Michael Chiklis almost missed out on his iconic role as Vic Mackey in FX's 'The Shield' due to skepticism from his earlier work on the comedy-drama 'The Commish.' A chance encounter with the show's creator secured him an audition, where his transformed physique and intense performance won over the team. Chiklis ultimately earned an Emmy and Golden Globe for the portrayal.
FX's 'The Shield' centers on the LAPD's Strike Team, a unit tackling brutal criminals while often bending the law themselves. At the heart of the series is Michael Chiklis as the corrupt cop Vic Mackey, a role that defined his career despite initial casting doubts.
Chiklis had previously starred as the affable Police Commissioner Tony Scali in ABC's 'The Commish,' which ran from 1991 to 1996. The character was a humorous, non-violent figure, contrasting sharply with Mackey's intensity. As 'The Shield' creator Shawn Ryan recalled in Entertainment Weekly's oral history, there was resistance to Chiklis auditioning: "There was resistance amongst our casting folks when they heard he wanted to come and audition, like, 'He's really wrong for this.'"
Living near each other, Chiklis and Ryan crossed paths and discussed the project, prompting Ryan to grant an audition. At the time, Chiklis had followed his wife's advice to get in shape for more dramatic parts, arriving fighting fit. Ryan praised the audition: "It was the first time the words I'd written sounded good to my ear." He added, "We have this idea of movie cops, and then you realize as you're looking at him, 'Yeah, he looks exactly like the cop that pulls me over for speeding.'"
Skepticism lingered from 'The Commish' and Chiklis's canceled NBC sitcom 'Daddio,' but his presence convinced the team. He won a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe for the role, transforming his image. After the show's 2008 finale, Chiklis appeared in CBS All Access's 'Coyote,' Ryan Murphy's 'American Horror Story: Freak Show,' and two 'Fantastic Four' films.