- - Shea Whigham Says He Formed Many ‘Deep Friendships’ on “Boardwalk Empire”: ‘These Are Not Just Jobs’ (Exclusive)

Raven BrunnerJanuary 3, 2026 at 10:30 PM

0

Hbo/Kobal/Shutterstock

Shea Whigham on ‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010) -

Shea Whigham told PEOPLE at the New York City premiere of Death by Lightning that he formed many "deep friendships" while working on Boardwalk Empire

Whigham said he’s "very tight" with his former costars Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon

Whigham starred as Elias "Eli" Thompson in the HBO period crime series

Shea Whigham is grateful for his time on Boardwalk Empire.

The actor, 56, told PEOPLE at the New York City premiere of his latest show Death by Lightning that he formed many "deep friendships" while working on Boardwalk Empire.

Whigham said he’s "very tight" with his former costars Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon, and called director and executive producer Tim Van Patten "one of my closest friends."

Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

Michael Shannon and Shea Whigham in 'Boardwalk Empire' (2014)

"That was a good one," the actor remembered of the HBO period crime drama. "These are not just jobs. You walk away with deep friendships because of the work."

Whigham starred as Elias "Eli" Thompson in Boardwalk Empire for all five seasons from 2010 to 2014. The series, set in New Jersey during the Prohibition era, was about the life of criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson.

The show also featured Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham and Paul Sparks.

Whigham shared the screen again with Shannon, 51, on Netflix’s Death by Lightning. The limited series, created by Mike Makowsky, was about the true story of Andrew Garfield's presidency and assassination.

Shannon played the 20th president of the United States, while Whigham played Republican politician Roscoe Conkling. The two also costarred in 2011's Take Shelter and 2020's The Quarry.

Whigham gushed about the cast on the Netflix show, which included Nick Offerman, Matthew MacFadyen, Bradley Whitford and Betty Gilpin. On the red carpet, he said he became "very good friends" with Offerman.

"It seems like he has a very bright future in this business,” the actor joked of the Parks & Recreation alum. "I think it's gonna work out for him. It's not that he's funny. It's the handsomeness that I think is gonna work out for him."

Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Shea Whigham attends Netflix's 'Death By Lightning' New York Premiere in New York City on Nov. 3, 2025

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.'

Whigham has also starred in the television shows American Primeval, True Detective, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Perry Mason and Fargo.

On the big screen, he has played roles in Silver Linings Playbook, The Wolf of Wall Street and Joker, as well as appeared in the Fast and Furious and Mission: Impossible franchises.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”