Copyright Parade
Over the past five seasons of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, Michael Cyril Creighton’s Howard has gone from a recurring character to a scene-stealing fan favorite. We sat down with Creighton ahead of the show’s season five finale, which drops Tuesday, October 27, and the Long Island, N.Y. native made us laugh as much offscreen as he does every week onscreen. He also got personal, opening up about everything from the bond between Steve Martin and Martin Short — calling it “one of the greatest showbiz friendships that I get to witness” — to his own coming out story. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 PARADE: Tell us about Howard’s character arc this season. Michael Cyril Creighton: He’s definitely someone who wants to be part of the group at all costs. He is desperately trying to find community through inserting himself in everybody’s business! This season, he is pretending as though he is over the trio — Oliver, Charles and Mabel — but I think we’ll learn that that’s all out of loneliness and he’ll never be done with the trio. They are his people. Speaking of the trio, Selena, Martin, and Steve have all become such an iconic trio within Hollywood itself. What was it like watching them form and now evolve into season five? It’s incredible. They’re, first of all, yes, icons, and I have to forget that every time I go to work! I just have to think of them as people, but they’re such nice, kind people. Steve and Marty have known each other for decades and I would say that’s one of the greatest showbiz friendships that I get to witness. But then watching Selena seamlessly work into the fold and to watch them all learn from each other—their dynamic is very similar to the dynamic we see on the show. They really are a unit. The show wouldn’t be the same without one of them, so it’s great to watch and it’s such an incredible thing to be along for the ride. Speaking of Selena, did you celebrate the engagement or the wedding on set? We’re always celebrating Selena. Any win that Selena has is a win for all of us because she’s such a sweet, wonderful person and she deserves all the happiness. We were at the wedding and it was beautiful. They’re such a lovely couple and it’s so nice to see her so happy. The show has had so many iconic guest stars. It’s pretty amazing. We have so many Oscar winners: Renée Zellweger, Christoph Waltz, Diane Wiest. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is back. There’s too many to name, but the thing that we’re so lucky about is that no one ever comes on the set with an attitude. Everybody is all in to play, the attitudes are fantastic and it’s just such a nice, cozy set. What you see onscreen is kind of what happens offscreen. It’s a really lovely, pleasant place to work. And every single person that steps on the set, it’s the same vibe. Related: Is ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Moving to London for Season 6? Do you have a favorite memory with a guest star on set that didn’t make it into the show? In the second to last episode of this season, I got to spend an entire day sitting on a couch with Nathan Lane. If you told me that was going to happen when I was a kid, I would not believe you. I was in a production of Guys and Dolls in my senior year of high school, and I basically did an impression of Nathan for the whole thing. So to get to spend a whole day talking to him, getting to know him a little bit and hearing him just be so, so, so funny—that was a dream day. Who’s your dream guest star and what role would you give them? Oh my gosh; there are so many. I would love Melanie Lynskey to play my sister, I would love Margo Martindale to play my aunt and I would love Patricia Clarkson to play anyone! As for your current co-stars, what is it like working with all of the animals? It’s a delicious challenge. The animals are all so sweet and they’re as professional as an animal can be, so you just have to be really patient. But I love animals, so it’s always been a joy. I heard a pig peed on you. Yes! During season four, we were filming a scene in bed and the pig was sitting on top of me and peed on me. Then, we realized you could see my socks, but we had no other socks that matched. So we had blow dry the socks and put them back on. The pig’s name was also Sprinkle, which felt very pointed! Throughout this season, we watch Howard clearly drop hints to his mother that he is not interested in women. Can you speak to your own coming out experience? Yes, I basically left a piece of paper out on my desk that had a website address to help gay youth cope. And my mother found it and asked me and I was like, “No, I’m bi. Wait, yes, I’m gay.” Nobody was surprised and I love being gay! It’s great. What advice would you give to younger queer actors trying to get into Hollywood? That’s a great question. I would say, do not try to be what you think everybody wants you to be. The things that I have found personally that get me work are the qualities that are inherently me and that no one else has. I didn’t really start working until I started being myself. And, when you’re trying to be something else or fit into a mold, I really think, people can sense that and feel that and it gets in the way of creating characters. Final question for you. Please finish the sentence: The thing fans would be most surprised to learn about me is… I was Homecoming King. I think it’s because the football players that were up for it had to play the game that day, so they needed some drama nerd to ride on the float! But it was fun. I got to wear a crown and we had a pancake breakfast after. But I took that crown very seriously. Heavy is the head that carries the Homecoming King crown. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
