Alex Ziwak Talks About What It Is Like Being a Part of the Blue Bloods Cast, Teaching Martial Arts and More..
For having been a part of so many great shows and films, such as Blue Bloods, Gotham, the John Wick movies, Proud Mary and The Irishman, to name a few, and for someone who regularly gets to hang out with some legendary musicians, Alex is very humble and easygoing. He takes as much pride and care in being a martial arts instructor as he does with all his projects, and is an inspiration to his students.
Blue Bloods seems to have a pretty tight knit cast and crew. Is this true? And have you guys stayed in contact over the pandemic?
Yes. Blue Bloods is a very close knit group. We have kept in contact over this pandemic. My friend Norm, who plays a police officer on the show, we talk once a week. Also, my friend Susie, who plays a police officer as well, we text each other once a week. We also have a group text that we communicate with each other also.
Favorite episode of Blue Bloods and why?
Every episode I work on Blue Bloods, I really enjoy. To pick a favorite, it’s kind of tough, but I would have to say Season 8, Episode 10, “Heavy is the Head”. It was really funny when the guy dressed up as a doughnut came in and sang to Donnie and gave him a box of doughnuts. 
You tend to play gangsters a lot, in The Irishman, Gotham and Proud Mary, just to name a few examples—is it fun to play someone dark or is it a reach?
It isn’t a reach for me at all to play a gangster in a lot of various TV and film projects that I’ve done. I really enjoy it. Working on set with the likes of Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini, Al Pacino and others. I watch and I learn from people like them. Also watching the same great actors and others in a lot of different films and TV projects I’ve done, I’ve learned a lot.
You tend to play in a lot of back east, New Yorker type films and shows— I think they have such a different vibe from California shows—do you agree, and if so how?
I agree with you that I play in a lot of back east New Yorker type films and shows. It definitely has a different vibe and feel to it. I feel the shows I play on the East Coast tend to be a lot more gritty. I think the landscape of New York City and the different boroughs play a big part in it also.
You are a martial arts instructor and have your own school. When did martial arts become important to you?
The martial arts have always been important to me. I’ve been doing it for over 50 years and teaching for about 30 now. It is a part of my life. It keeps me centered, focused and the health benefits are endless.
Martial arts also teaches a lot of personal growth lessons as well, are there any major things that you like to instill into your students?
The martial arts definitely teach personal growth, and I instill in the students that you have to persevere to achieve anything. Teaching them to be confident in themselves and their ability also helps to develop self-control and discipline.
Do you apply your martial arts training and teaching into your lifestyle or world views? And if so, what?
I apply my martial art teachings into my lifestyle every day. Discipline perseverance, self-control, to name of few.
Have you ever learned something about yourself from a character you played, and if so, please share.
I feel like I’ve learned a lot from not just one character that I have played but an overall lesson with all the different characters that I have played. The main thing I’ve learned is not to over analyze what you have to do or what you have to say because it could paralyze you from doing it more naturally. It’s like when we were kids we would play make believe. You might think you were Batman, Superman a Nurse or something. Have fun with it.
You were in both of the John Wick films—the fight sequences we see on the screen is amazing in those—what is it like being on set when they are filming?
I was in all the John Wick movies and being on set and sharing the screen with Keanu Reeves was an honor. Being on site for John Wick was very stress free and relaxing. I feel it took on the same personality of Keanu Reeves. The directors and casting crew were wonderful.
What is something that you worked on that you hated to see wrap up and why?
I hated seeing the TV series Gotham wrap up. I worked on it a couple times and it was great. I auditioned quite a few times for a bigger role, but when they ended the show I knew I wouldn’t have that opportunity anymore.
I’ve seen pictures of you with some pretty amazing musicians-KISS, Alice Cooper, to name a couple, and on a fairly regular basis—did you use to be a musician or just have really cool friends?
I was a singer in a band when I was younger. I grew up listening to KISS, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Queen. I did some work for KISS, that’s how I got to know them. As for Alice Cooper, one of my best friends is Neil Smith, the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame drummer from Alice Cooper. We became friends working on the film Desolation Angels Rise of the BOAS, which was directed by Jayson Byrd. Neil introduced me to Alice and the other members of the band, and I became a member of the Alice Cooper family. All the other musicians who you see me with are my friends that I see at various functions. They are all super cool and super nice.