The ’90s were a delightful era for heartwarming comedy films and TV series. One such classic is Kindergarten Cop, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which remains a fan favorite. It follows desperate LAPD detective John Kimble, who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher and finds himself struggling to handle a classroom full of innocent but chaotic 5-year-olds instead of dangerous criminals.

What many may not know is that famed actor Stephen Root was also part of the film and seemingly had an important role. Unfortunately, his scenes were ultimately cut from the movie. Looking back, however, Root recalled that a compliment from Schwarzenegger seemingly made up for the disappointment.

Stephen Root recently sat down with Josh Horowitz for the Happy Sad Confused podcast and spoke about his show Widow’s Bay. When asked about his scenes in Kindergarten Cop, Root recalled that he had five scenes in the film, which were cut. However, he said he was fine with it because Arnold Schwarzenegger had complimented his sense of humor.

“But I did get Arnold saying, ‘You're f****** funny.’ So it's okay,” he said. “Yeah, that's the win.”

While the actor, known for his comedic roles in King of the Hill and Office Space, seemed satisfied with Schwarzenegger’s comment, having five scenes suggests that Root may have had an important role in Kindergarten Cop. He reportedly played a sheriff in the film, but his scenes did not make the final cut. His scenes were also removed from the 2004 comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

However, Root has continued to prove his versatility across numerous films and TV shows. Many of his characters have been outsiders or outcasts, which he has portrayed brilliantly. Yet, Root has never found these roles particularly stressful.

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Earlier in an interview, the actor revealed that he often drew inspiration from his own life when portraying these characters.

Stephen Root was memorable as the loner character, Milton, in Office Space, and that may have been because he understood the character. In a conversation with Rolling Stone, the actor explained that he has always been able to connect with often-overlooked characters like Milton. Speaking about it, he recalled his own childhood, when he moved frequently because of his father’s work as a power plant builder.

“I identify as an internal nerd,” Root shared. “Moving around, you don't connect, but you become an incredible observer. I didn't have close friends until junior year. You're always on the outside looking in. I know these guys.”

But what makes Root’s character even more impressive is his ability to bring out the humanity in his characters. In Widow’s Bay, he plays Wyck Crawford, a character who is mostly lonely. While he has taken on several intriguing roles over the years, including Jimmy James on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, it is hard not to wonder what his scenes in Kindergarten Cop might have added to the film.

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What do you think about Stephen Roots? Let us know in the comments.