‘Grimm’s 100th Episode: See David Giuntoli’s Personal Photos
Let Them Eat Cake
What does hitting the 100-episode mark mean to the cast of Grimm? “We can never complain again, and we actors love to complain!” says David Giuntoli, who plays Portland cop—and creature slayer—Nick Burkhardt on the NBC drama, which premiered in 2011. “Many shows have great writing, acting and marketing and don’t last a month. We know how lucky we are to hit this landmark. Color us humbled.”The big episode—“Into the Schwarzwald”—airs March 11 and follows Nick and his best pal, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), into the Black Forest of Germany, birthplace of the Grimm fairy tales, as they search for an ancient and powerful Grimm artifact that is also sought by the terrorist group Black Claw.
Cast and crew celebrated the milestone with a bash that drew NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt and Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Giuntoli was noticeably shaking when he got up to give a speech. “It wasn’t nerves that got the best of me—it was ego,” the actor admits. “Earlier that day, I had to do a shirtless scene, so I hadn’t eaten anything. I was ready to faint!”
Pictured (L-R): Bree Turner (Rosalee), Reggie Lee (Wu), Claire Coffee (Adalind), Mitchell, Giuntoli, Bitsie Tulloch (Eve), Sasha Roiz (Renard) and Russell Hornsby (Hank)
The Grimm and the Hexenbiest
Giuntoli says his real-life romance with Tulloch is “the greatest thing in the world and yet it also created so much anxiety. If you get into a tiff at home—or a 'fuss' as she and I call it—you can’t bring it to the set. So that’s tricky. And everyone says actors shouldn’t date other actors, especially from the same show because so much can go wrong.” In fact, it’s the kind of thing that drives producers absolutely batty. “The bosses are a lot better about it now that Bitsie and I have made it through two years together,” says Giuntoli. “They’re so relieved it worked out!”
Face of a Fuchsbau
“Bree joined our show and was a wonderful force for good,” Giuntoli says. “She’s utterly charming, so smart and compassionate, and is always there to listen when one of us is having a hard time. She really brought us together as a group. We’ll be friends for life.”
Hair Apparent
The hair and makeup team created this shrine to Giuntoli because, he says, “I always make the ugliest, dumbest face possible when we shoot continuity photos. I drive them crazy.” Eagle-eyed Grimmsters will spot that wig as the one worn by the Black Claw assassin.
Oh, Baby
While the boys are off on their Hardy Boys Mystery in Germany, Nick’s baby mama, Adalind, stays behind with their son, Kelly (faux version above), and bonds with Monroe’s wife, Rosalee. Things go bad when a dark figure from Rosalee’s past shows up at the spice shop and triggers a most surprising reaction from Adalind.
Off Duty
Lee, kicking back between takes on the spice shop set, “brings great Wu-tastic snark to our show,” Giuntoli says. “You never get a phoned-in performance from that guy. Back when Wu was losing his mind, Reggie put himself into this place of true terror. I have the utmost respect for his work ethic and craft. I love my trusty sergeant in polyester!”
Puppet Master
Giuntoli shares his dressing room trailer with a kangaroo puppet. “It’s a gift from an Australian fan named Dingo Sue,” he says. “They’re so good to us Down Under.”
I Knew You Were Trubel
Giuntoli and Tulloch are “ridiculously proud” of fresh-from-college costar Jacqueline Toboni (Trubel). “Every time she lands a new acting job we get so excited. We love watching our kid kick ass in the world.” Adds the actor with a laugh: “Jacqueline brings such a wonderful energy to our aging, creaky, tired cast!”
One Big Grimm Family
Lee, Turner and Roiz get palsy with consulting producer Steve Oster (middle) and first assistant director Chip Touhey (second from right). “We love our executives and we also fear them,” says Giuntoli. “The crew works harder than we actors will ever work in our entire lifetimes. And the city of Portland, which is so peculiar and so wonderful, has completely embraced us. It is never lost on us how lucky we have it.”
#Grimm100
“This was my Weekend at Bernie’s moment—snapped after an exhausting, whirlwind day when we were shooting the 100th episode and also had a big press junket happening on the set,” says Giuntoli. But don’t get him wrong. Giuntoli just loves meeting and greeting reporters. ‘It’s like an adrenalin shot to the heart,” he says. “The secret is to use enough Purell. It is your friend.”
Road Rules
The road trip in Germany is “our salute to Season 1, which was basically Monroe and Nick’s buddy comedy,” notes Giuntoli. “History suggests they should be mortal enemies but they became best friends. Monroe is such a fantastic character. If it wasn’t for him, Nick would have no entrée to this wild and crazy Grimm world. He’d still be floundering around like a fool. And I’d be doing the same without Silas. He’s such a brilliant actor. When we started shooting Grimm, I was so nervous and unsure of myself. It was Silas who pulled me through.”
- Photos: What Happens When 7 Grimm Stars Get Together
- Bitsie Tulloch on Keeping Her New Grimm Identity a Secret
Grimm, 100th episode, Friday, March 11, 9/8c, NBC
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