GN: Happy Place brings together a talented ensemble cast with plenty of heart and humor. What about this project immediately made you want to be part of it?

RL: A couple of things. I was really excited to start working with my fiancée, and this was the perfect project. It all came together. Secondly, I’ve never done a multi-cam sitcom. My dear friend JOHN LITHGOW told me in the ’90s, if you ever get a chance to do a sitcom, do it, because it’ll end up being one of the best jobs of your life, and he was right. I love working on this project. It’s just so fulfilling.

GN: Your career has spanned crime dramas, westerns, comedies, and feature films. How does stepping into the world of Happy Place allow audiences to see a different side of you?

RL: Well, I’ve been told for years that I was pretty funny. Sometimes I can be. Happy’s Place has allowed me to stretch my craft in a comedic direction. The writing for me has been stupendous. I hope there are moments where I make people laugh. There may be nothing better.

GN3: Every great comedy depends on timing. Is that something you instinctively possess, or has it been something you’ve refined over decades of acting?

RL: My timing has been pretty acceptable. I’ve never done a sitcom, so I had to learn some things from the other cast members. My timing is pretty good, but it’s even better now having been around the sitcom professionals. And as we know, timing is everything. REBA, Reba and Melissa and the rest of the cast have taught me so much about timing also. So that’s been fun to experience. I also go to a lot of movies. I love it because I get to have that experience in the movie theater, but I also study actors. I study their choices and their timing. So that’s helped a lot along the way.

GN4: The title Happy Place suggests comfort, belonging, and finding joy. Outside of work, what does your own “happy place” actually look like?

RL: My happy place is spending time with my fiancée and all of the animals that we have. Well, actually, they have us. I’m happy when I’m cooking. The movie theater makes me happy. But the fact of the matter is, going to work is my happy place also. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say how happy college football makes me! 25 days until kickoff for college football, baby!!

GN5: You’ve worked alongside some of television’s most recognizable actors throughout your career. What still surprises you about collaborating with talented people after all these years?

RL: There’s always that bond you have with the collaboration that’s necessary to navigate our business. It’s sort of an understood bond that we all have when we work. I just love it. There’s nothing like it.

GN6: Audiences often know you for playing strong, authoritative characters. What do you enjoy most about revealing humor, warmth, or vulnerability instead?

RL: Well, I’ve always enjoyed playing the bad guy. It’s so much more fun than being the good guy. But no one’s really given me a chance over the years to be funny until now. I can’t really explain the excitement I have when I walk on the stage on Happy’s Place. It’s a dream come true, really. When you do your work properly, and the result is laughter from a big group of people, I’m not sure if there’s anything else like it.

GN7: Looking back at your career, is there a role that quietly changed you as a person, even if audiences may not realize its impact?

RL: Cliffhanger. It was my first movie, and it taught me so much. It was as impactful as any movie that I’ve done. I’d never been to Europe. I had never worked with Academy Award winners. And I never had the fourth lead in a movie. It was all wonderful and scary and challenging and fulfilling. And I loved every minute of it.

GN8: The entertainment industry is constantly evolving. What advice would today’s Rex Linn give to the version of yourself who was just starting out?

RL: Show up to work on time. Hit your mark. Tell the truth. But most importantly, be kind. BE. KIND.

GN9: Success can be measured in awards, longevity, or personal fulfillment. How has your own definition of success changed over the years?

RL: Well, early on I used to think that getting awards was the true measure of success. I quickly learned that’s not the case. While I’ve not won any awards to speak of (and quite frankly, we all want to win awards!), this is what I’ve learned about success over the years. If you can keep working, keep improving on your craft, and be happy doing it, you’re a success. And if you can find lifelong friends during the course of your work, you’re successful.

GN10: If viewers could take away one feeling after watching Happy Place, what would you hope stays with them long after the credits roll?

RL: We’re so proud that our show has heart. We want them to walk away from our show with a good feeling in their heart and a BIG smile on their face.

GN11: Is there a project or genre you’ve never had the opportunity to explore that still sits on your professional bucket list?

RL: Well, funny you should ask that. As a child, I was influenced by the Universal monsters. The Wolfman was my favorite. I always wanted to play the Wolfman. Obviously, that ship has sailed. Unless, of course, a script shows up titled Older Bald Wolfman….

GN12: After spending so many years in front of the camera, what continues to excite you about walking onto a new set?

RL: That’s easy. I’m happiest on the set. REBA and I were filming late one night up in the mountains in New Mexico. We were just sitting on a rock waiting to film. She asked me what I was thinking about. I told her, I’ve always been happiest on a set. It seems like that’s always been the case the last 36 years. It’s exciting. It’s intriguing. Experiencing the collaboration. The make-believe. The hard work. It’s all there. I love it.

GN13: Goodnight Magazine loves hearing about the quieter moments in people’s lives. What does an ideal evening look like when you finally get to unplug?

RL: Having a good meal with my fiancée and watching a really good television show when the sun goes down. Especially if I have friends in the show. That’s a great night for me.

GN14: When your head finally hits the pillow after a long day, are you someone who falls asleep instantly, or do you replay conversations, scenes, and ideas from the day?

RL: Oh no, I’ve never fallen asleep immediately. I’m a night owl. But I’m also wired up from work. When I get back home, I usually open up the script and start studying dialogue again until we fall asleep. The work, on a daily basis, seven days a week, never ends until we wrap the season.

GN15: What are a few nightly rituals you never skip, no matter how busy life gets?

RL: Well, if it’s college football season, I check scores! I always say a prayer. Might have something sweet to munch on. Always moisturize my face. Floss. Mow the lawn for 10 minutes (kidding).

GN16: What does the word “goodnight” mean to you today, and has that meaning changed throughout your life and career?

RL: These days, “goodnight” means we’ve just finished filming in front of a live audience on Happy’s Place. And what a great way to say goodnight.

GN17: Are you someone who enjoys staying up late, or do you prefer an early night and an early start to the day?

RL: NIGHT. OWL. Love it.

GN18: You’ve spent years portraying memorable characters. Do you find it easy to leave those roles on set, or do they ever follow you home into your dreams?

RL: I’ve done a pretty good job over the years leaving my work at the set, leaving the mindset of the character that I have immersed myself in at the trailer at work. There have certainly been times I’ve carried it with me. Sometimes it was hard to shake. But for the most part, I come in the front door as me.

GN19: Do you remember your dreams, and have any of them ever inspired a creative decision or given you a new perspective?

RL: Really weird that you asked me this question. I was just talking about it the other day. I don’t remember many of my dreams these days for some reason. I used to a lot, but not so much now. I don’t remember ever really having a dream that affected me in a way that took me in a different direction professionally or personally. Probably have, but I can’t remember any of them right now (I just reread this and it makes me look like I’m really boring). However, recently, I did dream that I was eating ice cream. So the next night I ate some ice cream.

GN20: What’s the last thing you like to do before turning out the lights each night: read a book, listen to music, have a conversation, watch television, or simply enjoy the quiet?

RL: A lot of times I will put music on. Perhaps read a book or the script I’m currently working on. Might eat a peanut butter cookie…

GN21: Before we say goodnight, finish this sentence: “Tomorrow will be a great day if…”

RL: I wake up. Influence someone in a positive way. And also, I would like to say, these have been really wonderful questions you’ve asked me and I appreciate it. And with that….. GOODNIGHT