> At a Glance
> – Josh Charles told The View his first film job was 1988’s Hairspray at age 15
> – He shared a cigarette with icon Divine at the wrap party
> – His new Fox comedy Best Medicine airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and streams on Hulu
> – Why it matters: Nostalgic look back for fans and a light-hearted escape in his current role
Josh Charles’ debut in Hollywood was anything but ordinary: a single line in John Waters’ Hairspray followed by an unforgettable wrap-party moment with trailblazing drag star Divine.
A 15-Year-Old’s Big Break
Appearing on The View Jan. 5, the 54-year-old actor laughed while recalling the 1988 shoot. “What a cool first movie to do,” he said, noting he played a teen who asks Ricki Lake’s character if she’d swim in an integrated pool. Lake’s reply: “I certainly would, Iggy!”
Charles still marvels at the cast list:
- Sonny Bono
- Jerry Stiller
- Debbie Harry
- Ruth Brown
- Mink Stole
- Divine, who played Edna Turnblad and TV-station owner Arvin Hodgepile
The most lasting memory? “Smoking with Divine at the wrap party. What 15-year-old doesn’t remember that?”
Switching Gears with Best Medicine
Charles now headlines Fox’s Best Medicine as Dr. Martin Best, a brilliant but socially awkward physician who leaves Boston for a tiny Maine fishing village. The comedy, also starring Annie Potts and Abigail Spencer, drops new episodes Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and streams next-day on Hulu.
“I’ve done comedy in the past but of late I’ve done a lot more heavier fare,” he explained, calling the show “an escape from this current world that we’re living in.”
Martin Clunes, who originated the role in Britain’s long-running Doc Martin, will guest-star as Charles’s on-screen father. While the remake borrows from the U.K. version, Charles says the team is “making it our own.”
| Show Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Format | Hour-long heartfelt comedy |
| Lead | Josh Charles as Dr. Martin Best |
| Co-stars | Annie Potts, Abigail Spencer |
| Schedule | Tuesdays 8 p.m. ET on Fox, Hulu next day |
Key Takeaways
- Charles landed his first Hollywood job at 15 in Hairspray and partied with legend Divine
- The actor calls the experience “probably the greatest gig ever”
- His current series Best Medicine offers viewers a lighter, escapist tone
- Martin Clunes will appear as his father, bridging the British and U.S. versions
From sharing smokes with icons to healing a coastal town, Charles continues turning unique memories into must-watch television.
