Residence’s Jason Lee Felt Anxious About His Acting Comeback Following Extended Hiatus

Jason Lee is making a much-anticipated return to acting after a protracted break, and Netflix’s The Residence offers the perfect opportunity for his comeback.

“I hadn’t worked this much in a long, long time. I took an extended break,” Lee, 54, who portrays Tripp Morgan in the murder mystery series, shared exclusively with Us Weekly. “So, it was incredibly thrilling to be back on a set. The trailers, the sound stages, all the actors and the cameras — the energy was just fun and exciting.”

Best known for his role in My Name Is Earl, Lee expressed gratitude for the timely Netflix opportunity, stating, “The character was fantastic, and it was a cool way to transition back into acting after such a long time away.”

He added, “I had done some voiceover work and a few cameos with Kevin Smith, which I regularly do. But I really stepped back for a while. So, The Residence came at the perfect moment, and it felt like the right character, the right team, and the right project for me to jump back in.”

After taking a break from on-screen roles, Lee felt an immediate connection with Tripp.

“This was the most ‘on screen’ I’ve been in quite some time. It felt like the right thing to pursue at this moment,” he remarked. “I was genuinely nervous. They had already started shooting, and on My Name Is Earl, we had a much smaller cast. Having done over 90 episodes there, it felt like family; everything was familiar.”

Lee found the scale of a large production like The Residence somewhat daunting, stating, “After being away for so long, I was stepping into a huge ensemble cast in this major Netflix and Shondaland project. Looking at the vastness of the production made me realize I needed to really raise my game because there were so many people and elements involved.”

However, he expressed his delight with the welcoming atmosphere: “To my absolute joy, everyone on set was incredibly warm, friendly, and inviting. From the cast to the crew, it felt like a genuinely heartfelt welcome back to such a significant set.”

Lee became a household name from his role on My Name Is Earl, which aired from 2005 to 2009, earning him Golden Globe nominations in both 2006 and 2007. He also appeared in Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II, among others.

“The beauty of acting lies in its diversity and the variety of roles available. Ultimately, guest spots in TV shows can be a lot of fun. Indie films are great, and it’s been a while since I’ve done a smaller project outside of cameos, but I’m also focused on writing,” Lee shared with Us. “I’m developing a few projects that I hope to act in and produce. I dipped my toe back in with The Residence, then gradually got back in fully, diving into the deeper end. It’s been a blast reactivating that creative part of my brain.”

The Residence, inspired by The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower, is an eight-part series that premiered earlier this month. It kept Us captivated as renowned detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) was tasked with unraveling the mystery surrounding the death of Chief Usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) at the White House.

Lee’s character, Tripp, is among the suspects as he happens to be the President’s brother. While not entirely culpable for Wynter’s demise, Tripp is very much part of the narrative, making it an engaging role for Lee to explore.

“I didn’t want to find out [whether Tripp was guilty] because I personally was curious not to know who the culprit was. Tripp’s nature is a bit aloof, so it made sense. I was glad to remain in the dark until much later,” he shared.

Lee confessed that while he would have relished the chance to play a mystery murderer, he didn’t envision Tripp as that character, noting, “He’s too dim-witted to be the killer. He’s far too much of a slacker. When Tripp talks to Detective Cupp about how he knows she knows he couldn’t commit such an act due to his lack of intellect — that was humorous, and it was rewarding enough for him not to be the killer. That was intriguing for me.”

He further elaborated, “I aimed to present him as a breath of fresh air, although he comes off as quite rude and pushy. He’s the type of person who believes he’s entertaining others, but in reality, he’s the kind of guy you would want to distance yourself from. It’s a bit tragic, and that added depth to the character, which was fantastic.”

The Residence is now available for streaming on Netflix.