Adam Scott Recalls How Losing ‘Six Feet Under’ Role To Michael C. Hall Nearly Made Him Quit Acting: “It’s Time For Me To Read The Tea Leaves”

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

All’s well that ends well, but once upon a time Adam Scott lost out on a major role — Michael C. Hall’s in HBO’s multi-Emmy-winning Six Feet Under — and it nearly made him reconsider the craft of acting entirely.

As a recent guest on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the two Parks and Recreation alums delved into their time collaborating together and Scott’s career trajectory. At one point, Poehler questioned if there was a role he had gotten “close on” but didn’t nab.

More from Deadline

'The Wire's Wendell Pierce Says HBO Show Doesn't Need Reboot: "A Canary In The Mine"

HBO Aims To Loomerize Laura Loomer Over Deposition Leak & Posts In Bill Maher Defamation Suit

Denée Benton Talks Being The Belle Of The Ball In 'The Gilded Age' Season 3 Finale

AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_kpmab8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_14pmab8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe

“It’s good that I didn’t get it because it wouldn’t be nearly as good if I had done it because he was perfect and incredible,” Scott said as Poehler expressed her shock. “He’s incredible, and I wasn’t ready.”

When Poehler asked how far along the audition process the Severance star got, Scott replied, “He and I tested for it,” at which point the Saturday Night Live alumna commiserated: “That hurts.”

“It was the one where I was like, ‘I might stop doing this. I think that it’s time for me to read the tea leaves and walk away,'” Scott agreed, adding that it was “painful” given how ubiquitous and popular the show was. (In Poehler’s words, like “someone f—ing your girlfriend in front of you.”)

“One hundred percent,” Scott said, noting how the series “eclipsed all other shows” when it aired from 2001-05. “It was the show.”

AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_ldmab8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_15dmab8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe

However, the Big Little Lies actor was, indeed, able to log some time on the series after all, appearing as a guest star in Season 2 as the young Fisher brother’s (Hall) boyfriend. Scott noted that the experience was “fun” and Hall was “lovely,” concluding, “But yeah, that was a blow. That was hard. But it’s also important that you have those experiences.”

From Oscar-winning creator Alan Ball, the dark comedy centers on the Fisher family, who operates a funeral home in Los Angeles. Dripping with irony, the show explores themes of mortality through Nate’s (Peter Krause) story, as he unwillingly steps in to run the business following his father’s death. In his role, Hall was nominated for a lead acting Emmy in the drama category in 2002.

Watch the full interview below:

Best of Deadline

Everything We Know About 'The Boys' Prequel Series ‘Vought Rising’ So Far

Everything We Know About 'Gen V' Season 2 So Far

2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.