A 20-question interview with American actor and star of NBC’s ‘Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders’ Zach Tinker
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
My gut and my heart.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Kill ‘em with kindness.”
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?
To be frank, I had no idea who Kerry Katona is so I looked her up. I also searched “Kerry Katona 2007,” but couldn’t find anything besides some stuff about her being on drugs and held up at knifepoint: I feel like I’m getting off track here.
I would say bigotry is unacceptable in 2017. It’s a distraction. There is so much going on right now that could end really badly and that’s where our focus should be, not on looking for someone else to blame because of their colour or gender or religion.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Only at certain times, but I miss being a little kid: Ignorance is bliss.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
More wealth. I’m kidding: Probably the ability to fly.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?
I am probably not the one to ask: I’m 23 and just starting to deal with the state of my own economy. But it seems logical that the world is a better place if more people can participate, when we all feel like we have a stake in the outcome.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“The proof is in the pudding” – I’ve never understood what the hell that means. On a more positive and sort of related note,my favourite word is “goop.”
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I think: “Charity begins at need” – That seems more relevant, especially with the horrible string of natural disasters that have occurred around the world recently.
From elementary school through college, charity and volunteering was built in to the education curriculum, so that made it easy and I was very involved in with Camp Harmony. It is a well-run programme to support under privileged children from inner cities, the homeless and troubled families. They host summer camps, winter camps, holiday events, do food drives, back to school drives, support mentorships… I volunteered there for five or six years and it’s one of the most incredible and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. Sadly, I haven’t been very active in that community for the past few years because of my schedule, but to anyone living in Los Angeles, I couldn’t recommend the programme enough.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
If the question is: “What is my view on the appropriate use of cell phones that explode?” I would probably say, never. They are crazy dangerous, plus I heard their network coverage is terrible.
When it comes to regular old mobile phones, I think in general, just don’t be a dick. I know that sounds flip, but most of us know when phone use is not okay: Don’t text and drive; don’t talk on the phone in a movie theatre and don’t FaceTime at a funeral.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Michael Jordan, Lincoln, Marlon Brando, Will Smith, Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra, Eminem, MLK, Louis CK, Dave Chappelle and my mother’s father. He passed away when my mom was seven and I’d like to meet him and say thank you.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
A bucket of Ben & Jerry’s half-baked half-twisted ice cream, my grandma’s Italian chicken cutlets, a jar of Skippy Peanut Butter, a box of Captain Crunch Berries with 2% milk, a PB&J sandwich on whole wheat, and a slice of Susie Cakes’ red velvet cake for dessert. Oh, and a big bottle of lemon-lime Gatorade to wash it down. I would eat it in prison, presumably, since I’m on death row.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
I don’t drink regularly, but that’s mostly about fitness. I’m not judging, but first thing after you wake up is probably not the best idea. Otherwise, sometimes a drink is just what the doctor ordered; I get it.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
Tea, but I’ll need two packs of Stevia in there first.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Small ones: I like when gatherings are intimate, where I can have conversations with people and get to know them.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Probably my step-dad, Ken Karman.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
The TV show My Strange Addiction. That show is insane. All those kinds of shows: Intervention, Cops, etc. They’re trash TV, I know, but God are they entertaining to watch.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
Hmmm… A piece of chocolate candy, maybe: Sweet with a slightly hard exterior and a soft and gooey inside.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
I’d like to say a Ferrari or Lambo, but I’m probably more like a 2005 Mazda Miata or something.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I almost bit my own tongue off as a child and had to have it sewn back on while conscious and awake.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
There is no actual mantelpiece in my tiny studio apartment, but I do have out on display an award my grandfather received from the NBC television network, a book about Marlon Brando, the graphic novel, Watchmen and a bottle of acne medication (left that out, unintentionally).
Actor Zach Tinker was born in New York in 1994 into a family of directors, writers and producers. He is the first of his family to work in front of the camera and currently appears in the NBC series ‘Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders’ as Craig Cignarelli, a classmate of Erik Menéndez .
Follow Zach Tinker on Twitter at @ZachTinker and on Instagram at @zach_atticus.
The series is brilliantly orchestrated and I am enjoying it very much
WTF?????? The bastard parent slayers Menendez boys are getting so much publicity — they should have been fried in 1996!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fry them now and serve them to the sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is a great actor and I enjoyed his interview.
More like this please. These kind of cases are fascinating and that you dig them out makes me come back again and again. Awful story – Abuse drove those boys over the edge from what I’ve figured.
My namesake seems like a fun chap and very positive I must say.
Just became acquainted with you, Zach, in Hallmark’s Two Turtle Doves. Had to look up credits to learn who played the brother to Michael’s character. Perfect portrayal of brotherly love. Loved your performance, Zach. Hope Hallmark calls on you for bigger roles in the future.