AE: You also filmed a public service announcement, right? RM: Absolutely. At the end of the show, there was a public service announcement from the Trevor Project. They were able to be so accessible to all those who were questioning the road to take. They got a large number of phone calls on the hotline from people with questions, which shows the tremendous effect you can have just premiering an episode. To see other shows like Ugly Betty doing this is wonderful. We're actually making a difference. As cliché as it sounds, it really is helpful.
AE: It really is. Do you hear from gay teenagers as you play this role? RM: I've had a lot of support from teenagers in general. I've never had anyone come out and say, "Thank you, you've made this easy for me," but a lot of people come down from the audience after the show and say, "It's great that you guys are being able to tell these stories and [are] taking risks like these when a show like yours might not have been thought of as a show that would address such matters. It's good to see that people can still laugh, but maybe come out with some discoveries and new thoughts.
AE: On the show, Kenny is of Middle Eastern descent, and his parents kicked him out when they found out he was gay. As someone of Egyptian descent, have you received any criticism from the Middle Eastern community for playing a gay character? Was that an issue of concern for you? RM: I was worried from the onset about what my family would think, but they have been very supportive. After the first episode aired and watching them all smile, it was clear to me that I was worried when I didn't need to be. I know there might be a certain stigma that Middle Eastern males have about the way relationships are supposed to be, and in that culture it isn't condoned. So that was another layer we were able to investigate and speak about that might help even further — just knowing that there's another obstacle, that it's even harder for some cultures, perhaps. Who knows how hard it is for any particular circumstance? Everyone has it bad in this situation, but there is always hope.
AE: I would imagine that being of Middle Eastern descent living in America has made you think about being part of an outside minority. Do you draw on that for portraying Kenny? RM: Always feeling like a bit of an outsider has been an undercurrent of the character. Always feeling like something was a little bit different in the way I was treated can definitely coincide as a minority. Being able to think about what it would be like to come out to my father really helped me understand what Kenny was going through.
AE: What was your experience like on the set of A Night at the Museum? RM: It was probably some of the most exciting days of my life. Oddly enough, these two jobs, Night at the Museum and The War at Home, have been so much fun in part because of the men I've been working with. The directors on both projects have been unreasonably kind. Andy Cadiff is very nurturing, as is Shawn Levy [director of Night at the Museum].
To work with Mike Rapaport, who is a wonderful man, very giving, and to have a very similar experience with Ben Stiller, who brings so much to the table and is a very kind man as well, is something that I think is very rare in this business, to have an opportunity like this. I'm just a happy man because of it. The whole movie, being surrounded by so many legendary comedians, such funny men, geniuses really, was very exciting. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I was really blessed.
AE: Any other upcoming projects? RM: I'm doing a play called The Credeaux Canvas by Keith Bunin at the Elephant Theatre in L.A. sometime in late March.
AE: Do you prefer working in TV, movies or on stage? RM: Working in general is fine by me. [Laughs.]
AE: What would you like to see in terms of your career? RM: I honestly like to attach myself to really great stories. Projects that explore the human condition speak to me. I really like to just jump in and take your soul and mind and really lace up the shoes of an entirely different human being and just try to take a few steps in their shoes.
AE: Anything else you'd like to tell our readers? RM: I hope they're enjoying the show. We're moving to Sunday nights at 7:30 [p.m. EST] in March, so be sure to catch us there. Thanks to everybody at AfterElton who's paid such close attention to us, and to everyone who's laughed at our silly times!
