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Your death scene was one of the best seen on
the show – how was that scene shot? I’m sure a lot of it was done later in the editing room, but what went
on during the shoot?
Basically I started working with the stunt people about three hours prior to filming.
They asked if I would be willing to do my own stunt and stupidly I said yes. I imagine that the stunt coordinator being female
helped in my decision. Once again trying to impress women is my downfall. So I watched my stunt double do the stunt
once and then I started to get strapped in. I wore a climbing harness which fits over your torso and straps under your legs
along your groin. I had to make sure the straps weren't holding onto anything delicate down there as the force of me being
yanked backwards would basically rupture anything in the way. Needless to say I triple checked that area. You have a
pulley system with two hardy stunt men pulling on the line which yanked me back and out of frame onto a stunt pad. The harpoon
was added digitally and the pulley line was erased later, but other than that it was all me baby! We shot three or four
times with me being pulled back, and that was it. A little round of applause and a few beers after I was wrapped. The next
two days my neck was a little sore but other than that I looked like a sexy superstar.
Your character,
Richard, was seen as a conniving cheating husband – did you ever think that you could be the killer based on that?
And what was it like playing a character like Richard?
I didn't find out until episode three that
my character had this dark side. In fact, in an earlier episode I was playing a scene with a bit of edge and was directed
not to. I was kind of disheartened thinking they wanted Richard as this kind of neutral one note character when suddenly he
does a one-eighty. Perfect. All actors are looking for the light and dark in a character, it makes it way more interesting
to play. I will tell you the other cast were quite envious. I was pretty sure he wasn't the killer. When you play
a morally ambiguous character on TV they more often than not get their comeuppance. So I had a feeling my days would be numbered
when I saw what Richard was up to.
Your daughter on the show, Madison, was very creep and mischievous –
did you ever think she had any involvement in the murders? Who did you suspect?
It's a testament
to Cassandra, who in real life is a lovely young girl, that on screen she comes across as CREEEEEEEPY. Clearly she gets it
from my wife’s side of the family. Let me just say this about Cassandra. I've worked with lots of actors through
my career, old and young, and I have to say she is one of the most normal down to earth persons I have had the pleasure of
working with. Total pro, and also just a normal kid. Did I mention she tried to push down some stairs? Twice. I never
thought she was involved with the murders. But by the time I was getting harpooned my money was on Henry. Waaaaay too nice.
I figured a red herring.
How much did you know about Richard going into it? What were your thoughts
on your character as you got each week’s script?
They were very tight lipped about the characters
going in, so I knew nothing except what little they told me. Married for thirteen years, love my wife, work for my father
in-law, have a beautiful daughter. Usually for an audition they have a break down of the character and a story line
for the series. This one...not so much. I feel very fortunate, as going in I assumed I would be a minor side character and
ended up with a fantastic side story. Oh and I got to roll around with Claudette Mink. AND they paid me for those days. Best
– Job - Ever. Interestingly after a few episodes when the actors would get their new scripts they would automatically
flip right to the end to find out who got kkkkkiiiilllled. Very little job security on this show; always waiting for the phone
call from Karim producer] which meant hold off on getting that fifty-two inch plasma 'cause yer days are numbered.
Now that the show is done – would you change anything about your character? Either in your performance or the
way Richard was written or seen?
As I said earlier - I loved my character. Not a bad guy, just someone
who had to live under the oppressive regime of a tyrant father-in-law. And when presented with an opportunity to exact some
revenge in the form of an affair with his mother-in-law, he took it. Hmmm...as I read this last bit back I may have
to question Richards good vs. evil thermostat. It's interesting because Henry confronts Richard about this affair and
Richard seems rather unconcerned about his Father in-law finding out. I think in a twisted way Richard wants Thomas to find
out. Even though it will most likely ruin Richard’s marriage and in effect his life, the satisfaction of having Thomas
portrayed as the cuckold husband is stronger. Revenge is a strong motivator.
You often hear stories from
actors who play a villain or bad guy about them getting treated poorly or differently because of the villain they played –
did you get anything like that? What was the response like?
The crew loved the fact that my character
was so shady. I got a lot of raised eyebrows and knowing smiles from the men on set when I had to shoot my sexual escapades.
A lot of "you lucky bastard." On the female end of things it was just "you bastard." Everyone was
very cool with me. Although I did find it interesting that as my character was kind of an outsider from the groomsmen
and grooms side of the wedding party in real life I never got invited out for drinks or socializing. I don't think it
was on purpose, just sort of the character vibe spilling over into real life.
What was it like playing
the love interest for two different lovely ladies on the show?
Part of the awesomeness (if I may make
up a word to better illustrate my point) of my job is occasionally you get sandwiched between two rather gorgeous women. And
if they both happen to vie for my nubile young frame… all the better. Because I don't know if you've
noticed but I have red hair and trust me, this kind of stuff isn't happening on a regular basis. One of the better
jobs I've had over the years. We were lucky on this show. Everyone got along really well so me working with these lovely
women was a treat. And they’re smokin' hot.
Were you able to watch your final episode when
it aired on TV? If so, what sort of setting did you watch it in? What were your friends/family’s reactions
to your demise?
I watched the show from my couch with a bottle of Sake by my side. I got a lot of comments
on Facebook about my unfortunate demise. We were all told to be VERY hush hush about when we died and any other details so
people were generally shocked. I think the biggest shock came from the fact that my character was looking at his daughter
and in mid conversation on the phone when he was so violently impaled. I began referring to the show as Harpoon Island after
that. I still think it was the coolest killing of the series. Basically they needed a whaling harpoon to kill me because
I'm such an alpha male. A regular knife just wasn't going to cut it. Sorry.
What’s next for
you?
Next up is just auditioning like 96.4% of all the other actors out there. Just shot a live
action pilot for the Cartoon Network. It's called Prepped and is in the vein of Harry Potter. Troubled kids wake up at
a prep school and are held against their will as they learn to deal with strange powers that they've been born with. I
play one of the teachers that seem to be on their side. Or am I?...seriously I don't know. Nobody tells me nothin'.
Thanks to everyone that tuned in. hope you enjoyed the ride. Like they say "you'll pay for the whole seat
but you'll only use the edge of it!!" I don't know who "they" are but they said it.
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