Whether it’s in his personal life or on set,Rainn Wilsonlikes to make people laugh.

The Officealum’s penchant for hilarity especially came in handy on set of his new film,Blackbird.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What about this project made you want to sign on for it?

So I was like, “I’m in.

I don’t need to read the script, just where do I sign?

Where’s the contract?”

No, they sent me the script and I just thought it was beautiful.

I was really struck by how sensitive it was around this issue.

It’s a movie about death, and yet it’s a movie about life.

The way it’s shot and staged felt very much like a play as well.

We really gelled as a cast, and we had just a fantastic time working together.

And that really helped the energy of the ensemble as we started shooting.

That was very much like theater.

I heard that you kept everyone laughing on set.

Well, I kind of like to make people laugh.

It’s kind of in my nature, always has been since junior high school.

It’s probably the reason I became an actor.

Were there any jokes or pranks or memories from set that stick out to you?

The film deals with assisted death, which is somewhat controversial.

Yeah, we did.

We had long, intense conversations about it.

This is not a Hallmark Channel weepy film, there is definitely tears to be had.

This is about how complex family is, and how mysterious and kind of undefinable the human experience is.

One of the things that struck me about the film is how everyone truly felt like a family.

How did you all tap into that?

The whole film is shot pretty much in the same house.

We all lived within about half a mile from that house.

So, it was this deeply immersive experience.

In fact, when we were done, we all got blackbird tattoos.

Every single person, including the director, got a blackbird tattoo to kind of commemorate our experience together.

I’m being totally serious.

What is the tattoo of?

It’s a little image of a blackbird.

Yes, we all have it on various parts of our bodies.

Sam Neill I believe got it on his penis.

Okay, now you’re joking.

You mentioned the sex scene between your character and Kate Winslet’s character.

In the film, it’s one of the great moments of some comedic relief.

Was it written that way or did that come about as you were filming?

Well, I’m glad that my sexual prowess could be used for comedic fodder.

Yeah, we always knew it’d be funny.

It’s touching, heartbreaking, tragic, passionate and it’s hysterical at the same time.

Right, and life is not perfectly choreographed.

Life is very short and incredibly precious.

My father passed away last month.

And death is something we all are going to experience and it’s all something we share.

What did you take away from this experience?

And what do you hope that the audience takes away?