A: Hi Rich. When I graduated High School in 1978 I started my pursuit to become a Pro Wrestler. In those days it was a closed shop and very difficult to get a foot in the door. I ended up getting trained by Walter “Killer” Kowalski.

          By 1980 I was wrestling 4-5 nights a week. I was asked to play a HS bully in an independent film. Not long after I played a similar role in a second Indie film. I was confronted by Mr. Kowalski who informed me that it was less than convient for me to be acting. Because when I was acting I wasn’t available to wrestle. So I stopped acting at that point. When Mr. Kowalski discouraged you from any endeavor you didn’t just walk away you ran away! (laughing) I retired from wrestling in 1987. From there I was the bodyguard to the Mass. State Attorney General, A prison Guard, a bartender in a biker bar, a bouncer, which are two jobs I did on and off until my 30’s and finally a Police Officer. I retired in 2003 and returned to acting full-time.

          A: That movie was very cool to work on. It was the first film I did for Richard Griffin. I think he had directed me at least a half dozen times now. And this was well before Richard developed such an amazing following. When I arrived at the set the first day Richard asked me who I thought my character Agent Barnes was. I answered “A good Man with none of the behaviors of a good man”. He smiled and said “I think this is the start of a great working relationship!” (laughing) From there of course I did a bunch more Richard Griffin films. “Creature From The Hillbilly Lagoon” which was a hoot to work on. “Splatter Disco” which was incredible because I got to work with Lynn Lowry who played my mother. And I got to work with my son Timmy who was only 5 years old at the time. He got the acting bug from that film and now gets more work than me!

          A: Movie reviews to an actor is a difficult thing. In certain films you know you didn’t do a good job. For example I think I was off on “Pretty Dead Things”. If I get beat up that’s fine. But, I do get upset when people review a movie with a 5K budget the same way they would review Star Wars. I saw one review that pick on FTM because of special effects on an explosion. Well, dam if you’re going to beat up an Indie movie do it because of the writing, the direction, the acting not because it doesn’t have state of the art special effects.

          The other thing that bugs me is when people write a mean review just to be mean. It’s okay to beat me up. I’ve acted in dozens of films and train my ass off in classes and workshops. I should be good. If I fall short in a film I deserve a beating. I’ve been beat up before and I have it on good authority I will again. But don’t pick on the poor kid that is trying their hardest in one of their first films. It just pisses me off when it is apparent they are being mean just to impress their friends because they are so vicious.

          A: The hardest thing for me is getting past my Boston Accent. This past fall it cost me a great role in the show “Body of Proof”. I could get away with it in Indie Films but not the larger productions. But it did help me when I was cast in Showtime’s “Brotherhood”.

          The most difficult thing is when you are on a lager production. They don’t have the time for you to make mistakes. In the movie “Slip & Fall” I got to work with two of my favorite actors William Forsythe and Andrew Divoff. I can’t tell you how much fun it is to do lines with The Wishmaster himself! The day I worked with William I had a huge monologue to do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EuuacXuU-s&feature=related

          Well, the PA made a mistake in my call time. I showed up an hour late with Mr. Forsythe waiting for me! The Director was having chickens! When I got there they put me in make up and he asked if I wanted to run the lines. I said no I don’t want to keep William waiting. We were introduced and off we went. After the first take he told the Director Marc Colucci to give me as many as I wanted that he loved it. After that first one he started improving with me and it was a great experience. And really built up my confidence to say the least.

          A: In all honesty I had no idea. The only stuff I did was in the TV studio. I knew the cast was great. Michael Propster was very funny. But, I had little to really gage it on. Remember I just met Richard. When I saw the premiere I was astounded by how good it turned out. It is hard to be original in the Zombie genre. But I think Richard and his partner Ted Marr turned out a great movie. I’m proud to have been part. I can’t imagine how good it could have been with a larger budget.

          A: Can you tell me a little bit about some of your other films and maybe a brief story about it?

