Stephen Tobolowsky Says He Got the Role in Glee with Broken Neck

Securing a role on Glee proved challenging for Stephen Tobolowsky. He faced a "ridiculously strange story" that led to his audition. At 73, Tobolowsky portrayed Sandy Ryerson, a fired teacher turned local drug dealer at William McKinley High. His stint on the show lasted eight episodes, but it was filled with adversity. He confronted tornado-like winds, a serious neck injury, and various scheduling conflicts just to audition for this part. This is prepared by SSP.

On the January 8 episode of the iHeart Radio podcast And That's What You REALLY Missed, co-hosted by former Glee stars Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz, Tobolowsky shared the tumultuous months leading up to his audition. "I had been horseback riding with my wife (Ann Hearn) on an active volcano in Iceland," he recalled. "Suddenly, we were slammed by a massive wind gust from the Atlantic Ocean. It lifted me and the horse as if we were in a tornado and pitched us onto the mountainside."

After returning to the U.S., a doctor informed him he had what was termed a "fatal injury," despite his survival. "You want to know why you're alive?" recalled Tobolowsky. "The doctor explained that my cervical spine curves unusually, so my neck broke but didn’t damage my spinal cord."

Recovery meant three troublesome months of immobility. Near the end of this period, he received a script for a show called Glee. Despite still having a broken neck, he was excited. "My first impression of Glee was, ‘Oh my God.’ The script was pure joy. It was so fun," he shared. Determined to audition despite his injury, Tobolowsky relied on his wife for transportation. Upon arriving, he had a plan. "I’m going to lie," he decided. He discreetly removed his neck brace, hiding it under the casting couch, and sat down.

"Auditioning while hoarse is tough, especially with a broken neck," he admitted. Pacing nervously in a surprisingly empty waiting area, Tobolowsky waited for 20 minutes until Ryan Murphy’s assistant approached. He had mistakenly arrived a day early. Mortified, Tobolowsky explained everything to the assistant and pulled out the neck brace for proof. "I was about to lie to everyone, and now you've given me a chance not to lie," he stated.

Tobolowsky returned the following day. This time, he entered the audition room to face Murphy and other producers. Murphy broke the ice by remarking, "I heard a very interesting story about you from yesterday."

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