Terry O'Quinn reflects on Locke, 'Lost', and THAT ending

He played one of the most charismatic characters in TV history, so when Terry O’Quinn popped by Entertainment Weekly Radio (SiriusXM, channel 105) to talk about his new Fox drama Gang Related (which debuts May 22), we knew we also had to chat with him about his Emmy winning turn as John Locke on Lost. Apparently, we are not alone, as O’Quinn told us that people still stop him on the street hoping to crack the code on that character and the show in general. “That’s what people generally stop me for and talk to me about now is Lost,” says O’Quinn. “And sometimes they call me John and that’s fine. And I don’t mind it. I understand what Lost was and I count my blessings. I’m usually happy to talk to people. I don’t think I’ve ever had anybody say anything negative to me about it except ‘I didn’t get the ending. What the hell was that all about?’ And I’m like talk to Damon Lindelof!”

Of course, O’Quinn then adds that “He did a really nice interview a while back. If you were to Google ‘Damon Lindelof talks the end of Lost,’ it may all be explained to you. Although I don’t think it is.” (Fair enough.)

O’Quinn also reveals that even he did not know at first after John Locke’s death that he was playing the Man in Black inside Locke’s body: “I wasn’t aware of that. At the end of season 4 or something I died. Ben strangled me. He took me out. And the next season I was back. I didn’t know who I was at that point. Nobody told me. But what I thought was, apparently I’m indestructible — because I’m back!”

So once he did find out, how did O’Quinn adjust from playing John Locke to the Man in Black occupying Locke’s body? “It was purely an attitude adjustment,” says O’Quinn. “Kind of as in, like, I don’t give a s— about you now. I did before. But I don’t care about you. I only care about me and I’m willing to do just about anything. I’m still that guy. I’m still John. But that was really the only thing I thought about. He just had a different obsession and he was darker.”

That’s not all O’Quinn touches on. We also chat about his turn as General Omar Santiago on the short-lived and criminally canceled Harsh Realm, and he shares fascinating on-set stories from his time on one of the most infamous debacles in film history, Heaven’s Gate. It is a must listen for any film or TV buff and you can hear the entire thing right here on the InsideTV Podcast by clicking on the audio player below.

Then we move from one Terry to another as T-Money himself, Terry Crews, stops by to talk all about the 527 things he has going on, including his new TV gig (as host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire) his new movie (Blended) and his new book (Manhood). Crews is one of our absolute favorites and after you hear him, you’ll know why. Whether it is admitting who makes him break character the most on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, riffing on his wig in Blended, reminiscing about his time busting heads on Battle Dome, or singing — yes, singing! — the one and only T-Money once again brings his A game. (The Terry Crews interview starts 16 minutes in.)

We then welcome back another frequent visitor to the show. You know her as Lady Catelyn Stark from Game of Thrones, oil tycoon Ava Hessington from Suits, and now terrorist Margot Al-Harazi on 24: Live Another Day, but we know her as the delightful Michelle Fairley. Fairley talks about the joys of playing a villain opposite Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer and also chats about what it’s like to now be watching Game of Thrones as a fan rather than a cast member. It’s a conversation devotees of either show will want to check out. (The Michelle Fairley interview starts at 34:40.)

You can listen to the whole podcast by clicking on the audio player icon below. You can also download the entire podcast right here. Or, since we’re on iTunes, you can subscribe for free and take the podcast with you. No iTunes? No problem. To send a question to the InsideTV Podcast team, follow us on Twitter @InsideTVPodcast. And to hear more interviews and television discussion and debate, check out Entertainment Weekly Radio on SiriusXM, channel 105.