JOSHUA JACKSON HOPES DR. DEATH MAKES YOU MAD AS HELL
First Published on VanityFair.com
THE REAL VILLAIN OF THE STAR’S PODCAST-BASED PEACOCK SERIES ISN’T KILLER DOCTOR CHRISTOPHER DUNTSCH, SAYS JACKSON—IT’S AMERICA’S AWFUL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
The podcast Dr. Death, preceded by an in-depth feature in the Texas Observer, recounts the story of neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, who maimed nearly three dozen patients, two of whom died, before being charged with five counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and one count of injury to an elderly person. He was sentenced to life in prison. Peacock’s miniseries adaptation was created by Patrick Macmanus (previously a consulting producer on Amazon Prime Video’s Homecoming, another podcast turned TV series): It tells the story of how Duntsch arrived at his lofty position and remained there despite all evidence that he had no business wielding a scalpel.
The series stars Alec Baldwin and Dirty John alumnus Christian Slater as two surgeons who crossed paths with Duntsch and strove to end his surgical career for the sake of the community; AnnaSophia Robb (The Act) as the prosecutor who took the case to trial; and, as Duntsch, Joshua Jackson, who stepped into the role after Jamie Dornan left the project.
I spoke with Jackson last week, the morning after the show’s premiere in Los Angeles—an event he left only to be prevented from returning to his house due to wildfires. Fortunately, the disruption to his household was minimal, as Jackson’s wife, actor Jodie Turner-Smith, had brought their daughter with her to Cannes (where she became part of a true-crime story herself). “They’re saying it’s mostly contained, but I mean, I’m having a very California day today,” said the Vancouver-born Jackson. “It’s hot and sunny and on fire.”