BRENTWOOD—Actor and advocate Steve Callahan spends a great deal of time working on film sets where he is able to portray gay characters. In the past they have mostly been very positive roles or sex symbols. He’s also portrayed a soap star, and the handsome actor has guest starred on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.” I spent a day catching up with the busy star, who is excited about his upcoming projects and Steve tells us exclusively about the characters and films by which he is best known by viewers.

Q-Steve, I’m going to get right to it. How does it feel to have portrayed so many positive gay characters on screen?

A-“I think that it is a really exciting time for gay films and gay actors. There are so many stories to be told and gay cinema is really beginning to explore that. Coming out stories have been done to death and gay cinema has opened itself up to so many genres and stories. My last three movies were a romance (‘Role/Play’), a psychological thriller (‘Pornography: A Thriller’) and a Christmas comedy (‘Make the Yuletide Gay’). That’s exciting, as an actor.”

Q-Please, can you tell us about your current role in the acclaimed film “Abrupt Decision”?

A-“”˜Abrupt Decision’ was written and directed by Paul Bright. I play a man going through a mid-life crisis, trying to decide what to do with the rest of his life after he is fired in the opening scene. Part of the story involves him rescuing dogs that are going to be euthanized, so we shot with dogs every day on set. Some days there a dozen dogs in the scene! I had a blast shooting that movie. I loved working with Paul. We shot on location in Texas last August. It should be out sometime in 2011.”

Q-I love dogs too, but would probably never work on-screen with them. What film are you best known for?

A-“Definitely the movie that I am recognized most often for is ”˜East Side Story.’ People really love that movie.”

Q-How did you get cast in the role in “Nine Lives”?

A-“”˜Nine Lives’ was based on a fantastic play by Michael Kearns called ‘Complications.’ I was in the original cast of the play and was lucky enough to reprise my role when it became a movie.”

Q-I see that like many of us budding actors, you have also done a soap. You had a role in the daytime drama “Days of Our Lives.” Would you like to do more soaps?

A-“I did two episodes of that soap years ago. I’d love to do a soap again. I play a soap opera star in the film ”˜Role/Play,’ by the way.”

Q-Do you also work behind the camera? If so, what is your favorite part of the business, acting, directing or producing?

A-“No, I only act. I have such respect for great directors and writers. My boyfriend is a writer and producer, as well as an actor. I am in awe of him.”

Steve Callahan’s performances in “Role/Play,” “Abrupt Decision” and a documentary on the acclaimed Tim McNally play “Corpus Christi: Playing With Redemption” will all be released in 2011.

To learn more about the actor you can go to his website stevecallahan.comor his Facebook page at facebook.com/SteveCallahanActor.