What was it like to see your name on a Deadline Hollywood headline for the first time?

Breaking into Hollywood as a kid from Banff seemed like a daunting feat, so seeing my name in Deadline for the first time was a surreal experience. I now consider "Hollywood" to be a second home.

How did your hometown react when you first started getting roles?

My hometown of Banff, Canada has always been very supportive of my career. It’s a tiny town, and whenever I visit, I’m always running into people that have been watching the shows I’m in, and rooting me on in my career. I'm very grateful for the support. And of course, my #1 fan is my Mom, who still lives in Banff with my Dad. I had to tell her to stop putting announcements in the local paper every time I get a new job. But she still does it.

With Lehder on Narcos and Joe Dupree on TNT’s Claws, you seem to play a lot of characters with ties to the crime world. What attracts you to the genre?

I’m a father of twins and very much a homebody. The crime world seems very far removed from my current life. That being said, I was somewhat of a menace in my younger years.

Oh?

I won’t get into the details, but let’s just say I definitely went through a rebellious, angsty phase, which now feels like a lifetime ago. Not to say that I was ever a drug lord or hitman…but I liked to stir things up. If I were to really psychoanalyze myself, portraying the darker, more damaged characters through acting allows me to tap into what feels like a past life. Maybe playing these kinds of roles is therapeutic in a sense. There’s definitely an escapism that comes when delving into those worlds.

You've said before that you’d hate to see your boys turn out like your character Rufus from CBC’s The Romeo Section. How has having kids affected your approach acting?

Rufus was one of my favorite roles to date, but he was usually up to some extremely shady things. Definitely nothing I’d ever want my boys to get involved with. When I play with my boys, I notice myself tapping into my own childhood, and they’ve really taught me to be completely in the moment, which is something you lose as you get older. Being a Dad has allowed me to be more present in my work, which makes sense, since acting is really just a form of playing. 

Any rules of storytelling you follow?

Not really. I’m not a big fan of rules. Everything I’ve learned came from immersing myself in the process. My gut is my compass. I follow my instincts and feedback from other artists I trust. I guess that is my rule - to trust my own instincts, yet to keep my ego out of it as much as possible. And even if I fail, I always learn something. ⧫

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.