JOE VS CAROLE’S BRIAN VAN HOLT: WHAT WOULD REINKE DO?
BY IRVIN RIVERA
American actor Brian Van Holt plays John Reinke in Peacock’s Joe vs Carole- a limited series, created by Etan Frankel, based on the ”Tiger King” docuseries.
Reinke is Joe Exotic’s zookeeper in real life; a living, breathing character that presents a challenge for Van Holt as he wasn’t able to personally connect with Reinke prior to filming. “For me, to play a character that is real and still alive is a little intimidating. You don’t want to let them down.”
PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA, GROOMING: SONIA LEE
Brian is a gentleman with a big heart. He loves his dog chubs who tagged along on-set during the shoot. This love and connection to animals was evident when he channeled John’s character who also loves his zoo animals.
In this interview Van Holt spoke about his character, channeling John Reinke based on available information online, the challenges he faced while filming, the highs, the memorable moments, and what book he would be if he is one.
Hi Brian, how are you? What’s keeping you busy nowadays?
Just planning a wedding and then having a wedding! My wife and I had wedding 2.0 last weekend up in Los Alamos, Ca. Technically, we were already married. We had a small ceremony in my parents backyard before I left to film Joe vs Carole in Australia. It was just our parents, her cousin, and my childhood best-friend. It was intensely intimate and beautiful. I wanted to make it official before I left for five months. But we also wanted to celebrate our marriage with the rest of our family and friends. So, we had wedding 2.0 up in wine country in Central California. That, too, was very intimate and beautiful. There is so much to share but I’ll just say it was the best day of my life. I’ll leave it at that. So, basically I’ve just been chilling these days.
How was it to play Joe Exotic’s zookeeper John Reinke in Joe vs Carole?
It was an absolute joy to play Reinke. It was also a little daunting and challenging. I wasn’t able to meet or connect with Mr. Reinke prior to filming. So, my version of him comes from the docuseries and my takeaway from it and everything else I could find on the internet. I would have loved to spend time with him and learn everything I could about him and understand how he navigates through life. My priority and objective was to represent him in an honest, authentic and respectful performance. For me, to play a character that is real and still alive is a little intimidating. You don’t want to let them down. So, the challenge is to let go of that fear and do your best to represent them authentically and capture their essence. And, honestly, he is my favorite person in the docuseries and in the land of Joe Exotic. I was so impressed by him and his nature. My friends and I all want to be more like Reinke. We have a saying when we are in a pickle or dealing with some crazy – “what would Reinke do?” So, to get the opportunity to portray him in Joe vs Carole was not only an honor and a privilege, it was an enormous gift. I hope to meet him one day and have a beer. I’m sure he has some great stories to tell.
How would you describe his character evolution throughout the show?
I don’t think he had that much of an arc or evolution throughout the show until the end. Reinke was pretty even-keeled. He managed the GW Zoo for 14 years and seemed to be immune to a lot of the crazy shit that went down during that time. He’s not judgemental and accepts everyone with all of their quirks and wrinkles. Except for Carole Baskin, of course. And maybe a few others that I won’t mention. But he knew how to just roll with it and get the job done. He was the GW Zoo’s anchor. He was also Joe’s anchor and probably his longest, true relationship. I believe that he really loves and supports Joe, but we all have our breaking point and Reinke had his in episode 7 where he snaps after being served divorce papers and breaks up with Joe and leaves the zoo. He couldn’t take the insanity anymore and how it was affecting his personal life. He finally puts himself first……then he comes back.
What sets this show apart from the other Joe Exotic/Tiger King shows in existence?
Well, I think ours is the only scripted version of their story out there so we were afforded certain creative liberties. But the main difference is we went back in time and showed some of the history of Joe and Carole and where they came from. Their past relationships, past traumas and their path of how they got to where they are today. It gives you a little more insight and understanding of how and why they act and react the way that they do.
For you, what’s the best part about playing John’s character?
That’s a tough question because I loved playing all parts of him. But I think my favorite was tapping into his heart and the way he loves his animals. You can feel and see his connection and deep love for them. Especially with Bone Digger and his Weenie dogs. I think he loves and connects more with the animals than he does with people. I can relate to that. There’s a scene in the docuseries where Reinke expressed that if he was having a bad day all he had to do was get in the pen with Bone Digger and his day would get a whole lot better. I feel the same about my dog Chubs. I think I love my dog more than I do most people.
Talk about the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?
Probably the most challenging was understanding and embodying what it’s like to be a double amputee. To understand and represent the emotional and psychological journey of being a double amputee and living with prosthetic legs. I wanted to come from that inner life in every scene and not just the physical element. It was important to represent and honor all amputees with respect and authenticity. Again, I wanted to capture that essence the best that I could in my version of Reinke. And I had a lot of help from my good friend, Jason Parker, who is a double amputee. I was so blessed and fortunate to have him help me with this character. He shared some of his most intimate and vulnerable experiences. Emotional, psychological and physical. All of it. He was my anchor. I love the guy and he inspires me.
The second biggest challenge was being so far away from my wife and Chubs while we filmed in Australia. FaceTime helped.
What’s the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of making the limited series?
I have so many fond memories and moments of my time while filming Joe vs Carole. But the most memorable and what I enjoyed the most was breaking bread with the cast and crew and really getting to know them. We would go out to dinner together a lot, but my favorite was gathering on the roof of the hotel and barbequing and preparing meals together. The meals were always great but the company was always better. Someone would break out a guitar and share a song and we always ended it with an impromptu dance party. I fell in love with this cast and crew and I miss them dearly.
What is your proudest moment in your career?
I don’t really have one yet. I’m still working on it. But when I finished my first directing gig it felt pretty good.
Who and what inspires you?
I draw inspiration from so many different people and things of all sorts. My wife, my parents, my family and friends, nature, acts of selflessness, people who overcome adversity are just a few. But if I have to narrow it down and get specific I’d have to say that my dad has been my biggest inspiration. Especially at this moment. He has taught me and given me so many invaluable life lessons and I aspire to be more like him. He has also been battling serious health issues for over a decade now and wasn’t supposed to be alive today. His will and drive to defeat the challenges that confront him is beyond my comprehension. He’s like a stubborn bull. He is the strongest man I know. In every sense of the word.
What scares you?
Complacency, mediocrity, the inability to overcome your fears. Also, the feeling of how divided we are as a society scares me. And the unwillingness to overcome and embrace our differences and live in harmony. I want to start building bridges instead of creating greater divides.
Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?
Butchie Yost in John From Cincinnati. He was so damaged and wounded coming from such a dysfunctional family and upbringing. It forced me to look at my own wounds and shortcomings and my desire to heal. I had to really step out of my comfort zone. It was the most vulnerable performance and experience so far in my career. And getting to know and work with David Milch was a life changing experience for me. He forced me to look at and confront parts of me that I was unable or unwilling to see. And as difficult and dark as it got sometimes, it was deeply cathartic and healing. I will be forever grateful and cherish my time and relationship with Milch and the experience of playing that character. He has taught and inspired me so much. And continues to do so.
If you were a book, what would it be and why?
That’s a tough question. It depends on what story I want to tell. The answer to that question would change on a weekly basis. But at this moment, I’d have to say I would be Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself – How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispenza. It’s what I’m reading right now. It’s a great handbook/manual for making changes to be the best version of yourself. I’m entering a new chapter in my life and I want to be equipped and armed with the tools to not screw it up. This book is helping.
