The late '70's, early '80's ushered in an era of adventure films unmatched in quality since the late '30's, early '40's. Saturday matinee-type films like The Sea Hawk, Gunga Din, Captain Blood, Robin Hood, Zorro and Only Angels Have Wings would live on to inspire, four decades later, a series of adventures like Star Wars, Empire, Return of the Jedi, Raiders, Temple of Doom, Romancing the Stone, Close Encounters, E.T., The Wrath of Khan and High Road To China, among others. At that time I was growing up in Ohio, and the impact of these films would be lasting and powerful.
A short film earned a scholarship to Wright State University Film School but, impatient with that, I packed my bags and moved to Hollywood, dedicating myself to study at the Brian Reise Acting Studios. With an abundance of naiveté (and perhaps some talent) I stayed. Eventually, good things happened. For instance, Aidan Quinn beat me up for trying to steal his wife, Marcia Gay Harden, in a TV movie. I was blasted in the face by laser-fire in Masked Rider. An on-going highlight since 2003 has been playing the idiot “Phil” for Jack in the Box commercials over two-dozen times in a variety of media (TV, radio and supplemental internet videos). I still audition and consider myself privileged to have such opportunities. After my appointments I like to sneak around studios, peaking into the soundstages where geniuses once shot Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy, The Maltese Falcon ...
Between auditions, I write. I have a children's adventure story in development with an independent production company. I regularly contribute to www.TheRaider.Net
, noted by Entertainment Weekly as best fansite on the Net in 2007, plus a Webby nomination in 2008. I also wrote a screenplay which earned a prestigious position in the Arizona Screenwriting Competition.
And, Jack and the Jungle Lion is coming soon … finally!
Spare time is usually filled with some form of appreciation for art and music or long walks through the Pasadena, California neighborhood with trophy wife, Tracy.
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