During the 16-year-run of his WTF podcast series, Marc Maron talked to 1,600 guests. HIs main takeaway after sitting down with a steady stream of entertainers for in-depth discussions: “Everybody’s got problems.”
“Everybody’s human,” he told The Knockturnal during the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of his film In Memoriam. “And most of the time, people aren’t what you think they are,” he shared. “I mean, public people, you make assumptions about. You have a relationship with what they do. So you have these kinds of expectations based on who they are publicly. And they’re just never who you think they are.”
That’s certainly true of his character in In Memoriam, an actor diagnosed with terminal cancer who’s so vapid his main concern is appearing in the Oscars’ In Memoriam tribute after he dies.
Marc Maron and Talia Ryder in In Memoriam (Independent Film Group)
Directed by Rob Burnett, the dramedy marks Maron’s first on-screen leading role, and it’s one that called for a range of complex emotions. With just six months to live, he’s pushed to connect with the daughter he’s never met (Talia Ryder) and finds himself questioning what truly matters.
His ability to convey dark emotions with infectious humor has been on full display during his standup specials like From Bleak to Dark (2023), which chronicles his grief following the loss of his partner, director Lynn Shelton. Then there’s Panicked, which debuted last year in the wake of the 2024 election. The set tackles a myriad of human rights issues, something Maron feels is essential for those with a platform.
“If you can make it funny and make a point, you should make the point,” he shared. “And people on either side will resist the idea of politics being part of comedy, but it has to be. And if you have something to say and your principles are sound, you should figure out a way to say it. Better if it’s funny. Just try to make it funny.”
The same can be said for In Memoriam, which lets audiences sit with weighty, complex themes and dare to laugh at them. And just like his standup, the uproarious tear-jerker offers a profound message that lingers long after the credits roll.
