As Chief Deputy US Marshal Art Mullen on FX’s hit drama Justified, veteran actor Nick Searcy often seems to have his hands full trying to keep things in order, especially during the show’s current season. Art’s professional and personal relationship with Raylan has been irrevocably altered thanks to Raylan’s involvement in the death of crime boss Nicky Augustine, and things may never be the same in the Lexington Marshal’s Office.

We spoke with Nick via telephone earlier this week about the drastic change in Art and Raylan’s dynamic, as well as his thoughts on the series coming to an end next year. Here’s what he had to say.

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The relationship between Art and Raylan has always been what I like to call “antagonistically friendly,” but with everything that’s transpired recently, friendliness has gone right out the window. How do you think that transition has affected Art?

It’s obviously very disappointing for Art. I think that Art has always had a real affinity for Raylan because he sees a lot of himself in Raylan. He was a lot like Raylan when he was younger, and so I think now it’s just come to the point where Art feels like he really can’t trust Raylan. And that’s almost the most unforgivable thing, if you’re working with a US Marshal, and you feel like you have somebody you can’t trust, who will always look out for their own self-interest instead of the job. That’s kind of a hard place to get through.

Why do you think Raylan chose to be honest with Art and tell him the truth, or at least enough of the truth that Art knows Raylan was involved?

You know, I don’t know why he did it. I think it was probably a moment of conscience, and I also think Raylan does feel that Art is the closest thing to a father that he’s had, and in some ways he might have been seeking approval for what he did. And I think in some ways Art does approve, I think in some ways he understands why Raylan did what he did, and maybe even would’ve done the same thing himself – which is maybe why I think he has such a strong reaction to it.

Art wants to sympathize with Raylan, but in his position he really can’t condone those kinds of actions.

And even so, in a lot of ways it was a very selfish action. He endangered the entire office, he endangered everyone’s reputation, and it was a purely selfish act. Although like I said, part of Art’s reaction to it is because he might have done the same thing himself, so he understands it. And I think that’s why he judges it so harshly.

Do you think this is something Art and Raylan will eventually be able to resolve, or are they destined to be at odds for the foreseeable future?

[laughs] Well, there’s not really an answer I can give that wouldn’t be a spoiler, so I’m not gonna answer that one. [laughs]

We always hear that the Justified cast enjoys a certain amount of latitude in bringing these characters to life. What are some of the things that you’ve done with Art to make him your own?

Well, you know, I’ve incorporated a few lines here and there, a lot of which were sayings that my father used. They’ve allowed me to put some of those in there, which gives it this sort of down-home reality. For example, this season I think I said to Raylan “I’ve torn you so many new assholes that you don’t even know which one is the original.” It’s that kind of thing, a lot of the humor that they’ve allowed me to inject into the character.

It must be nice to have that kind of freedom, and to be working in such a relaxed atmosphere.

It’s great, and having known [executive producer] Graham Yost for a long time – we’ve been friends since ’95, on From the Earth to the Moon – he knows my sense of humor and he kind of trusts me, and that’s sort of spread to the writers. And also, he’s stolen stuff from me, he took one of my jokes and gave it to another character in the show! It’s not just a one-way street here. [laughs]

Are you gonna tell us which joke it was?

I can’t remember which season it was, but Arlo was in jail, and the scene opens with him telling a joke to the other inmates. The first thing you hear is Arlo saying the punchline to this joke I told Graham years ago, and the punchline is “right after that, he shit in my pants.” [laughs]

He gave that punchline to Arlo, which I thought was hilarious. When I confronted Graham about it, he said “I thought that was my joke, I’ve been telling my kids that for years.” I said “no, I told you that joke in 1995.” [laughs]

Most of Art’s scenes take place in the office, but it’s really nice when we get to see him out in the field. I particularly enjoyed the scenes you had with Alan Tudyk this season, in the parking lot and then in the diner. What are some of your favorite scenes with Art out in the field?

Obviously, that scene [with Alan Tudyk] was terrific, a really well-written scene by Chris Provenzano. And great actors, it was really great working with Alan and Jere Burns and John Kapalos. I don’t get to work with a lot of the guest stars, so it’s always fun.

My two other favorite scenes in the whole series are the scene where I chase down the old man with the oxygen tank at the airport, the slowest chase scene in history. [laughs]

That was Scott Wilson, right?

Scott Wilson, yeah. And John Avnet directed it, who’s an old friend, too. Probably my other favorite scene is I think in Season Three, where I tie the guy up and beat him to make him tell me where the marshal is.

It’s fun to be a badass once in awhile.

Yeah, and you know, they’ve been really good about, at least once or twice a season, getting Art out of the office, which I think is great. I’m always kidding them that I don’t like to leave the office, because if I leave the office I might have to run, and I don’t like running. But they’re very diligent about it, and they’ve done a great job with Art, they really have.

The University of Kentucky basketball team is hugely popular in eastern Kentucky. Do you think Art is a Wildcats fan?

I play Art as if he’s not really from Kentucky, he’s more of a North Carolina transplant. I went to UNC, and my wife is from Kentucky, and she’s a Kentucky fan. So I just can’t allow Art to be a Kentucky fan. I’m a good actor, but I can’t play somebody that heinous. [laughs]

The only thing worse than Art being a Kentucky fan would be having Art be a Duke fan. At least we don’t have that on the table.

Obviously, Justified is always going to be focused on Raylan and Boyd, but I feel like there are plenty of stories to be told about Art, Tim, and Rachel. Would you open to the idea of a spinoff series about the Lexington Marshal’s Office?

Yes, but you know, my price is going to be very high. Hopefully they can absorb that. [laughs]

But yeah, I would definitely be up for that. If there’s anything that’s been under-served in this series, it’s been the actual life of the actual marshals. I think that Rachel and Tim really need to have their backstories told a little bit better, and also be involved a little bit more, so I’d definitely be up for that.

With next season being the end of the road for Justified, what do you envision for Art? Do you think he’ll get to retire in peace and ride off into the sunset?

I wouldn’t say “peace.” I think that he’s going to go off into the sunset, but it’s an exciting television show, and I’d be really shocked if that last ride was totally peaceful.

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Justified airs Tuesday nights at 10pm, exclusively on FX.