Only Murders in the Building star Michael Cyril Creighton (Spotlight, Dexter: New Blood) describes the development of his eccentric, cat-loving character from season one to season two. Creighton also shares why he was drawn to the series and where he finds the inspiration to portray Howard, one of the show’s fan-favorite characters.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Creighton says that playing a character like Howard is a comfort to him despite being difficult to play: “I spent a long time believing that the qualities that make me such a specific actor and person were a liability, and that was such a waste of time. Now I’ve realized, being a little older, that that’s what makes roles that I play special — what I bring from my own personality, the things that are inherently me. Howard’s got a lot of parts of me in there.”
He wanted to join the show due to the heart and comedy of it, he says, aside from the talented ensemble that includes Steve Martin (Roxanne, L.A. Story), Martin Short (Innerspace, Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause), and Selena Gomez (Monte Carlo, Hotel Transylvania).
While Only Murders in the Building is primarily a murder mystery, season two brings a love interest for Howard, which Creighton seems to be thankful for. He praises the writers for having “respect for all these characters, big or small” and giving viewers a glimpse into different characters’ lives through backstories and flashbacks: “That they took the time in the middle of this giant mystery and murder investigation to shine a spotlight on Howard and learn more about what his life is like, and give him the opportunity to not just be the lonely neighbor who wants to fit in … It gives all of that more weight when you see where the loneliness comes from and how he can overcome it.”
Creighton shares his appreciation for new season two costar Shirley MacLaine (Terms of Endearment, The Apartment), describing it as “one of the highlights of my life.” He says one of the best parts of his job is being able to work with such high-profile people and get to know them personally. In addition, he describes how being on set with Martin and Short, who he’s admired for so long, leaves him feeling “bubbly and giddy and joyous.”
Finally, Creighton weighs in on his favorite moment of the season – the party during the finale, which took days to shoot due to the abundance of people in the episode. Showrunner John Hoffman (Grace and Frankie, Looking) asked him to yodel for the scene, to which Creighton happily agreed. To prepare for it, he practiced yodeling from YouTube videos and worked with a trained coach.
Season three of Only Murders in the Building is expected to premiere sometime in 2023, introducing new cast member Jesse Williams.