Joe Nieves stars as Tom Diaz, the easygoing and laid-back father of seven, in Disney Channel’s family comedy series Stuck in the Middle. Nieves was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where he played Division III college football. His television credits include How I Met Your Mother, The Mentalist, and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Joe enjoys running marathons, watching sports, reading and playing board games. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, two kids and dog.
I had the chance to chat with Joe about Stuck in the Middle, fatherhood, and more.
Art Eddy: Let’s first talk about your role on Disney Channel’s Stuck In The Middle. You play Tom Diaz. Tell me what your initial thoughts were when you heard about this role?
Joe Nieves: My career had been a lot of cops, a lot of bad guys, and bartenders. I have a two year old and an eight month old so this job at this time is absolutely perfect. To be a dad on a Disney show right when I have two little kids is a dream. It is a dream come true. It is so much fun to play a dad. It is something that I haven’t gotten the opportunity to do too much. I have done it a little bit, but not in this way. This is great.
AE: How did you and the rest of the cast create chemistry to make sure you guys felt like a real family when you started filming the series?
JN: This is insane and it never happens, but when these kids met each other it just happened. They were siblings. The chemistry is just a perfect storm. Not only do they look alike and that they are talented actors, but they got along like brothers and sisters do. Cerina Vincent, who plays my wife, Suzy on the show joke about it constantly that these kids are brothers and sisters. It is as if we hired seven brothers and sisters to play seven brothers and sisters.
And on top of that they would look like what our kids would look like. Like I said it is just the perfect storm. We had a few rehearsals. We had the table read. We spent a little time off the set, but casting did a phenomenal job. These kids are brothers and sisters from another life.
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE – Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle” stars Joe Nieves as Tom Diaz, Isaak Presley as Ethan Diaz, Ariana Greenblatt as Daphne Diaz, Jenna Ortega as Harley Diaz, Cerina Vincent as Suzy Diaz, Kayla Maisonet as Georgie Diaz, Nicolas Bechtel as Lewie Diaz, Malachi Barton as Beast Diaz and Ronni Hawk as Rachel Diaz. (Disney Channel/Craig Sjodin)
AE: What are some of the traits that you as a dad gave to your character of Tom Diaz?
JN: No matter what role you do you try and bring a little of yourself. Some roles you are able to bring a little bit more. I feel like I am able to bring a lot of Joe to this. As far as having seven kids I don’t know how that would be. (Both laugh.)
I try to bring a loving father, which is what I try to be; a loving and an attentive father. At a certain point I try not to lose control. Maybe things will get a little out of hand, but once it does get to that point Tom is there to be like okay guys that is enough. Hopefully the kids will listen.
When my oldest daughter on the show is leaving the house to go sneak out and see her boyfriend at that point in time Tom will have to say no, that is not happening. He seems lenient to a certain point and I would like to think that is how I am as well.
AE: What are some of the things that fans of the show can look out for the rest of this season that you can’t wait for them to watch?
JN: I am so proud of this show. We are a few episodes in and we are hitting our stride. As the season goes on you are going to see more of that chemistry. You are going to see it get real comfortable.
I want to mention that there are a lot of family shows these days that kind of cater to that 18 to 34 year old demographic that are not as kid friendly as shows in the past. I really honestly feel that we have a really lovely and special show here. It harkens back to like Family Ties and Home Improvement and even to The Brady Bunch. Just these classic family shows that moms and dads can sit down with the kids and watch and really enjoy it.
I actually get approached by 20 to 25 year olds about they show. They love the show and they don’t have kids. I am really proud of the show. As the season goes on you are going to see that. As far as anything special happening on the show, everything is special. We do have an episode where Rachel Platten comes on.
AE: Switching to fatherhood now, what are some of the core values you looked to instill in your kids as they grow up?
JN: What is important to me and my wife is to make good people. We want to make understanding, tolerant, and giving people who understand that everyone is connected. You have to be kind. You can’t be judgmental. Have a good work ethic. Those are just some really important things to us. Honestly if they turn out not to be jerks I will feel like I did a good job. (Both laugh.)
AE: What were the first few thoughts that you had when you found out you were going to be a father?
JN: It was something that I was looking forward to all my life. I was so excited when I got the news. During that nine month period you start to think. I found out that my first one was going to be a girl. I was like oh my God, how do I take care of a girl? I don’t know anything about taking care of a girl. My wife would make fun of me because I got every book about dads and daughters. What to talk about and what not to talk about. How to raise a girl who is comfortable about herself. Every book that was written I bought. I probably read about five percent of them. (Both laugh.)
You start to get nervous once that finish line is there. One she is born you don’t think about it anymore. You are just off and running. You are just on instinct at that point. You just do the best you can and you can’t ask for more than that. You just pay attention to your kids and spend time with them and go from there.
AE: What advice do you have for new dads out there?
JN: Play with your kids. Spend time with them. It is hard. It is difficult when you get home from work and you are tired. You might be having a bad day. Forget about it. When your kids are around play with them, pretend with them, imagine with them, and have fun with them. When your little girl or little boy comes into your office and you are at your desk and she says, ‘Pick me up daddy.’ Drop what you are doing and pick up that little girl or little boy. Sooner or later you are not going to be able to do it anymore and you are going to wish you could.
So make that time. It is the hardest job in the world by far, but you are going to be glad you did it. You are going to be glad that you went out of your way. You are going to be glad that you were a good father.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: What is your favorite family movie?
JN: Finding Nemo has been our jam lately. I kind of like to brag about this. She likes some of the classics that are forgotten. She was into Aristocats for a while, which I kind of dug.
AE: What is your favorite song to dance to as a family?
JN: She loves Heart and Soul. My wife plays the piano. So she plays Heart and Soul for the kids and they love it. And also anything Vince Guaraldi. All the Snoopy stuff. They flip out and go crazy for it.
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
JN: It is so obvious for us. It is Disneyland. We just did it for the first time last week. It just blew her mind. She could not believe that she was meeting Minnie Mouse. I talk about her because my little boy is just eight months old. He is still a blob right now. He is still forming. (Both laugh.) He was there. He was cool. He was chilling in his stroller. He wasn’t crying. He was great.
She really, really, really dug it. She couldn’t believe she was meeting Minnie, Mickey, and Pluto. She couldn’t believe it. She loved the peacocks. She loved Dumbo. It was amazing.
AE: You played football in college. Do you have a favorite NFL team?
JN: I do. I am a New York Jets fan. I will always be a New York Jets fan. When I was looking through your guests I saw that you had Herm (Edwards) on. You had Chad (Pennington) on. I got a little giddy when I saw that. (Both laugh.) I am glad the Rams are coming out to L.A. I get to have a second favorite team now. I am excited with what the Jets are doing. I will see what happens with (Ryan) Fitzpatrick. I am confident that Geno (Smith) can hold the fort down if he has to.
AE: Who would you love to work with in your next project?
JN: I think John Turturro is just fantastic. I always want to be like John Turturro. Whenever I am having a hard time with my role, this is a secret; you are the first person that I am telling this to, I act as if I am John Turturro doing the role. That is how sometimes I will figure out a role. With him maybe comes with Spike Lee as a director.
Follow Joe on Twitter at @joepnieves