Richard Schiff on Why Grownups Love 'The Good Doctor' 

In a recent episode, Dr. Glassman and Shaun use medical cannabis. People over 50 are its fastest growing market, and usage by those over 65 is up 700 percent in the last 10 years. Do you have a sense of how attitudes have shifted?

My mother, who’s 87, has been partaking for quite some time. [Laughs.] And my sister-in-law, who’s battling cancer and living with us right now, certainly takes full advantage of its medical aspects. I don’t like marijuana. I don’t like what it does to me. But I do partake in the CBD [cannabidiol] element of the hemp plant, which doesn’t get you high at all but serves as pain relief and as a relaxant. I would think that the market would be exploding for all generations, but as you get older and you’re battling health issues that would indicate pain, then yeah, of course. Some of us have known for decades the positive effects of the hemp plant, including energy, organic fabric, food. So it’s no surprise to me that as it becomes decriminalized, people will take full advantage of it. It’s a miracle plant!

You just starred with Alfre Woodard, 66, in Clemency, which explores the moral context of death row. Can movies have a positive impact on social debate?

I believe that Clemency will initiate very, very profound discussions about the death penalty. It’s a brilliant movie. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of a project. I absolutely adore the writer-director [Chinonye Chukwu], who spent five years researching people on death row and its effects not only on the condemned, but on wardens and the prison guards who have to literally execute the execution, and their PTSD, and the way it can destroy lives other than the one that they’re targeting.

Does social activism ever factor into your choice of roles?

Let’s put it this way: I have to keep working. I don’t think Ballers positively affects the world in any way except that it provides some good entertainment, and I enjoy those roles. But whenever I’m a part of a project that has a positive effect on people, it feels good. The Good Doctor fits into that category, and The West Wing, of course.

All the President’s Men famously caused an influx of journalism students. I wonder how many people went into politics because of The West Wing.

Everyone. Not only Democrats but Republicans, too, who wanted to make a positive difference in the world. There’s not a person I meet in Washington, D.C. — and I’m there quite often — that doesn’t say, “You’re the reason I’m doing this.” To which I respond: “I’m so sorry.”

The Good Doctor’s Shaun is on the autism spectrum — has that had a positive impact?

I’ve done work in the autistic community, and we have autism in my family. The response we get from people who have challenges, who feel like they’re outsiders, has been remarkable. I get tweets, I get letters, people send me their art and music and writing, because they feel like their voice has been emboldened by the depiction of Shaun Murphy and how Glassman and other people deal with him. They feel like a spotlight has been put on them that they want to take advantage of. It’s pretty awesome.

You’re responsible for stirring up fans about a possible West Wing reboot. Why does it still have such cultural currency?

Every election cycle, the next wave of 18-year-olds is somehow discovering the show. I think people want the reboot so badly because they’ve seen [similar shows] too many times: House of Cards, Veep, Madame Secretary. When we did The West Wing it was considered impossible to do a political television show. And since then, there have been 50 attempts and five or six successful ones. So how would you do it so that it was as unique as the original West Wing? That’s the challenge.

Toby was indicted for leaking secrets, then pardoned by President Bartlet (Martin Sheen). How would he factor into a new series?

Toby’s a real outsider, a felon, and if he’s going to get back into the political world, how would he do it? And to what extent is he willing to put up with the attacks and the vitriol that will come at him? I think he would try to be part of a grassroots movement. I think that’s a fascinating premise for a reboot. But everyone is too busy. Aaron [Sorkin] is about to win a Tony award, and probably wants another Oscar before he wants another Emmy, so I’m guessing he’s going to move on. But it’s fun to think about.