One could say thatOwen Wilsonplaying a public television icon is fate.

When he was growing up in Dallas, his father, Robert Andrew Wilson, operated PBS station KERA-TV. The elder Wilson was the first in the United States to book an edgy comedy series out of England, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” later to become a PBS staple in the 1970s.

“I would visit him at work, the big TV station,” Wilson said during a recent video interview with The Chronicle. “As a kid, it was just tremendously exciting. They did a show called ‘Newsroom,’ and it had Jim Lehrer, who later went on to ‘The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.’ ”

For his new film “Paint,” Wilson portrays Carl Nagle, a frizzy-haired, low-key and insanely popular host of a painting show on Vermont’s leading public television station. The obvious inspiration: Bob Ross, who gained a passionately loyal following as the host of PBS’ “The Joy of Painting,” which aired from 1983 to 1994. Although Ross died in 1995, his popularity has endured, and even increased during the pandemic when housebound streaming audiences rediscovered his gentle, assuring and soothing tone.

Carl Nagle, though, is a comic invention. Wilson and writer-director Brit McAdams imagine Nagle as a bit of an egotist with many female admirers among his rabid fan base, even as his time at the top appears to be fading. Wilson discussed how he created and embodied his character.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Review: Owen Wilson brings out the comedy and sadness of ‘Paint’

Q: Clearly this is inspired by Bob Ross. Fictionalized, of course, but you obviously studied his shows. Why is it that you think he has connected with such a wide audience, even decades after his death?

A:I have been thinking about that. How do you explain college kids still wearing Bob Ross T-shirts? I think he had the quality you might hope to find in a great teacher. We don’t have many great teachers in our life. So Bob Ross was a great teacher that taught people about painting but also, the way he did it with that gently encouraging way that made you feel good about yourself. That’s a nice feeling.

Q: Did you learn to paint for the role?

A:Yeah. There are Bob Ross-type teachers around the country, so I met with a lady a couple of times and painted a snowy mountain landscape. I felt it was good enough that the finished product hangs in my house today.

Q: You worked with Brit McAdams to help shape the character, but although you have been credited with four scripts, all with your college buddyWes Anderson,your last was for“The Royal Tenenbaums”in 2001. Do you still write?

A:When you’re acting, you’re usually trying to improve a scene or have ideas for the story or for dialogue. So I think that background and that ability has definitely helped me as an actor. But I would like to write something again from start to finish.

Q: The wig you wear is quite something. How long did it take to get that right?

A:(Laughs.) In the early fittings, the look was way off. Brit joked with me that one of the early wigs looked like everybody’s weed dealer from college that you met in the 7-Eleven parking lot, and he drove like a Datsun 280Z. Eventually we got it more realistic, or at least fitting for Carl Nagle. Now I can’t imagine Carl not looking like this.

Q: You’re well-revered for your comic abilities. Here you’re a more subtle character. In films like“Zoolander”you’re completely over the top. In others, like“Midnight in Paris,”you’re more of a normal guy, but still funny. Which is hardest to do?

A:A “Zoolander” type is more challenging because for me it’s trying to find a believable reality in the (bizarre) world that the writer came up with. I’d say I’m more comfortable coming up with a character or playing a character that’s more of a talker. So Carl Nagle is (among) the most favorite characters that I’ve played.

Q: I asked you earlier what you thought was the key to Bob Ross’s enduring popularity. You’re approaching 30 years in this business and you’re still a reliable leading man. Why do you think youconnect with audiences?

A:You’re right, it’s been 30 years since Wes and I did“Bottle Rocket.”I was 25 then, 54 now. Wow. I think it’s a combination of luck in having been a part of some movies that really connected with people. Certainly working with Wes, then becoming friends with Ben Stiller and being in those “Meet the Parents” and “Night at the Museum” movies where I was playing kind of smaller characters, but they were characters that I really liked and felt I had a good handle on.

I’ve just been lucky that some of those characters have connected with audiences.

Reach G. Allen Johnson:ajohnson@sfchronicle.com; Twitter:@BRFilmsAllen