SUPERNATURAL: Mark Sheppard Talks the Return of Crowley

Want to meet the best storyline secret keeper in the television business? Look no further than SUPERNATURAL’s Mark Sheppard (Crowley).

Not only has Sheppard managed to keep several guest spots on the CW show completely on the down low until after they’ve aired, but he’s also resistant to reveal what Crowley will be doing on the series as season six concludes.

Keep reading for what Sheppard would spill about Crowley, keeping secrets from fans and more…

How are you doing?
Mark Sheppard: Not too bad. What can I do for you?

You can tell me all about what’s happening on SUPERNATURAL.  Clearly every little detail.
MS: I could, but then, of course, I’d have to kill you.

Would it be worth those few moments of knowledge, though?
MS: [Laughs] It wouldn’t be half as much fun as actually watching it.

You’re probably right on that.  But you did manage to keep your reappearance low-key.  Was it hard for you to keep the secret?
MS: It was really, really difficult.  From the start [showrunner] Sera [Gamble], [executive producer] Bob [Singer] and [series creator] Eric [Kripke] and everybody that told me I would be coming back.  There was no question I would be coming back, and we made plans as to how to protect that information from the fans and I think it’s been a triumph for Warner Bros. and SUPERNATURAL and everybody’s efforts to keep me hidden.

We nearly got it blown out of the water when I had some paparazzi photographs taken of me in the Vancouver airport. I was there with the boys and we had come back from the Paley institute, so there was a lot speculation by groups of fans that I was there to do episode 20, “The Man Who Would Be King,” the episode that’s airing [tonight] and I realized it was actually quite good to let those who believed that that’s what I was doing believe that, so 19 was still a surprise. So “Mommy Dearest” was still a major surprise for people.

Yeah, Twitter was blowing up about it.
MS: That’s was a fun weekend for me.  Between that and DOCTOR WHO, it was a very interesting weekend.

When I saw you at WonderCon, you had a great poker face when you were asked if you would return to SUPERNATURAL.  You should play some card games, you’d be good at it.
MS: Well, the unfortunate part about my position is that I have to lie about what I’m doing. Otherwise I’d ruin the best laid plans of great writers.

It was lying for a good reason.  People will forgive you for that because it’s worth the surprise.
MS: That’s half the fun of my Twitter feed is that eventually I’ll end up talking about it so to everybody that follows me on Twitter it’s like, “Will you forgive me?” and they’re like, “Yes, of course.” It was a great reveal.

Can you tease what you’re going to be doing in the next two episodes?  Crowley seems like even more of a bad-ass now.
MS: It could be interesting.  I have a feeling that you’re certainly going to have a better idea of what Crowley’s agenda is by the time you watch tomorrow’s episode.  I’m interested to see how the relationship between Castiel unfolds.  What’s going on there?

How much were you informed about their relationship as you were going in to this arc?  Did they tell you how to play it or feed you bits and pieces as you went along?
MS: I think everybody is very aware of what’s happening on the show so it’s complex and it always has been that way.  I mean, I knew when I was going to die and I knew why I was going to die at the time and knew my position at the end of season five and I knew what I was there to do.  So, the writers are very, very good. Sera and everybody else is very good at getting the situation we need to know to be able to function.  Which, of course, we have to keep from you guys.

Of course, which makes these interviews very interesting — to see how close you can toe the line without ruining the entire storyline, which I respect.
MS: I don’t want to give anything away!  ‘Cause I think it’s so much fun — don’t you think “Mommy Dearest” was just a great episode? It was just a really good episode. It looked amazing, it was dark, so many people were uncomfortable about it.  It was so good.

You like things that make people uncomfortable?
MS: When the context is SUPERNATURAL? Absolutely.

SUPERNATURAL’s done that very well.
MS: And I’ll never be able to listen to Jefferson Starship ever again as long as I live.

It’s kind of amazing how much that took off.  It was trending on Twitter for hours!
MS: I know, it’s brilliant.

So obviously you’ll be working with Misha Collins (Castiel) in tonight’s episode.  Will Crowley be interacting with any more characters we know and love or maybe don’t love so much?
MS: Well, that’s the point.  You have to stay tuned and look and watch and observe and then we can talk about it.

Can you talk about the filming experience in general?  Is there anyone you’d like to work with in the future?  Like maybe a guest star you haven’t had the chance to or somebody you’d like to work with more?
MS: I’ve had an amazing time doing what I do.  I mean, I’m a blessed man for the reason that I have a job where I get to do what I love to do.  I have a job, which I used to do for free, and I’m lucky enough to be paid to do that now. And you know, I’ve enjoyed every aspect of it.  I’ve had some wonderful, wonderful experiences on some wonderful shows with wonderful actors, writers, directors and producers, a lot of whom I still know. A lot of whom I really, really care for.

These experiences have just been fantastic and Crowley is just an amazing character to play, he’s just such an interesting character to play.  DOCTOR WHO was obviously a childhood dream of mine and all of these things have contributed –  all the characters I’ve played in the past.  But I’m very, very grateful to the fans.  They’re very vocal about how they feel about the characters I’ve played thus far so I’m really, really, really appreciative of that.

Do you find yourself getting noticed the most for SUPERNATURAL or is it LEVERAGE or is it something else?
MS: It could be anything.  I was walking down the street with Saul Rubinek — I was in WAREHOUSE 13 with him — and he said he can tell by the age of the person recognizing him, what is it they’re recognizing him for, which is very funny.  I don’t think it’s that simple for me, but it’s wonderful what people do recognize you for. What stuff has seemed to strike a chord with them and it’s an honor.  It’s an honor.  There’s nothing nicer, as an actor or as an entertainer than to have somebody come up and say, “I really enjoy your work.”  I mean, it’s the nicest compliment you can pay anybody in what we do.  I’ve always said we don’t…in live theater or live music or the other fields in which it’s performed in, there’s an interesting response from the audience.  The part that I enjoy – even movies, you can go to a movie theater and you can see how people feel – but with television, we don’t come around to your house and watch it and so therefore it’s a wonderful experience to have people tell you how they feel about having seen it.  It’s that added bonus, it’s that response from the audience that you get, you know?

Do you think Crowley is redeemable in any point in the series?  Because obviously he’s done some really not  great things, but…
MS: I’ve always found it fascinating that Crowley’s eyes have never flashed red.

That is…interesting.
MS: A crossroad demon and if you think of the rules and the lores of SUPERNATURAL.  I’ve always found it fascinating that Crowley’s eyes have never flashed red.  Anything could be possible, I guess.

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Are you excited to have Crowley back on SUPERNATURAL?

Related:

SUPERNATURAL: Robert Singer Teases a Surprise in ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ Tacking a Western, Balthazar and More
SUPERNATURAL’s Jared Padalecki on Bringing His (Not So) Real Life to Screen in “The French Mistake”

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