Being an original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle helped inspire Josh Pais' line of acting lessons

Josh Pais, a seasoned actor with a career spanning nearly four decades, shares his insights into the characters that have defined his work. Pais, who hails from New York City, has appeared in high-profile projects such as "The Dropout" and "Joker," as well as long-running television shows like "Law & Order." Currently, he stars in the dark comedy "Checkout," in which he plays an aging Mossad spy.

One of Pais' early onscreen roles was in "The Cosby Show," where he played the character "Andy." Pais recalls that the audition process was relaxed, with Bruce Willis, the star of the show, welcoming the young actor and fostering an environment where spontaneous creativity could flourish. Pais learned from Willis that allowing the work to unfold in the moment is key to a successful performance. This lesson stayed with Pais and influenced his subsequent acting choices.

The actor's next major role came in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990), where he portrayed Raph, one of the series' four turtles. Pais had just completed two years of training in physically-based, impulse-based acting techniques, which he drew upon during his audition for the turtle role. He incorporated martial arts moves and physicality, inspired by the tough New York environment he grew up in, into his audition performance.

In addition to the physical demands of the role, Pais also acknowledged the emotional weight of portraying Raph, a character dealing with a lot of angst. Pais believes that immersing himself in the physicality of the turtle suit helped him connect with the character's torment, allowing him to create a more authentic performance. This experience ultimately led to Pais discovering his talent for teaching acting, as he trained with various internationally-based acting methods and later began teaching at NYU.