Denis Leary, 55, isn't a guy who likes to talk about style.
That doesn't mean he isn't stylish. All evidence is to the contrary when we meet at a Soho Hotel on a Saturday morning to talk about his two summer films, "The Amazing Spider-man" and the new "Ice Age" adventure called "Ice Age: Continental Drift."
He's one of those guys who can wear black jeans and one of those slightly rumpled white shirts or even a T-shirt with a leather jacket over it and make it look cool. In fact, it looks like he just did a fashion shoot called I'm Not Really Trying, But I Still Look Good.
Leary spent years in New York City on the set of "Rescue Me" where he ran around playing a fireman and looking pleasantly rumpled. He's also played a slew of cops. That begs the question: What reaction does he get from real life cops and fireman when he's on the streets of his city.
"Fireman. There are too many stories," he says in that trademark scratchy voice. "We'd be here all day."
He has a great story about New York's finest.
"I also did a TV show called 'The Job' for ABC based on a real life detective who was on the set. He had been a pill head and a mess with a mistress.
"One night I was standing outside this steak house in New York and a detective who was undercover on the job saw me and said, 'Hey Denis, thanks a lot. Now my wife is really mad. She found out about my girlfriend from watching your show!'"
DENIS LEARY ON FILMING ICE AGE: CONTINENTIAL DRIFT
No one does a seemingly mean tiger with a heart of gold better than Leary in the "Ice Age" films. The latest "Continental Drift" is a huge box office hit.
"I want to do Ice Age until we do 'Ice Age: The Civil War,' 'Ice Age: The Johnson Administration' and 'Ice Age: Obama Gets Elected.' Then we move into futuristic Ice Age movies set in outer space."
In "Ice Age: Continental Drift," he resumes his role of Diego as he joins up with friends Manny and Sid on an adventure when their continent is set adrift and an iceberg becomes their home.
He says that the best part of doing animation is there isn't even a guy beauty routine that needs to be done.
"Listen, Chris Rock said something about animation that's true. He said they're the greatest jobs because you can look like sh—. I don't like to dress up ever, so this is a very lucky thing to have this job," he says.
Wait, since this is a style column did he just say that he hates to dress up.
"I did wear the same shirt for several days in a row. I don't even have to wear underwear to make these movies," Leary jokes. Or is it a joke?
"I'll be in my bathing suit talking into an electric stick and pretending to be a tiger. It's the greatest job in show business."
DENIS LEARY ON SAVING DIEGO
His Diego was supposed to die at the end of the first "Ice Age" film, but Leary was just too popular for the studio to allow that to happen.
"I've been around along enough to think ahead. If a character dies, you get to do a big, juicy death scene. But the flip side is you're out of the sequel which is where the real money is...
"It is true that Diego was supposed to die at the end of the first 'Ice Age.' I said, 'You can't kill a major character. It will bum kids out.
"In the end, Diego lived because no one wanted kids weeping in theaters."
FILMING "THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN"
"Ice Age" isn't Leary's only boffo box office moment of the summer.
He plays a cop and father of Emma Stone in "The Amazing Spider-Man." Emma Stone has ascended to the A List with movies like "The Help."
What was it like to be her pops?
"It was horrible. Just a nightmare. I had seen her in a couple of movies and heard great things about her.
I saw Andrew (Garfield) in a few movies and I didn't know what to expect from him either. It turns out they were the real deal and all about the work. They were also funny.
"Every actor thinks he can do comedy and it's not true. She's great at it. So these kids are the real deal and now I have to be nice to them to get future jobs."
LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY
Leary makes his home in New York City. He grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts where his dad worked as an auto mechanic after immigrating from Ireland. After he graduated Emerson College in Boston, he did standup in Boston and later New York.
He's married and the father of a son and a daughter.
Fans are clamoring for him to do another stand up special.
"I did one for my charity for Comedy Central with Whitney and a couple of other comedians. I do want to do new stuff, but during 'Rescue Me,' I could only get away for a month. I needed a whole summer.
"So, if you see me do another comedy special it means I'm out of work," he jokes.
