Before The Shield's Vic Mackey, Michael Chiklis Played A Very Different TV Cop
Michael Chiklis has so much range, most audiences don't even realize he was actually playing against type when he was cast as The Shield's brutal antihero.
Before Vic Mackey became an iconic figure in crime dramas through Michael Chiklis' portrayal, Chiklis had already made a mark on television as Tony Scali in the 90s ABC dramedy, The Commish. Scali was a small-town police commissioner in the fictional New York town of Eastbridge, known for his empathy and humor. This stark contrast between the two roles played by Chiklis led him to draw inspiration from his Tony Scali character while developing Vic Mackey's persona.
Chiklis believed that Tony would always choose the right thing, even when it meant going against his own interests. This perspective helped Chiklis create Vic Mackey, a character driven by ego, id, and moral depravity. When Chiklis auditioned for The Shield, he faced resistance from the casting team due to his reputation as Tony Scali.
However, his audition was praised, and it took considerable determination to overcome the initial doubts about casting Chiklis as Vic Mackey. Chiklis' performance in the acclaimed first season of The Shield earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and solidified his career in crime dramas.
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