Suits: Rick Hoffman picks his 7 most Litt Louis moments

Louis Litt: lawyer, mud-enthusiast, cat lover, prunie enjoyer.

Over the course of Suits‘ first 99 episodes, Rick Hoffman’s eccentric, endearing, and very flawed lawyer has become one of the best elements of the series. He desperately wants to be respected, and yet he can’t help but undercut his attempts at gaining respect. But, if we’re honest with ourselves, he’s probably the most relatable character on the show: constantly fighting his base urges to be a better person. And Hoffman has a ball playing him.

“I have the job of a lifetime,” Hoffman told EW. “Louis Litt, I appreciate [him] so much. I can’t tell you.”

In honor of Suits’ 100th episode, which airs Wednesday, EW called Hoffman to discuss his favorite Louis moments over the past seven seasons, from the moment Louis learned Mike’s (Patrick J. Adams) secret to him declaring his eats c—k for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

1/2. Louis confronting Jessica and Donna about Mike’s secret in season 4’s ‘This Is Rome’

“In Suits time, it wasn’t four years, but in Rick time and actor time, it was four seasons of Louis doubting Mike, then being lied to by the only friends he has in life, his family,” says Hoffman. “So, I looked at it just as a complete release of rage and just feeling 100 percent deceived by those he holds closest and dear. It felt to me like he was just going to let it all out, that rage and the tears. Louis was literally gutted.

“Was it the most fun experience [to shoot]? No, because I was scared stiff because I didn’t know how it was going to come out. You just want to get it right so badly, so it’s stressful when it comes to those vulnerable, dramatic scenes… The one with Sarah [Rafferty] was definitely scary before I started, and then when I dove in, I just sort of [prayed] that I did the right thing. The scene with Jessica [Gina Torres] was, even to this day is still, for me, was the most daunting in the sense of, ‘Oh god, I know how I want this to go. I just hope I can get there.’ I’ve never been more of a neurotic person than with that scene. Roger Kumble, who was the director for that, his patience was just a blessing.”

3. Louis replaying Harvey saying he’s the man on his Dictaphone in season 2’s ‘Meet the Boss’

“It’s something really sentimental. It really was the dawning of watching Louis become a human being. Even now people are like, ‘I hate you, but I love you,’ and I think that scene was a watershed moment of why there’s love for Louis. You first start seeing his heart with that scene and a couple of others.”

4. Any scene where Donna and Louis manipulate each other for information

“Any time Louis and Donna try to play each other, when they go to each others’ desks throughout the seasons, to me, were just some my favorite comedic scenes with Sarah… I think it was the freedom to explore and to have fun with them. Occasionally, Sarah would come up with a gem improv and then I would follow suit by pulling something out of a hat. Aaron [Korsh], who is collaborative, keeps those things in. Those are where we get to play the most and have fun. So, I’m a little worried now that Donna has her own office, there’s no more Louis coming up to Donna’s wall.”

5. Louis telling Jeff Malone he eats c—k for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

“He doesn’t realize what he’s saying when he’s saying it… I think the dawning of that type of scene was the one where he tells Jeff Malone, ‘I eat c—k for breakfast.’ I’m literally face to face with D.B. [Woodside]; our faces are a centimeter apart and I have to say this over and over again, and it was just so much fun.”

“I added in licking my fingers like it was delicious. That surprised D.B., so he took a little bit to get it together, and then I couldn’t keep a straight face doing it myself because you start to get giddy. So, that was just a blast.”

6. The mock trial in season 2’s ‘Sucker Punch’

“It’s the combination of Louis having to cross-examine Donna and then, in the bathroom, him telling Harvey [Gabriel Macht], ‘This one’s on you.’ It was a big confrontation, and it’s another one I’m proud of…

“I remember reading that episode, and I remember it being the seventh episode of the second season, and the reason why it stuck out to me is because it was really a great ensemble piece for everyone in that episode. We really couldn’t wait to sink our teeth into that dialogue. I just remember we had [what turned out to be] a very strenuous experience in that episode, for whatever reason. I think it’s just because everybody wanted to get it so right. Was it one of the most fun episodes to film? No, but I just felt very proud of that episode.”

7. When Louis and Mike worked together for the first time in season 2’s ‘Discovery’

“Louis innocently tries to do what Harvey does with Mike, which is quote movies, but in this case, when Louis is with Mike at the elevators, he tries to quote Chariots of Fire and Mike has no idea what the f—k he’s doing and it comes out so awkwardly and ridiculous, but it’s hysterical.

“It’s Louis’ innocence, Louis’ need for friendship. He wasn’t just this tyrant who treats the associates like s—t. He wants to be loved. He wants to be accepted, and that was a great way of doing it: Him trying to name movies like Mike and Harvey do so smoothly and Louis just busts out, ‘If I can’t win, I won’t run!’ Mike’s like, ‘What?’ Louis is like, ‘You know, like in Chariots of Fire,’ That’s another moment where you start to go, ‘Oh, I kind of like this guy. He’s an idiot, but I kind of like him.”