IN CONVERSATION WITH PATRICK WALKER

interview by JANA LETONJA

Patrick Walker is having a breakout moment, one driven as much by audience connection as by industry momentum. He has quickly become a fan favorite on FOX/Hulu’s medical drama Doc, where his character, Dr. TJ Coleman, was elevated from a recurring role in season one to a full series regular in season two. With Doc now pulling double-duty as a Top 10 title on Netflix, an extremely rare feat for a first-year network series, Patrick’s warm, grounded performance has helped anchor the show’s emotional core. Known previously for his work on Lessons in Chemistry he continues to build a career defined by heart, presence, and quietly magnetic screen energy.

top, trousers and coat THE FRANKIE SHOP
shoes CONVERSE
glasses ILLESTEVA

Doc has become a rare crossover success. How does it feel to see the show trending on both network TV and Netflix?

I was actually really surprised to see us do so well on Netflix. I figured most of our viewers would come from network and then the streaming numbers were so much higher than I thought. It was really exciting and definitely pushed us to a new level.

When you joined season one, did you have any sense TJ would resonate so strongly with audiences?

Yes, I felt that the character was written so kind, strong, and empathetic from the beginning that I knew that the audiences would really connect with him. He’s a great balance between strong and sensitive and those are my favorite parts about TJ.

top, trousers, jacket THE FRANKIE SHOP
tie THE TIE BAR
shoes THURSDAY BOOTS

What was it like finding out you’d been promoted to series regular for season two?

I expected it. The character basically was a series regular the first season, and my show runners Barbie and Hank gave me a heads up.

TJ is smart, kind, and deeply empathetic. What did you connect with most about him as a character?

In the second season, we see a lot of moments where TJ is very heroic. From getting shot while helping Jake, to going above and beyond to do things for patients. I definitely relate to that because of the care that I have for people that I love, as well as strangers. So, I would say that we both genuinely have big hearts.

full look ETRO

left:
full look GIORGIO ARMANI

right:
jacket DSQUARED2

Medical shows often create instant fan favorites. Why do you think viewers gravitate toward TJ?

I think TJ is extremely charismatic. He is very by the book in a lot of ways, but through this second season, we’ve seen him grow and become more comfortable, and we get a greater understanding of who he is outside of just being a doctor.

How did you prepare for the medical aspects of the role, both technically and emotionally?

With roles like TJ, research is the most important thing. Studying each medical procedure and talking to medical professionals who do the same kind of work to understand their mindset when helping patients. Emotionally it’s very interesting because doctors have to walk a very thin line when it comes to showing emotion. A lot of natural reactions are held back a bit when considering the fact that if people see doctors crumble, then they crumble.

You recently wrapped Liz Here Now with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. How did that experience differ from working on a long-running series?

It’s completely different because doing movies there is a lot more room to get completely lost in a character. Because of the limited time of shooting while doing television, I think it’s important to have a balance of work and personal because it’s insane to try to stay in character for 11 months. I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work.

vest JOHN VARVATOS
trousers ZADIG&VOLTAIRE

What does your creative life look like when you’re not on set?

I really love making movies and watching movies. So off set, I do a lot of writing and shooting different projects. The first season of Doc I had also done four other film projects that are making their film festival runs right now. I always like to be doing something while I have the opportunity.

What can fans expect from TJ as season two unfolds?

Romance.

As your career continues to grow, what kind of roles or stories are you hoping to explore next?

I’m just looking to do really great films. Lately, I’ve really been into action and rom-coms, basically everything Ryan Gosling does.

sweater and jacket ETRO
trousers GOLDEN GOOSE

TEAM CREDITS:

talent PATRICK WALKER
photography ASHLEY CHAPPELL
styling JARED DEPRIEST GILBERT at The Only Agency
hair LAURA COSTA at Exclusive Artists using Milk Makeup
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA