Dov Tiefenbach

Dov Tiefenbach is an actor and a musician. He appears in The Umbrella Academy as Keechie, Klaus's acolyte in six episodes. On Broadway, he played opposite Judd Hirsch in A Thousand Clowns and on TV he appeared in Robo Cop (when he was a kid). More TV roles followed as did movie parts and now he also teaches acting.

Most recently, Dov became a therapist - a very good one, judging by his interview on The Tom Henry Show.

Dov sits down with Tom to discuss therapy and acting, as well as how the two of them met on a trip to Europe. We also get to see him do a charming little dance (and we get a shot at winning an original painting - a raffle for Patreon supporters).

Tom welcomes the therapy chat as Dov offers some insight into one's inner child. This, after Tom has expressed exasperation with the demanding little brat who lives inside his own head -

Dov: I imagine that feeling free and comfortable in life has something to do with really welcoming all of these different aspects of ourselves and not turning against ourselves. Cuz as soon as you do that, as soon as you're like, I'm fucking sick of you, in some way, you're attacking your energy because that little kid that wants things on the one hand also has a lot of gifts, has a lot of creativity, has a lot of your essence, a lot of beauty, you know, has a lot of innocence and so you're going to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Tom: So you can't tell the kid to shut the fuck up.

Dov: No, cuz then you're going to amputate a whole part of yourself and then try to go out and do creative things as an artist without your biggest ally as an artist, which is your creative innocence, your wonder, your buffoon, your idiot...

The two discuss acting and how it intersects with therapy and, of course, with life:

Tom: I find people in life to be the most interesting and the most appealing when they're completely vulnerable and willing to show themselves.

Dov: I so totally agree! And I love that you're saying that.

Tom: And I find the same thing of performers and actors. I take a Meisner class.

Dov: Yeah, I know that about you.

Tom: So when I'm in class and I'm watching the exercises, it is instantly immediately clear if somebody's being themself and vulnerable and banishing their shit and that is immediately enthralling to watch.

Dov: Yes.

Tom: And if they are doing any little shit: mannerisms, little acting stuff, it's so boring, right? And you could say the same thing about life. And yet we all have to live this life and we've all built our little defences. And we've all thought about the best way to be, right? And we've all uh, you know, built this up over years and years and years to the point that it's calcified.

Dov: You're doing great. You are...you're amazing at this. You don't need me (laughing). This is great. Calcified is such a great word, too. I love that word. What you're also describing is somatic therapy, by the way.

On the state of the art, Tom and Dov come to terms with the fact that we are now living in a largely "self-made environment" -

Tom: You want the validation and the approval from the big guys.

Dov: Yeah.

Tom: You want to get hired. You want them to say, "He's the guy." You want them to say, "Look at that talent. I'm taking you to the top." And this (indicating his show set) is an admission that that wasn't happening. Now, I'm at peace with that because that is not really happening for almost anyone right now, and never really was. I'm not saying "Oh, if it was the 90s, I'd be famous." But especially now, we're in a self-made environment.

These are but excerpts from an episode chockfull of wisdom, comedy, truth and dancing. Watch it here:

The Tom Henry Show with Dov Tiefenbach

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