Photo courtesy of East 2 West Collective
We caught up with actor, comedian, and writer Josh Banday who stars opposite Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin) in the new ABC comedy Not Dead Yet, which premiered on February 8, 2023. The series is based on the 2020 book Confessions of a Forty-Something F**K Up by Alexandra Potter and follows a newly single, self-described disaster (Rodriguez) trying to restart her life and career as an obituary writer that she left behind a decade ago. The series also stars Lauren Ash (Superstore), Hannah Simone (New Girl), Rick Glassman (Undateable), Martin Mull (Roseanne), Brittany Snow (Pitch Perfect), Angela Elayne Gibbs (Hacks), and Mo Collins (Fear the Walking Dead).
Josh also stars as Ivan in Greg Daniels’ hit sci-fi comedy drama Upload on Prime Video, with a third season to premiere sometime this year. We asked Josh about how he got into acting and comedy, and his character Dennis in Not Yet Dead. Check out our conversation below.
When did you decide that storytelling and acting was something you wanted to do?
Josh Banday (JB): When I was in 5th grade my parents transferred me from a Jewish school who gave awards for “Best Hugs”, to a Catholic School who ended every school day by apologizing to God for sins committed during the lunch hour. I struggled to keep up and make friends. One day our teacher asked us to write about a historical event told through the framing device of a newscast. I thought about it all day, I skipped tennis practice, and I spent all night on it. I wanted to make it funny.
The next day he read our assignments out loud. When he got to mine I felt my heart in my throat. I saw his face turn red, his eyes water, sweat beading on his forehead. He burst out laughing. It was my first real laugh. I was hooked.
Honestly, I didn’t know I was allowed to act because of how I look. So I never considered it, but I loved making people laugh. Until, I took my first musical theater class as an adult. I was so nervous I was shaking. I had only ever been an ensemble member. I sang a song from Parade that always made me emotional. When the lights came up the entire class was weeping. I was shocked, fascinated, and chasing those moments ever since.
The Not Dead Yet premiere drew a large audience on ABC. What is it about the series you think resonates with viewers?
JB: Snappy comedy with heart. It’s one of the hardest things to achieve. I also think over the last three years, with all these “once in a century” events happening every Tuesday, chances are, everyone has had to restart their life in some way, or at least change course. Not Dead Yet tells you it’s okay, just keep going.
How would you describe your character, Dennis?
JB: Self-conscious, professional, sweet, fashionnnn. He’s discovering the kind of life he wants to have but his neurosis and low self-esteem is in his way.
Do you see yourself in Dennis in some ways, or is he completely different?
JB: Dennis is parts of me dialed up to an 11. My worries about fatherhood, imposter syndrome, and sometimes pettiness are on display. Also, Dennis and I have bisexuality in common. Dennis is definitely me on a different timeline where I found the right guy, really got into journalism, and had a budget for clothes.
You also star in the Prime Video series Upload which will soon be returning for season 3. Is it safe to say you enjoy the comedy genre?
JB: Comedy and the afterlife are my jam apparently! I still love drama, musicals, and Shakespeare, but making people laugh butters my toast.
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Not Dead Yet airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu.
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