How did you get the role in The Chisholms?

Ah, well, I auditioned for Vicki Rosenberg; my agent sent me out on it. I had moved out to California from Houston, Texas and that’s how it all happened.

Since The Chisholms is a Western, are you afraid of being typecast as a cowboy?

No, I’m not. The reason I feel that way is because I’ve been, for the past five years, doing a lot of theater, a lot of Shakespeare. Being able to play a role like this, which I have never had the opportunity to do, and being from Texas, is very interesting. I can always convince whoever I’m auditioning for that I can do whatever they need. I’ve had five solid years of training. I can get rid of my accent if I don’t want it, or produce an accent if I want. So typecasting is not really a problem.

If you hadn’t gotten into acting, what do you think you would have done?

My plans had been to become a professional ball player or a lawyer. Once I got down to making a decision as to what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I realized that that wasn’t for me. I wanted to be an athlete, but I didn’t want to become a jock. I’m not putting down jocks, because some of my best friends play professional sports. I don’t think playing professional baseball would have satisfied me; in acting I use every aspect of my body and mind. It’s a total process, where when you play baseball you throw the ball the same way.

What are your goals?

What I would like right now in my life is to continue working as an actor and to continue to grow and push myself to the limit. But, besides that, I would honestly like the world situation to straighten out. That’s my main concern right now because I’m going to be involved with it one way or the other.

How do you spend your spare time?

I surf, occasionally play racquetball. I roller skate and I read.

What kinds of things do you read?

Novels, biographies. Gary Cooper is one of my favorite actors and I just finished reading two biographies on him. It’s good to read novels because they tend to make mini-series out of them. I think reading is important; I like to keep up with current events.

Are you a serious person?

Well, that’s part of me, but I’m a practical joker, too.

Oh? Tell us about your practical jokes.

Well, I just like to scare people. I try to startle Jimmy Van Patten and Devon Erickson, who are on the show. For instance, I’ll go to Jimmy’s house and ring the bell, then hide and jump out and scare him.

What do you look for in a woman?

I like the well-rounded types, both physically and mentally! Someone who has a sense of humor and who does care about herself. I like independent people.

Have you had to make any big adjustments in your life since moving to Los Angeles?

Well, the major adjustment I’ve had to make is to make new friends, because I don’t have that many friends out here. There are one or two people I know from Houston and that’s it.

Thank you very much for your time.