Peter MacNicol Discusses The Role of Doc Ock on ' Spectacular Spider-man"

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Peter MacNicol is a very busy man these days.

Look at the details, over the past year, MacNicol pulled the unheard-of simultaneous double duty as a core cast member in two hit primetime
television series – “24” and “Numb3rs” – and was still able to devote
an afternoon every other week to creating the voice of Dr. Otto
and his villainous flipside, Doctor Octopus (aka Doc Ock),
for “The Spectacular Spider-Man”.

And while Dr. Octavius has had a submissive role in the first seven episodes of the series, Doc Ock makes his explosive debut this
Saturday, May 3 in an all-new episode entitled "Reaction." The episode
premieres at 10:00 a.m. ET/PT on Kids' WB! on The CW.

MacNicol has done some amazing work in the field of not only film and television, but also voiceover roles as well. His career has included starring roles in such hit shows as “Ally McBeal” and “Chicago Hope”. Guest spots on shows from “Boston Legal” to “Cheers”, and film appearances in “Ghostbusters II” and “Sophie’s Choice”. And has provided voice work for shows such as “The Wild ” and “The Batman”. But, you go back to the beginning and most will remember him from his first starring role as Galen in the fan favorite, “Dragonslayer”!

MacNicol has found great pleasure in bringing villains to animated life – Doc Ock follows his previous portrayals of Chronos and Manbat
("I was very proud of the possibly-too-piercing shriek I devised for
him"). For Doc Ock, he decided to channel the persona of a classic
actor far outside the reference points for most Spidey fans.

"The voice I chose for Dr. Octopus was something of an homage to Laird Cregar, one of Hollywood's greatest 'heavies,' and I do mean
'heavies,' " MacNicol explained. "Throughout his brief 1940s career,
Cregar waged a war to the death against his own obesity, ultimately
losing too many pounds too quickly; he was barely 30 when he died. In
his two greatest movies, 'Hangover Square' and 'The Lodger,' he seemed
so haunted and hulking, and I loved that soft menacing voice of his.
Still, I'm no mimic and it was Cregar's quality rather than his voice
which gave me my model."

MacNicol enjoys devouring the role of a villain, and points out the extreme texture the dark side adds to any story – especially
in super hero tales.

"It's all relative – this business of hero or villain," MacNicol said. "After all, villains are somebody's hero – certainly they've won the
devotion of their cronies, their parents, and perverse fans like
myself who actually prefer them over the title characters. Yep, it
would be a pretty dull universe if we didn't have Rhino, Sandman and
Doc Ock trying to destroy it."

Tune in this Saturday morning!