The Devil is in the Details

Regardless of the name, Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, or even the Prince of Darkness, the Devil has always received his fair share of press.

No one knows this better than former SWFL resident, Fedor Steer. The educator turned actor currently stars as the demonic Mr. Nas in FX’s “American Horror Story 13” (AHS: 13), the latest installment of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s wildly popular horror anthology.

Although the show hasn’t definitively confirmed my suspicion that Mr. Nas is actually “Nosferatu,” I’m comfortable saying that, if Satan were looking for a stunt double, Fedor is the man to call.

And I’m a FAN! When you have watched someone you know appear on your television screen as an increasingly disturbing collection of monsters, murderers, marauders, and other individuals unlikely to make the guest list for my Verona Walk neighborhood barbecue, it’s difficult not to feel a little pride.

Fedor and I first met several years ago in Southwest Florida, where he spent many years working in education while pursuing his acting career. Before audiences knew him as a formidable presence in horror, local schoolchildren knew him as a teacher and/or a school IT director.

So yes, the man who now inhabits one of television’s most sinister characters may have been responsible for educating your descendants.

Safe to say, his journey to acting was hardly a straight line. He previously worked as an officer aboard a cruise ship, where a chance encounter with actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his family led to the suggestion of a Hollywood career.

Fedor didn’t begin with a master plan to become a professional monster. In fact, he told me he never imagined that playing bad guys would become his specialty. It simply happened.

And it happened rather spectacularly.

Audiences may remember him as the unforgettable bowler-hat ghost (aka William Hill) in Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” my personal all-time favorite horror enterprise. His creepy credits also include “Bloodline,” The Haunted Mansion,” “Scary Movie 6,” “Evil,” and “Pluribus.”

But AHS: 13 represents a particularly exciting chapter. The season brings together familiar characters from the franchise’s history, including its witches and ghosts, for a story with apocalyptic ambitions.

And there is Fedor, the chief evildoer in a sea of misfits, boldly going where gastrointestinal issues have rarely gone before.

During our conversation on my podcast, ON THE KNOWS, he described the extraordinary attention to detail that goes into these productions. Elaborate makeup can take hours. His full-body transformation for certain scenes took eight to nine hours.

Eight. To. Nine. Hours. I have trouble sitting still during a haircut.

As a decades-long fan of the great and powerful Jessica Lang, I begged for the inside scoop on working alongside the entertainment legend. Fedor thoughtfully described how Lang’s professionalism, kindness, and attention to even the smallest details left a lasting impression on him. Turns out, the devil is in the details!

When I asked him my signature question—”What Do You Know?”—Fedor’s answer had nothing to do with Hollywood glamour. He talked about perseverance, preparation, showing up on time, putting away your phone, and being kind to the people you work with. Above all: “Don’t complain.”

Film sets can be uncomfortable. Actors spend hours waiting, endure challenging costumes, and sometimes work in physically demanding conditions. But Fedor understands that being pleasant and professional can make the difference between getting another casting call and being kicked to the curb.

In other words, being good at being bad is one thing. Being good to people is something else entirely.

The irony is that the man who pretends to be monstrously evil is an advocate for good manners. Even when playing an inhumane character, Fedor appreciates the humanity, collaboration, and craftsmanship surrounding him.

Still, Fedor misses Southwest Florida, especially his friends and the memories of raising his children here. Naturally, I asked whether Mr. Nas might enjoy a little SWFL getaway and Fedor didn’t miss a beat:

“Mr. Nas has been under a lot of stress lately, so some time relaxing in a luxury hotel would do him a lot of good. And he’s been hearing much about his complexion, so perhaps some time lounging in the sun and fresh air would also help.”

He quickly added that, considering Mr. Nas’ proven appreciation for water, he would also likely enjoy a day on a boat.

Then came the qualification: “If his stomach is not upsetting him.”

Even evil, apparently, sometimes needs a vacation. Good to know.

Randall Kenneth Jones is an author, podcaster, keynote speaker, creative communications consultant, and a self-proclaimed Don’t-Know-It-All. Visit OnTheKnows.com or RandallKennethJones.com.