How Ben Rappaport Sliced His Thumb the Day of His Grosse Pointe Garden Society Audition
The Broadway star is set to debut as divorced single dad, Brett, when NBC's new murder mystery premieres Sunday, February 23.
Juilliard graduate Ben Rappaport has bounced from television to theater throughout his career, working with a number of high-profile actors and directors. Now, he's joined the cast of Grosse Pointe Garden Society. Created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs, the series also stars Melissa Fumero, Aja Naomi King, and AnnaSophia Robb.
Rappaport plays garden club member Brett, a divorced single dad and manager at a garden store who put his dreams on hold so his now ex-wife could go to law school.
To hear him tell it, the 38-year-old nabbed the role of Brett without much sweat or tears... but it did take a little bit of blood. Find out more about his journey to Grosse Pointe (and his career beforehand) below.
About Ben Rappaport's role on Grosse Pointe Garden Society
“Grosse Pointe really found me. I initially got an audition through my agent for the role of Doug, played by Alexander Hodge. So I put the role of Doug on tape, and Jenna and Bill and Liz, our casting director, were like, ‘No, no. He's more of a Brett.’ So I put myself as Brett on tape,” he recalled to NBC Insider.
“Very quickly after that, they decided to test me with AnnaSophia. She'd already had the role. It was like we'd known each other forever. It was so comfortable and easy," he continued, explaining, "That day it was a torrential downpour in New York... I have my umbrella and it was inside out and I tried to put it back down and I slice my thumb open! So I have a scar from that, which is the day I met AnnaSophia. We have a little joke about that. But I always say that it was the smoothest casting process I've ever been a part of."
RELATED: Melissa Fumero Almost Didn't Audition for Her "Complex" New Role: "I Was Scared"
Getting into character was just as easy, and far less painful. “Brett is not that different from me. At this point in my life, I'm really excited to play somebody that is so close to home, because the biggest thing about Brett is his heart. He has a big, open heart. He's an amazing dad. He loves fully, and I really connect with his sense of humor," said Rappaport, giving kudos to the scripts' wit. "Jenna and Bill gave me the best one-liners, as we've gone along in the season. It started to build and build and it just feels like a warm blanket. It feels like home to me.”
Where you've seen Ben Rappaport before
The actor got his big break in his 20s when he landed the lead role in the short-lived NBC sitcom Outsourced. “I was 23, pounding the pavement in NYC. Catering, working the refreshments at Broadway shows, trying to find a place in the entertainment business. It was pilot season, and I was fortunate enough to be auditioning for a good number of shows that year. I went in for this one called ‘outsourced’ and it just felt so right," he reflected 10 years later.
Grosse Pointe really found me. I initially got an audition through my agent for the role of Doug, played by Alexander Hodge.”
He continued acting, appearing opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in Hope Springs, and landed a recurring role on The Good Wife. Rappaport joined the cast of legal drama For The People, which lasted two seasons, appeared in nine episodes of the critically acclaimed Mr. Robot, and ten episodes of Younger, playing affable doctor Max.
Of course, he did a stint on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing Congressman George Howard in Season 23, Episode 1 ("And The Empire Strikes Back") and Episode 2 ("Never Turn Your Back On Them"). "It took me a long time to get on Law & Order," he admitted to Pix11.
RELATED: What We Just Learned About Grosse Pointe Garden Society, NBC’s Juicy New Murder Drama
Rappaport's Broadway career
Along with his wife Megan Kane, Rappaport is a prolific New York City theater actor. He made his Broadway debut in the play Picnic opposite Sebastian Stan, and in 2016, he played Perchik in the Bartlett Sher-directed Fiddler On The Roof.
He told Broadway Box at the time that he and his wife had discussed shows they'd love to do together. "We've always talked about Oklahoma, but I'd be Curly and she'd be Ado Annie, so we wouldn't be opposite each other. Lately, we've been saying Seymour and Audrey in Little Shop," he said. He also connected with the material due to his Russian Jewish ancestry.
In 2023, Rappaport co-starred alongside Sean Hayes in the original Tony-nominated play Good Night, Oscar, originating the role of Jack Paar. He reflected on the experience on Instagram, writing, "When you grow up doing this, and you crack open the play you’re doing or working on in drama school, the cast list/production history is the first thing you see. You dream and dream that some day your name will be listed on one. Truly, one of the highest honors for an actor."
RELATED: Everything to Know About The Hunting Party Star Sara Garcia's TV & Movie Career
Watch the Grosse Pointe Garden Society series premiere on Sunday, February 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
Reporting by McKenzie Jean-Philippe
