Harvey Fierstein epitomizes the term larger than life, from his Mermanesque acting style to his voice — a distinctive honk that could stop traffic. His fans may love him for his camp performances in “Hairspray,” for which he won a 2003 Tony as hefty housewife Edna Turnblad, but in a guest role on “Nurse Jackie,” he offers a subdued performance that may surprise his admirers.
The Brooklyn native drops into star Edie Falco’s emergency room as John Poole, a gay man who stoically puts off the decision to end his husband’s life.
The actor and activist has also penned several politically-charged scripts, including the landmark 1982 play “Torch Song Trilogy” and the 1983 book for “La Cage Aux Folles,” which has been revived for a third time on Broadway starring Kelsey Grammer.
Since December, Fierstein, 57, has traveled the country as Tevye in the touring production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” During a recent break he called The Post from his home — he says he lives “in a small, fictional town in Connecticut”— to talk about TV.
You learned about the “Nurse Jackie” episode through Executive Producer Richie Jackson, who produced your 2008 Broadway show “A Catered Affair.”
Richie and I are good friends and he’s also my manager. And I love Edie [Falco] — we have a great respect for each other. When they did the “Nurse Jackie” premiere last year, I went to the opening, where I met Liz [Brixius, the executive producer]. And they said “We want to write an episode for you.” And I said, ‘Well, you go right the f—- ahead!” And I got it.
Did you draw on personal experience for your portrayal?
Well, in the AIDS crisis I lost a great many people; I have ashes of three friends buried in my backyard, but I never had to face it alone. I don’t know what that would be like to take something like this on, you know? What do I do when I get back to this house and there’s no one there.
Your voice has been described as “pebbles in a Cuisinart set to puree.” Is it an advantage?
Our business is about being a little bit different than anybody else because there are many thousands of people for every role. Anything that gives you a little bit of an edge, that makes you different, is probably going to help. But anything that makes you memorable is going to help you. Obviously there are people that don’t like the sound of my voice, and there are people that absolutely love it. So it’s one of those things — it’s part of me. I’m never gonna be skinny or a mezzo soprano. It’s just who I am.
In an interview, “Nurse Jackie” co-creater Linda Wallem said, “People are used to Harvey being so huge and flamboyant (but) he’s very stripped down and lovely. It’s a beautiful performance.”
I don’t think of myself as big and overpowering and all that. Whether I’m doing Tevye or Edna, I’m playing to whatever size they need to be played. But obviously television is an in-your-bedroom-kind-of-media. Your performance is really gauged in terms of what are you going to look like when most people are lying in bed in their underwear because that is the way most people watch television. One hand down their pants and the popcorn in the other hand or washing the dishes.
Would you consider doing a TV series?
I have. You know, I’m in the communication business. I can do a thousand performances of a Broadway show sold out for a year, and still more people are gonna see you in one airing of a low-rated television show. So if your job is to communicate to your species, there’s nothing quite like the power that television has to change lives.
A year ago you did an open letter to President Obama saying he should be a “hero” to the gay community. How do you think he’s been doing so far?
I did that letter, and sent it to him. I got was a form letter saying, “Thank you so much, please send me a check.” And then I got a much more personal letter, saying, “Thank you so much, please send us a check to be in the inner circle.”
So, what’s your assessment of the president?
When it comes to Obama, I mean, he’s just not brave. He’s not brave.