1) Detour Into Madness Vol. 1
2) Detour Into Madness Vol. 2
3) Splatter Disco
4) Creature from the Hillbilly Lagoon



          1 & 2) I really enjoyed working with Timberwolf. Tim Whitfield likes his actors to be very fresh and spontaneous on a project. So he will put up an idea and you just go with it. It is like an Acting workshop doing films with Tim. “Lesser of Two Evils” in D2 was almost all improv. Which I think is my greatest strength as an actor. I got to work with Sarah Nicklin-Reed for the first time on that film. And since that time she has eclipsed us all in talent and progress. Also Alexandra Cipolla was really run to work with in Lesser...

          On D1 we did “Snuff” with Joe Patnaud directing. “The Director” is my all-time favorite character along with Jimmy O’Malley from Slip and Fall. I really hope we get the chance to do a full-length of “Snuff”. I love that character.

          3) This may be my favorite Richard Griffin movie. I thought it was hysterical and well done. I of course have a soft spot because my son Timmy was in it! (laughing)

          4) Creature was a trip. Richard replaced his two lead actresses early in production. We sat around a table and we all contributed to the rewrite that put the emphasis on the Hillbillies! Talk about fun. We had a blast and I think it turned out pretty good considering the rewrite.

          A: My idol as a writer , director and philosopher is David Milch. He is steeped in poetry. It amazes me how he could write dialogue for the tough characters for Hill Street Blues, NY PD blue, and Deadwood and have the dialogue be pure poetry. You can hear and feel the cadence. I search the internet almost daily to find any interview just to get more of his knowledge. I really aspire to be good enough to work for him someday. I actually aspire to be smart enough to understand just 25 percent of what he says!

          A: Being a SAG actor I’ll confess. I let the projects pick me! (laughing) When I was non-union and not worrying about a paycheck I was picky. When you are in a film it exists forever. It can never be taken back. So I had to trust the script and the director to show the cast in the best possible light. When you audition at a casting agency you are auditioning for your next audition. For Body of Proof I’ve auditioned at least a half dozen times. I haven’t been right for a part. But I know I’m doing fine because the agent is having me back.

          But, if you take a bad Indie film. Your reputation can get hurt. I got cast a bunch of times because of projects by Richard Griffin, Todd Norwood, Tim Whitfield and Guy McConnell. I’m still amazed by how many people remember me from some of these projects. The director I worked with in “Brotherhood” told me he loved me in “Snuff” which he saw on you tube! I still think that’s why I got that part.

          The strangest thing about all this is the egos even at the small independent level. Most involved in entertainment are insecure wrecks. And it’s amazing how blow ups occur for almost no reason. Then friendships and working relationships are cost. Just because of people trying to save face and can’t get beyond things. It puts other people in tough situations because of loyalty and friendships. It can be pretty weird. But when you get creative people together it can only be expected. But look at Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards couldn’t get along and look at the work they did together. I’ve learned more about people working on films than wrestling, bouncing, fighting, police work and all my other adventures combined.

          Then you meet someone like Michael Gingold that could have a huge justified ego and he is the nicest guy you could ever meet. You just never know.

          A: I wrote a screenplay for Michael Corrente’s “Scream writing contest”. It made it to the finals. I’ve partnered with Skip Shea, Jennifer Engle and William Smyth and we are now in pre-production for a web series with that script. We are casting in December and will start shooting in late January. Sarah Nicklin-Reed has signed on and we will be using other top actors from the New England area. I think you will enjoy it! There will be something there for every horror fan!

          A: I’ll tell you a great film “The First 7th Night” Directed by Herman Yau. My son and I just watched it and it was terrific. Another great obscure film was “Scarecrows” directed by William Wesley. I wish I was in that one!

          Two of my all-time favorite horror films is “The Old Dark House” with Boris Karloff. And the movie I’ve watched more times than any movie “The Comedy of Terrors” with Vincent Price and Peter Lorre. I know it virtually word for word and it still cracks me up! And I got to mention “You’ll find Out” which I believe was made in 1940. That is really another guilty pleasure movie! I alternate putting the two on when I’m working out at home! (laughing)

          A: My pleasure Rich. Thank you so much for bringing attention to really great movies that would have gone unnoticed if not for your work! You do a great service to the movies themselves and to performers like me trying to make their way. And Merry Christmas to all fans of Obscure Horror!