Jeff Garlin made a name for himself as Jeff Greene, Larry David’s affably gruff manager on the scabrous HBO hit show Curb Your Enthusiasm, and as a bit player on sitcoms such as Mad About You and Arrested Development. But nearly two decades after the portly 44-year-old got his start on Chicago’s cutthroat stand-up circuit, he’s doing his best work directing top-tier talent: from specials for heavyweights Dennis Leary and Jon Stewart to the semi-autobiographical indie feature I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (set for release next year), starring comedians-du-jour Sarah Silverman, Bonnie Hunt and Amy Sedaris. This month, Garlin debuts This Filthy World, an adaptation of acerbic filmmaker John Waters’ one-man show about his obsessions with movies, crime and contemporary art. No wonder The New York Times Magazine recently called Garlin a “comic’s comic”—he knows the best results come from surrounding yourself with people who are just as funny as you.

John Waters seems as if he’d be a lot of fun to work with. Was he?
He’s a dream—the most engaging person I’ve ever been around, and such an entertaining raconteur. So it was just a matter of capturing that.

Is it weird to direct another filmmaker?
No, not as long as he’s a good performer. It’s weird if he’s lame.

Are you a fan of any other contemporary comedians?
For years, I loved Woody Allen and Albert Brooks. That’s about as contemporary as I get. Who’s the fellow who directed Sideways—Alexander Payne? I certainly love his movies.

On Curb Your Enthusiasm, how close are your character’s personalities to your own?
Jeff Greene’s personality is similar to mine—but not his behaviour. He’s kind of a jerk. Larry is a heightened version of Larry. Kind of the id. He does the things the real Larry would like to do.

You suffer from ADD. How do you control it?
Prayer? I think I probably annoy many people. But being a nice person helps others deal with me.

You sound like a nice person.
Well, I’m simulating it.

This Filthy World screens at the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, Sept 14 (Ryerson) and Friday, Sept 15 (Cumberland 3).