Did you know you would get to come back for season four as Namond's father?
Yeah, I did. I didn't know that, but David Simon always gives you some sort of heads up. If he really has some plans for the character, David will come talk to you at his own discretion, whether it's a phone call or he pulls you to the side on the set. And he'll drop a line on you and basically, he said to me, "I got some shit for Wee-Bey. He's down, but he ain't out." And I just had to take his word for it.

And, I think it was after I did the premiere for season three, David told me then, "No, I got you." Once they got picked up and the ball got rolling for season four and five - because remember, we took a season off and that's when everybody thought we were done - so, I started getting those calls again and it was like, "Okay, Wee-Bey has his family; his son, his son's mom, this is what it is now." So I had to take a different approach - he's locked up, has this guy learned anything? What type of mood is he in now? And that's what you got to see in season four.

It was definitely a different side of the character from what we saw in season one, especially at the end of the season, when Wee-Bey lets Namond move in with Bunny Colvin so that his son can avoid the same fate he suffered. It was definitely a change from the soldier who never questioned anything Avon asked him to do in season one.
Right, at the drop of a hat, he's putting in work with no regard almost. But I think the dynamic of Wee-Bey was that he was this hardened, callous guy that still had a heart because all I wanted Avon's nephew to do was watch my fish and he sold me out. He thought he was going to die that day.

Wee-Bey's love of fish is definitely an interesting aspect of the character, like in season two, when Wee-Bey is in prison and he's upset because the guard smashes the little plastic fish tank he had in his cell.
(Laughs.) Right, yeah he smashed Wee-Bey's fish. Oh, Wee-Bey's loving his fish, you know? Come on, let him have his fish. Wee-Bey's heart was broken behind that. It's like, "I'm doing my time, I didn't deserve that."

Obviously, you can't give much away, but will we be seeing much of Wee-Bey in season five?
I do make an appearance, I'll say, and it's definitely just to close a chapter in a long book of the story of The Wire. I definitely love every minute of it. I don't regret anything. It has been a hell of an experience. I definitely thank Alexa Fogel for casting me, David Simon and Ed Burns for giving me the opportunity to be a part of that history because it's definitely history in television genre and everyone will be satisfied, I think, with the outcome, for sure.

Will Wee-Bey be tied in to the storyline with Marlo visiting Avon in prison?
No, it's something a little more isolated, I would say, where it's just closure, that's really all it is. It's just the last chapter, we close the book and know our guys, really where they are. It is what it is, we've got to accept it. One of those type of situations.

Being a part of the show from the beginning, what was it like filming your final episode?
I don't know, I think me, the type of personality I have, I was ready for it to happen actually. I didn't think we'd actually get this far to begin with, much less myself. I was told anyway from the beginning that Wee-Bey was only going to be in about three or four episodes and that was it. I had like a slightly recurring role that ended up turning into a series regular for the most part - not technically, but for the most part, I was. And I was one, along with the rest of those characters, who set the tone of the show.

I was kind of ready to be done with it because I'm the type of guy that when I book any job, I'm thinking about the next gig anyway because I know all good things come to an end and I don't really like to get hung up in the moment too long. I ride the wave as long as it needs to be rode, but I don't really like to dwell too much. Some people have been sad about the outcome, whether they've been killed off the show or there's been some other political issue. Some people have been sad, but I've learned to condition myself to not really let it get to me or takeover where my mind state is at. I love The Wire. I know it can and has the potential to stay on for another five seasons, but that's just not practical. Somewhere you have to close this book.

You also have had a reoccurring role as Darnell Thibeaux on ER. How did that part come about and what has it been like working on that show?
That was great because of the history that ER holds. And also for a good friend of mine, Mekhi Phifer, being on the show for the past three or four seasons. So really, that's how all of that became what it is and I got the role of Darnell Thibeaux, who's Dr. Pratt's longtime friend from the neighborhood. And basically, I think that was a different take on life also, playing that character. You know, street oriented, but here's this single parent.

You never really got to understand Darnell and his wife's situation or why he ended up with his son, but that's supposed to justify the means to his ends because he has the alcohol problem. And if you've seen in some of the episodes where Darnell and Dr. Pratt kind of bump heads because here it is, I have this little boy that I need to take care of and be more responsible with and I'm a little irresponsible.

I'm trying my best, but I'm really feeling sorry for myself. So now I'm drinking, I forget to pick him up from the hospital at the end of his volunteer service and then there's the time when I get into the accident and hit the junior high school kid that was in the van. So I think it's a situation where we know these characters, there are a lot of good fathers out there, men by themselves who are trying their best, but there's really no excuse because I'm feeling sorry for myself. And that landed my character in jail on there and he's no so bitter about it.

Because we always used to seeing the bitter, angry guy in jail. Wee-Bey also, Wee-Bey's not bitter. He's not angry. That's what we've got to come to realize. So it's a different dynamic to your typical street thug role. I told Dr. Pratt in the last episode I was on last season, "You still my boy. I'd probably still be out there drinking if you didn't make me turn myself in." There's nothing to be bitter about when you know you're responsible.

Do you get recognized quite a bit out in public?
Yeah, I have to say so. And at the damnedest places and times too. It might be a little kid who knows me from an old music video or it might be an old white lady. I'm serious, it comes from all over the spectrum. People do recognize me for Wee-Bey and other things. But Wee-Bey, I have to definitely credit my stardom and fame to that. A lot of people definitely pay homage to Wee-Bey. Not even Hassan, it's all about Wee-Bey. That's a good feeling though.

What do you do to unwind? What kind of hobbies do you have?
Basically, I like to work out. I do a lot of callisthenics. And I'm just getting into a lot of reading now. So I'll go to the park to work out, I like to do it outdoors and get a lot of fresh air and drink a lot of water. And then, I'm getting into a lot of reading. Staying current on what's happening, politics, anything, doing my diligence on life and history and stuff like that. I've never really been a moviegoer, that type of person. I study film; I have to watch a film maybe two or three times before I know what it's about because I study the actors and what they individually bring to the table. That's how I really hone my skills at this point and study and practice.

It's almost like you are a coach breaking down game film.
Exactly. I'm stopping, I'm rewinding, that's exactly what I'm doing.

What would you be doing for a living if you never got into acting?
I think I would definitely be into photography, that's something that I also like to do. I think I take pretty good photos. I really capture what I'm trying to take a picture of. So, I think I'd be into some sort of film background if it wasn't the acting itself.

Photo by Ideal PR, LLC

Tell us something most people don't know about you.
I'm pretty reserved. I'm not a shy person, I'm real social. But I'm funny in a way where I really don't like to be around a lot of people. I like to be by myself, I like a lot of me time. And I think I read in an article where Patrick Dempsey said, and I felt just where he was coming from, "The older I've gotten, I've found myself wanting to be by myself." I just like being by myself. Because there's so many shady folks and I'm a real friendly guy and loveable guy, I love people and some people just really don't deserve that good energy. They like to spew negative energy. I'm big on energy - the type of energy you put out, you get back.

So I try to dodge all of the nonsense and just stay clear. It's cool to meet new people, you have to network and broaden your horizons. And I do that when I need to and I don't shut out anyone and I'm not an antisocial person, but the older I've gotten, I'm 29 now, I definitely find myself wanting to be alone.

Interviewed by Joel Murphy, January 2008. The Wire airs Sunday nights on HBO. Hassan Johnson can be seen in upcoming basketball comedy Frankenhood with Charlie Murphy and DeRay Davis, as well as Thug Passion and A Talent for Trouble, which will be released on DVD later this year.