By Mike McCarthy
Photos Taken At The Huntley Hotel
1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90403
310.394.5454
Photos by Diana Ragland
Assisted by Kim Kelly
Grooming by Helen Robertson for Celestine Agency
Styling by Andrew Cristi
Assisted by Carlos Leon & Annemarie Nava
Story by Michael McCathy
Whether it’s mixing it up while on skates, shooting hoops, or working his butt off in 100+ degree heat, Jay Harrington gives everything he has to make sure it’s his absolute best. Going back two decades, Harrington has had some memorable roles that kept the audience entertained and in more cases than one, laughing hard. Harrington has had roles spanning drama, comedy, and now action in the form of Deacon Kay on the CBS hit show, “S.W.A.T.”
Harrington’s role on “S.W.A.T.” has many similarities to his own life, and this role wasn’t even based on him. His own wife agrees that this role was made for him and that they have a lot in common with each other. One major thing that Harrington and his character have in common is their respect for first responders. Working with consultants from multiple S.W.A.T. and a S.E.A.L team members has humbled Harrington and made him more focused on keeping everything they do on the show authentic and 100% correct.
Being from Massachusetts, Harrington has a lot of love for his hometown sports. He has lived and died by the Patriots and has a lot of faith in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and where they may go this season. A huge hockey fan, Harrington not only plays the sport out in Los Angeles, but his screensaver on his computer is the Boston Bruins logo. When he got an email regarding the role on “S.W.A.T.,” he was at a Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics game. Harrington also was part of a show based around Massachusetts locals trying to make it in Hollywood called “Massholes,” and he is definitely supportive of that term and still lives by it today. Known for being a jokester on set, Harrington reminds his castmates to watch their backs at all times.
Harrington has been a part of so many great shows, including but not limited to “Hot in Cleveland,” “Benched,” and “Better off Ted.” He will take at least one thing from every role that he performs and use it in the future roles that he may incur. He is very excited for the second season of “S.W.A.T.” because it will explore more of the personal lives of the characters and their families. Lots more to look forward to with Jay Harrington, so get ready for the new season of “S.W.A.T.,” returning to CBS on September 27th.
WINGMAN MAGAZINE: With “S.W.A.T.” being the major hit that it is going into the second season, what can we expect from Deacon and the rest of the team?
JAY HARRINGTON: We get the opportunity now where we are going forward to explore more of the personal lives of these guys, their interaction with each other and how they take these things home with them. I am excited to explore the story of having another baby and what that brings for Deacon, maybe picking up some extra work or some overtime since he has a fourth kid on the way. We are going to get into all of that now since we have a full slate to really dive into with these guys.
WINGMAN: “S.W.A.T.” is one of the show/film reboots that all of us are loving, which is finally nice to see. When this was brought to you as a project, what was your first reaction before you even read the script- and, how much did it change after the pilot was read?
HARRINGTON: It really hasn’t changed from the get go from hearing about the show and the type of character they were looking for. I was excited to have the opportunity for me to show them that I could do it. I have a lot of comedy in my background and I have done dramas, but this was a different place for me to go. It’s funny, I was at a Clippers/Celtics game out here in L.A. and I got an email that they wanted to see me the next day. I was a little young to watch it when it first came out but I remember the music and theme. I had not seen the movie when it came out but I did audition for it. This came full circle for me. I loved the idea that the role is about a guy who gets passed over for a job because of optics but you still have to be a team player and be loyal and especially with meeting these guys in real life, it’s so important to stay focused and not let your emotions get in the way of any situations, including your own. I was really excited to play the strong,silent type for the first time in my career.
WINGMAN: S.W.A.T is such a crucial part of the police force and first responders, which we fully support in every way. How has working so close with actual first responders been for you, and did it affect your focus on the role?
