BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED. Meet the man behind one of the most nuanced characters on TV: Jack Falahee from “How to Get Away with Murder”

Blazer by Canali, T-shirt by Ben Sherman

Hollywood movies—and also Hollywood’s film industry itself—are full of stories like Jack Falahee’s. There’s the part where he attends a strict Catholic school; there’s the years spent studying the performing arts (New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, in his case), followed by the “starving artist” phase: Waiting tables, bartending and working odd jobs while going to audition after audition.

Like the protagonist from a Hollywood movie—and the lucky few who are drawn to seek fame and fortune in the fabled district—Falahee made it. And one small role eventually grew into many bigger roles. Today, he’s known primarily for his portrayal of Connor Walsh, one of the most intriguing characters from hit TV show “How to Get Away with Murder.” As the series picks up its third season and more film projects head his way, Falahee shares the finer points of his life story and what lies ahead in the chapters yet to be written.

DA MAN: A lot of people are really looking forward to the return of “How to Get Away with Murder” after the mid-season finale in November. How do you think will fans react to the rest of season three?
Jack Falahee: Our fans are in for quite a ride during the remainder of our third season. Wes’ (Alfred Enoch’s character) death raises a lot of questions and the rest of the season sets out to explore, and hopefully answer, some of those questions.

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DA MAN: Speaking of which, how do you feel about a fellow cast member leaving the show?
Jack Falahee: It’s been really difficult coming to terms with Alfred’s departure from the show. He’s like a brother to me, and I’ll be sad to see him go. Since he’s a Londoner, I’m worried he’ll move back across the pond. I’m secretly hoping he books another job locally, in Los Angeles, so that he sticks around.

“We’re continuing to see more nuanced and complicated characters on screen, which is a more accurate representation of real life”

DA MAN: A lot of actors—including your co-star Charlie Weber whom we interviewed before—often talk about how a TV show’s cast tends to bond like a close-knit family. Is there anything especially unique that you’ve noticed about the “How to Get Away with Murder” family?
Jack Falahee: Unlike Charlie, I don’t have a lot of experience on TV sets, so this has all been new to me. However, I could tell from the beginning that our cast had something special. We’ve all become extremely close over the years. I think we all get along so well because we respect each other. Mutual respect can go a long way.

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DA MAN: By the way, after three seasons, do you still remember what first drew you to audition for the show?
Jack Falahee: I first read the script for the pilot episode of “How to Get Away with Murder” from a friend of mine who was crashing on my couch. He had an audition for the role of Patrick—who ultimately became Connor Walsh. He thought I’d like the script, so he very generously let me take a read. He was right: I liked it a lot. From the first page of the pilot, you were drawn into the Keating Four—the four of us in the woods arguing about what to do with Sam’s body. It was full of adrenaline and extremely high stakes. That resonated with me.

DA MAN: On a related note, what was your reaction when you first saw the title of the show?
Jack Falahee: I thought the title of the show was exciting. It sort of immediately grabs your attention. There aren’t too many shows with long titles, so I thought that was cool as well.

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DA MAN: Your character, Connor Walsh, is often lauded for being incredibly authentic and complex. He is also considered as one of the best realized LGBT characters on TV. What does he look like from your perspective?
Jack Falahee: It’s hard for me to answer this question just because my relationship with Connor has changed a lot over the years. I think back fondly on the month that we were in Philadelphia filming the pilot and I was just getting to know this character and show. Back then, we were completely isolated in a bubble. We could slip into the skin of our characters without critique or comment. We hadn’t yet shared our show with the world, so the conversations we were having were solely about the characters and who they were. Now, it’s more difficult to do that with social media, audience reaction and critical review. I sometimes find myself looking at Connor through the perspective of those external factors, which can be tricky for me as an actor.

“This industry is unforgiving and I don’t think I would’ve endured the constant rejection without the long phone calls with my mother”

DA MAN: That being said, film critics, journalists and your fellow actors have praised your portrayal of Connor. What is it that makes him enjoyable or challenging (or both) to play?
Jack Falahee: I like how flawed Connor is. I think that we’re in a really exciting time for television. We’re continuing to see more nuanced and complicated characters on screen, which is a more accurate representation of real life.

