Walton Goggins says delivering Baby Billy’s ridiculous lines in The Righteous Gemstones is “absurd but grounded in truth” and credits Danny McBride’s “gold” writing.
When it comes to actors who completely disappear into a role, Walton Goggins continues to prove he’s in a league of his own. Case in point: The Righteous Gemstones’ unforgettable Baby Billy Freeman, a character so ridiculous, so chaotic, and somehow so beloved that he’s become the subject of thousands of social media edits. And no one is more delighted by the role than Walton Goggins himself.
In a recent interview with Decider, Walton Goggins opened up about saying goodbye to Baby Billy as The Righteous Gemstones wraps up its run with Season 4. Reflecting on the final episodes, he called the experience of delivering Baby Billy’s off-the-wall lines a dream for any actor — and credited Danny McBride and the show’s writing team for crafting some of television’s most outlandish and memorable dialogue.
“These lines are just gold,” Walton Goggins said. “Danny, and these writers, everybody over there, they spin gold.”
For Walton Goggins, the character’s outrageous storylines — like his Season 4 plan to launch a TV show about a teenage Jesus, complete with modern slang and references — aren’t just played for laughs. They’re “absurd but grounded in truth,” which is what makes them resonate. In the current season, Baby Billy even turns to Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam DeVine) for financial backing for the series, all while dealing with his ongoing battle of wills with his German nanny Sola (Kerstin Schulze), who he hilariously accuses of having “old world villain vibes.”
“This woman who, you know, he is constantly so tough on and she’s so patient with him because he’s become addicted to cocaine and he is trying to provide for his family by making a show about Jesus Christ — teenage Jesus Christ — it’s bananas,” Walton Goggins said, summing up Baby Billy’s Season 4 arc.
Despite his extensive dramatic background in shows like Justified, Sons of Anarchy, and The Shield, Walton Goggins admits working alongside this comedic ensemble has forced him to raise his game. “Every other actor here: Tim Baltz, Edi… these guys are pros, these guys do sketch comedy. Edi is a master. Adam Devine is a huge comic, as you know,” he said. “I’m not that guy. I just do what I do.”
Still, Walton Goggins fits right in — even if he admits to being the cast member most likely to crack up during a take. “Not breaking is not a part of my training, you know what I mean?” he said with a laugh. “And I’m the guy that does break and ruin takes more often than not. So usually it takes me more times to get it in the can than it does anyone else.”
After more than a decade working with Danny McBride across both The Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals — and having originally auditioned for Eastbound & Down — Walton Goggins is well-practiced in riding the line between chaos and sincerity. Even as he films Season 2 of Prime Video’s Fallout, he still hasn’t lost his appreciation for Baby Billy’s unhinged persona.
Fans can catch Walton Goggins in action in The Righteous Gemstones Season 4, with the first six episodes currently streaming on Max. New episodes drop Sundays at 7 PM PT on HBO and Max.