HARRINGTON: It completely did! It got my totally locked in from the second we started training with our consultant who is a member of the Metropolitan Division of S.W.A.T. here in L.A, we have a member of San Diego S.W.A.T, and a member of S.E.A.L. Team Six that helped us with weapons training. What’s been really great has been the feedback that we have been getting. Sometimes we have background artists that we have been getting that are either on leave or retired or former military. Even with social media I get a lot of messages saying thank you for putting them in a good light and showing how serious of a job this really is. I didn’t want to let them down, that was my only concern. When certain situations come up on set, we make sure that we do it tactically correct because L.A.P.D. S.W.A.T. is one of the top in the world. You have groups from all over the world to train with L.A.P.D. because of their tactical knowledge. If there is one thing that we are all in on together is to do it right, for them.
WINGMAN: Being part of S.W.A.T also means being part of a tight squad. How would you describe the “squad” that you work with on a daily basis?
HARRINGTON: Oh yeah! It’s funny, because right before I started this interview I hopped into my group chat that has been going on since we all got cast, which is a year and change. Whether people are on set sending a funny video or making jokes of each other it’s all in great fun. Every time you are on a show or a movie set there is bonding that is going on anyways because you are all in it together, but for us it’s a different level. We are out this week and it was about 100 degrees at least, running around in full tactical gear, carrying stuff. And believe me there are no complaints because there are people out there doing this for real, but it does help us bond over it. Shemar (Moore) and I are out there stretching out our hamstrings because we are not as young as we think we are [laughs.]
WINGMAN: I have heard that you are prankster and keep people laughing. What is the best joke or prank that you have pulled and on who?
HARRINGTON: It’s not the best prank I have ever pulled, but last season we were doing a Christmas episode, and if I am going to pull a prank, I always make sure they got the shot because you don’t want to ruin the scene. I had to refer to my cell phone and show my disappointment about losing my last lead in getting my son this toy that he really wants. That day Shemar had brought in as a joke these sexy phone cases of him without his shirt on. When the shot rolled, I had said, “oh man, my last lead just fell through.” And I held up my phone and it was a case that Shemar brought in [laughs again.] No one knew it was coming and to get their reactions on camera was really fantastic.
WINGMAN: One of the roles you had a few years back was on the show “Massholes.” Now, like you, I am from Massachusetts also- do you find that word to be offensive, or do you own it?
HARRINGTON: No! Are you kidding, I know a good handful of them! [laughs]
WINGMAN: Between “S.W.A.T.,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “Benched,” and “Better Off Ted,” you have played a lot of different characters, never mind every other project that you have worked on. If there is one thing you want to take from a role, what would it be?
HARRINGTON: I have been lucky to have so many different roles to pick from. I wish I had the strength and tough guy qualities that Deacon has, but I don’t [chuckles.] I would pick a little bit from every one of my roles. I am really enjoying being this guy, it’s one of my favorite roles that I have had.
WINGMAN: Deacon is so pivotal in his role as second command of the team. How much of yourself do you see in Deacon and vice versa?
HARRINGTON: You try and bring a little bit of yourself into every role that you do. I was raised Irish Catholic in Massachusetts and that trait was not tailored to me, that’s how it was written. My wife joked that I was just like Deacon because he follows a set of certain rules and goes by the book and in some ways she is like, “you are like him a lot,” and she was making fun of me in a way. When I don’t understand why people don’t drive correctly, that is the Masshole in me [laughs,] and stuff like that makes her think that I am just like Deacon.
WINGMAN: You were part of the E League, which was a basketball league for celebrities. Are you still playing basketball, and do you still think your skills are a 1.7?
HARRINGTON: I grew up playing ice hockey and I still play it a lot out here, which is funny to think about since it’s California, but there is a lot of hockey out here. The NBA was a part of the E League for a while and then got out of it but it was a lot of fun. It was every Sunday, ten guys, lots of camaraderie with your teammates, getting good sweat going on. I picked up a ball for the first time today in about two years because they put up a hoop just outside of our set. I was shooting in between scenes, but again it was 105 degrees so it lasted about six minutes. The makeup department was like, “what are you doing? You’re going to have come back in here and get redone.” Kenny Johnson played in the league as well, so that’s how I knew him before we started working together on the show.
Seems like our favorite “S.W.A.T” stars aren’t just giving us squad goals on screen, but off screen as well! Check Harrington out on the hit show Thursdays at 10/9C on CBS.