Sweater by Hugo Boss

DA MAN: Besides “How to Get Away with Murder,” are you working on anything else at the moment?
Jack Falahee: For the past two years I’ve been working on a PBS drama called “Mercy Street.” The show takes place in and around a hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, during the American Civil War. I play a Confederate scout named Frank Stringfellow. It’s been thrilling to be given the opportunity to portray a character based on a real historical figure. Growing up, I was a bit of a Civil War buff, so it’s cool to shoot on location in Virginia, where many of the events really took place. The second season came back on January 22.

DA: Going forward, are there any specific challenges—maybe certain roles or certain genres—that you’d like to tackle as an actor?
Jack Falahee: I’d really like to do more voiceover work. I like the idea of being able to voice a character that you look nothing like—a complete departure from reality. It’s a dream of mine to voice a character in a Hayao Miyazaki film. I love the characters and worlds that he creates in his films. My favorite film of his is probably “Princess Mononoke.”

Blazer by Klein Epstein & Parker, sweater by Ben Sherman

DA MAN: On the flip side, looking back throughout your career, what are some the most memorable roles or projects that you’ve tackled?
Jack Falahee: When I was living in New York, I helped workshop Sting’s musical, “The Last Ship.” It was an incredibly rewarding experience to get to work on his music. Sting is an absolute genius, and to watch him work intimately was a total trip.

DA MAN: Do you still remember what made you finally feel that you were on the right career path?
Jack Falahee: I remember being in Philadelphia surrounded by my cast when the director, Michael Offer, told us that Viola Davis had accepted the role of Annalise. There was an excited energy in the room. It was palpable. I remember thinking then, “this is going to be something.”

T-shirt and coat by Klein Epstein & Parker, scarf by Saint Laurent

DA MAN: You often talk about how tough it was breaking into the acting world after you graduated. How did you finally manage to do it?
Jack Falahee: Privilege, persistence and luck.

DA: When you look back at your days of waiting tables, working in catering and bartending or taking on odd jobs to make ends meet, would you say that going through all that made you stronger, or is that romanticizing things a bit too much?
Jack Falahee: Looking back on my days waiting tables in New York, I realize how incredibly privileged I’ve been to have a supportive family in my pursuit of this career. Even though I was making my own way, auditioning and trying to work odd jobs in order to pay rent, I always knew that if things got too tough, I’d have my family there to help out. For that, I’m extremely grateful. I don’t know how folks make it in this business without the support of friends or family. That takes real guts and fortitude. I admire that.

DA MAN: Ultimately, though, what is it that you think was the key to your current level of success?
Jack Falahee: A supportive family. This industry is unforgiving and I don’t think I would’ve endured the constant rejection without the long phone calls with my mother.

DA MAN: From where you are today, where do you want to take your career? What are your long-term plans?
Jack Falahee: It’s really exciting to think about the future—there’s so much I want to do. I’d love to get more involved in producing, maybe even writing. I’d be thrilled to go back to New York to get on stage. I feel like I’ve caught lightning in a bottle, so I’m looking forward to what the future may bring.

Suit by Klein Epstein & Parker, T-shirt by Ben Sherman, scarf by Zara, watch by MYKU

DA MAN: Now, for something completely different: You’re often quoted saying that you “have always been a vintage store guy.” Why?
Jack Falahee: I like treasure hunting in vintage stores. I can spend hours looking through clothes racks in the hopes of finding that perfect leather jacket or pair of boots. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

DA MAN: Besides going through vintage stores, what else do you do when you simply want to have some fun?
Jack Falahee: I really enjoy hiking. I recently adopted a dog and I’m looking forward to taking him out on the trail with me when we wrap season three.

Get the copy of DA MAN February/March 2017 that features Jack Falahee here, and see the outtakes below.

Photography Mitchell Nguyen McCormack
Styling Courtney Leday & Lauren LaRocca
Grooming Grace Phillips using Davines and Recipe for Men

Jack Falahee Talks “How to Get Away with Murder” and LGBT