Exclusive Interview:  #1 - January 20, 2001
 

When is your birthday?
Aug 20, 1967

And how old are you?
33

How tall?
5'11'' inches.

Eyes:
Green

Middle Name:
Alexander

Siblings:
Older sister, younger brother

Favourites:
Color - Am I driving it or wearing it? Tough question.
Song - 'She's Leaving Home' by The Beatles
Film - Cinema Paradiso
TV Show - I Love Lucy
Movie - Waiting for Guffman
Actor - Jack Warden / Lee J. Cobb
Actress - Ruth Gordon / Holly Hunter
Food - Vegetarian
Quote - "The King is dead. Long live the King."

Did you always want to be an actor?
No, had no clue what I wanted to do. So I traveled a lot. I was miserable not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, so I figured "Why not be miserable in Greece." Went all over the world. It wasn't until my buddy Mark dared me to be in a play that I got caught up in acting. We both auditioned, got parts in the play and I was bit.

You have worked on a couple of projects with various Stargate SG1 actors. Do you socialize with any of them?
JR Bourne [Martouf] and Gary Jones [Sgt Davis] and I are pretty friendly. Also, Ben Bass [Steven from The Curse] is a good buddy of mine.

Are you related to the other Cunninghams listed on the credits for Zacharia Farted?
Everyone of them.

Can you offer any tips for an aspiring film writer?
Throw out your writing books. That's called reading. If you want to read, read only scripts. And lastly, surround yourself with people who don't know the meaning of the word "can't".

What is this "new project" you are busy with?
It's a secret that only I know about and I'm not tellin'.

What do you do in your spare time - any hobbies?
I play my guitar or saxophone. I'm always writing.

Do you prefer to play the good guy or the bad guy?
Good. But then again, the 'baddest' guys I've ever played all thought of themselves as 'good'. It's all the same to me.

Do you prefer writing, producing or acting?
God, that's hard. But if I had to choose, it would be acting. Why? Because of the audience. They make it more challenging. Whether it be the crew in front of you or a live audience. The lights, cables whatever. It's quite the challenge to be able to pull off a tough scene with all the people and stuff that's happening around you. But if you can shut it all out and forget where you are, it can be quite the Zen thing.

What made you want to become an actor?
It was a dare that got me started. The reason I 'stayed' an actor was because it was something that never repeated itself, irregardless of text or partner. Always changing. Never the same. Love that.

What is the best thing about this business?
The fact that it's constantly changing.

And the worst?
The fact that it's constantly changing.

Are you a cat person or dog person? Why?
Dog. I like something to knock me over when I come home from work.

Is there any role (tv, movie, theatre) you are dying to play?
The character of 'Sammy Hogarth' in Rod Serlings teleplay, 'The Comedian'.

What would be your dream movie to write, produce or act in?
It already exists. Zacharia Farted.

Do you prefer Vancouver or LA?
Vancouver definitely.

What's your favorite thing you've done so far acting-wise?
Zacharia was the biggest challenge. To play a character without a mask. Straight out. Before, I was constantly playing the 'off' kind of character. The nut case or handicapped person. And it believe it or not, it's not all that hard to walk with a limp and talk with an impediment. But to do none of that, to leave the rubber nose in the drawer and just stand there, that's challenging acting. As far as my 'favorite' acting role? I'd have to say the next one.

Do you like science fiction, since you've been in so much of that genre?
Love it. I was a total trekkie as a kid. Love the stuff.

Interview Copyright © 2001 ColinCunningham.com