DAVID PAYMER / ACTOR

David Paymer is amused at references to him as a “veteran” actor. Though at 43 he’s had a steady career of 20 years, not long ago he was viewed as a newcomer when he emerged with his Oscar-nominated supporting role as Billy Crystal’s brother in 1992’s “Mr. Saturday Night,” and in the 1994 film “Quiz Show.” Now he’s expanded his range, playing a bad guy alongside Mel Gibson in “Payback.”

DON’T I KNOW YOU? “People don’t always recognize me. They stop me and think we went to summer camp together. ‘Did you go to Camp Wakanoka?’ ”

AGAINST TYPE: “I’ve played a lot of white-collar guys, some white-collar lowlifes like in ‘Quiz Show’ and ‘Nixon.’ But in ‘Payback,’ I’m no-collar, a heroin dealer who aspires to excel within the mob. That’s very different for me, one reason I’m happy about this movie.”

BETTER, NOT OLDER: “The thing about a character actor is you can get older and balder and sometimes even more roles are available to you. I’m pretty happy about that.”

GROUP THERAPY: “I did a movie called ‘Mumford’ that I’m really excited about. Larry Kasdan directed, and it’s full of actors like me--Hope Davis, Alfre Woodard, Loren Dean, Mary McDonnell. No big star, but a great ensemble piece, giving some great actors who are not necessarily stars the opportunity to spread their wings.”

NEW DIRECTIONS: “I’m working with Norman Jewison on ‘Lazarus and the Hurricane,’ starring Denzel Washington as Hurricane Carter. That’s a change--to be working with these top directors. Now Spielberg and Oliver Stone and Redford and Norman call and it’s a very different feeling.”

DRAMA SCHOOL FOR THIS? “Sometimes you’re in your trailer for eight hours and they call you on the set and you have to look up because the asteroid’s coming, and then you go back to your trailer.”

REAL ACTING: “Seeing the great ensemble of ‘A Simple Plan,’ Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda--to see those actors involved in playable scenes where there can be quiet and unspoken feelings is just great. And [director] Sam Raimi’s taken a major step with that.”

FUTURE COMPETITION: “Jason Schwartzman, who plays the kid in ‘Rushmore,’ reminded me of Dustin Hoffman--looks like he did in his 20s and has that same sort of antihero look and attitude. Reminded me of Hoffman pursuing Katharine Ross in ‘The Graduate.’ ”