Richard Schiff: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Richard Schiff said elsewhere, not written here

Martin Sheen, simply the kindest and most fun-loving person and serious activist I’ve ever known. If Jesus was alive today he’d point to Martin Sheen and say, “That’s what I was talking about.”

The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Louis Smith English artistic gymnast

My mum, for putting up with me all my life.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 July 2013 source ↗

Isaac Mizrahi

Ricky Gervais. I’m saying that so he might read this and cast me in something.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, April 2022 source ↗

Noah Harari Israeli historian and philosopher

On a personal level, the friend who is a single mum raising two kids by herself during this Covid era. She is a real hero. If a historical personality, I choose Mikhail Gorbachev, who probably saved the world from world war three.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 October 2021 source ↗

Chris Ware American artist

For intellect: Art Spiegelman. For art: Robert Crumb. For poetry and vision: Gary Panter. For decency: Barack Obama. For genuine goodness: Charles Burns. For genius: Charlie Kaufman. For soulfulness and love: Lynda Barry. For words: Zadie Smith. For unique life's work and superhuman effort expended: Ira Glass, Dave Eggers.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2012 source ↗