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2016 – Declan Mueller

 

Declan Mueller played the role of Joseph Gaffigan in season two of The Jim Gaffigan Show. He has also worked for GAP, Toys R Us and more! To keep up to date make sure to keep checking back here at the site.

 

1. How did Declan get started in the industry?

When Declan (and Dylan, for that matter) was a baby, we’d be complimented whenever we’d go anywhere and we knew he had the look and temperament to work if we wanted to but we didn’t bother pursuing it. Then one day, Declan was out with his mother and was complimented by someone with intimate knowledge of the industry and pretty much told us what to do and how it would go. Five days later, he was with the Gap people.

2. What was his first booking?

Declan’s first booking was when he was asked to be the holiday 2013 Gap baby. Leading up to Christmas that year, he was everywhere and it was such a whirlwind. It was very exciting and humbling to be chosen to represent such a major brand in such a high-profile, iconic capacity.

3. What was Declan’s time on set like shooting for Toys R Us?

Toys R Us was unique in that it was the first time that Declan had shot with an adult model. Declan looked at me with some priceless expressions when he was introduced to his “father” at the set.

4. How did your family react to seeing him in the circular?

Every time we’ve seen something he’s done, it’s just been so humbling and flattering. I’m not sure anything compares to that first Gap campaign because it was all so brand new to us and we hadn’t even told anyone about it. There was one time when my mother went to The Children’s Place to buy something for her grandchildren and she didn’t realize until she got home that Declan’s picture was on the coupon that the cashier had put in her shopping bag. Stuff like that is really fun and memorable.

5. What was the best part of Declan’s shoot for GAP?

It was just all so thrilling. We’d never done anything before; the boys had never even had their portraits taken! Then, all of a sudden, we find ourselves at this big-time studio with big-time photographers shooting a big-time campaign for a big-time brand. It was never a goal nor a plan.

6. How did he enjoy shooting for Adidas?

Adidas was another shoot that was really neat as it was the first time Declan had ever shot outside of a studio before. He was on location; the beach at Coney Island in Brooklyn. He was originally slated for only up to two hours, but he was doing so well that they kept him for six hours to do some other things with him that they hadn’t even originally planned for. Again, it was very exciting and flattering to be chosen as the representative for such a high-profile, major brand.

7. What was the experience like for Declan to be on The Jim Gaffigan Show?

It’s hard to believe that there could be a better experience or environment in the industry than the one created and fostered by the folks at The Jim Gaffigan Show. It’s a smart, funny show made by smart, funny people. Everyone, from the top down, was so kind and made us feel so welcome. We are not exactly the most outgoing people yet we are actually still in contact with a number of people we met through the show, be they the families of some of the other children, production assistants and even an associate director. Having said that, it was a lot of work for Declan- early calls, a lot of traveling. He handled it all so wonderfully.

8. What was it like working with Jim Gaffigan?

I was impressed with how pleasant Jim always was toward us. He, along with Jeannie, were involved in every single aspect of the making of that show. They both had a lot on their plates but were always great with the children; that is really evident when you watch the two episodes I mention below in the answer to number 10.

9. How did Declan enjoy filming with Ashley Williams?

Declan was pretty coy with Ashley at first, but there were a few times early on in the season when she went out of her way to make Declan comfortable. Ashley is as talented, bright, funny and kind as she is beautiful and she is a great mother in her own right.

10. Do you have a favorite episode that he worked on?

Two episodes are particularly special to us: Season 2, Episode 8 (“He Said, She Said”) and Season 2, Episode 10 (“Jim at the Museum”). Declan has some memorable scenes in both.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for always being so nice to us. Happy holidays to all.

 

We’d like to thank Declan and his family for participating in our Holiday Q&A Event!