David Walton can make a selfish man pleasant company, using comic timing and warmth to explain why anyone would put up with him. We rate the actor more highly than scripts that mistake his appeal for a developed character.
Fi1m perspective
In About a Boy (2014), David Walton makes Will's selfishness amusing enough that we understand why Marcus is drawn to him. His comic timing does some of the work; the warmth does the rest. We enjoyed Will's company more than his behaviour deserved, because Walton stops him becoming exhausting without asking us to applaud every sign of decency. The programme is less restrained about that last point, which is why we recommend the performance more readily than the series.
His recurring casting as charming, immature men makes sense, although television has not always given him long to develop them. Cracking Up (2004), his first series-regular role, was followed by a succession of short-lived programmes, including Perfect Couples (2010–11) and Bent (2012). As Sam Sweeney in New Girl, with appearances across 2012–18 opposite Zooey Deschanel, he had a longer association with one comedy. Later work broadened beyond sitcom leads, with a supporting part in Bad Moms (2016) and a dramatic role in the series Power Book II: Ghost (2020).
About a Boy gives the clearest reason to value him. With Benjamin Stockham, he makes the central friendship believable before the writing starts congratulating it, and that is a substantial contribution to a part with little depth. Jason Katims, the programme's showrunner and writer, has an actor capable of making selfish behaviour funny and affection credible within the same role. The difficulty is that the script accepts Will's charm as a reason to let his conduct pass. Walton has made the character tolerable; the programme still needs to give him more to answer for.
That is the risk with casting him as another man reluctant to grow up: the actor can supply enough warmth that nobody troubles to write the harder parts. We would like to see him given more resistance, and less reassurance that the audience will forgive him. Try About a Boy for the timing and the rapport with Stockham, but do not expect the writing to make Will work particularly hard for our goodwill.
Biography
David Walton is an American actor. Born on 27 October 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts, he graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and from Brown University in 2001. He trained at the Actors Center in New York City before beginning his professional career.
Walton first appeared on television in the sitcom Cracking Up (2004). He is known for his leading role as Will Freeman in the NBC series About a Boy (2014–2015), his recurring role as Sam Sweeney in New Girl (2012–2018), and his performance as Dr. Rick in the film Fired Up! (2009). Other credits include Bad Moms (2016), Burlesque (2010) and Think Like a Man Too (2014).
He is married to actress Majandra Delfino.
