HOLLYWOOD—HELLO AMERICA! When I first met Brian Rohan, I was quickly taken by his resemblance to my late friend and actor Anthony Perkins. When listening to his thoughts about the industry and his clear focus concerning who he is and objectives, there was little doubt in my mind that this is clearly another actor worth keeping an eye on.

1.  WHEN WERE YOU FIRST AWARE OF ANTHONY PERKINS AND HOW MUCH YOU RESEMBLED HIM?

I grew up in New York and “Psycho” used to air (edited, of course) on the 4 o’clock movie on channel 9.  I always watched it though I should have been doing homework.  In retrospect, I guess you could say I was doing homework of another sort.  I can’t recall a “first-time” viewing.  I was always aware of “Psycho,” like “Superman” or “Dracula.”  It was always there, part of our collective-conscious.  As for Perkins himself, I remember him, a bit older and bespectacled, hosting horror retrospectives and on “Saturday Night Live” (where he did a sketch talking to himself as Mother), as well as doing interviews for the “Psycho” sequels.  In my late teens, I caught “Pretty Poison” on television and I was floored.  Here was the young Perkins, in color no less, playing an arsonist and habitual liar and he was heartbreaking.  I remember thinking, “That’s what great acting’s all about.” You have to be the ambassador for your character – non-judgmental. You can’t approach a part as “the villain” or “the snob” or “the floozy.”  You need to show the person and how they got there, and Perkins always did that.

As for my resemblance, well, believe it or not, I NEVER heard “Anthony Perkins” when people counted off the actors I reminded them of.  It wasn’t until 2006 when Universal was casting Halloween Horror Nights that it happened.  From the porch of the “Psycho” house I heard audible whispers of “Is that really him?”  After that it was non-stop.  Whether I was auditioning or at a restaurant or out with friends, “You know who you look like?” was suddenly met with just one answer (well maybe not just one…"Tony,” “Norman,” “Anthony,” “Psycho”).  Maybe I grew into it or channeled something, but it’s a comparison I like.

2.  DID THIS INFLUENCE YOUR INTEREST IN ACTING?

I can’t really credit Mr. Perkins as an influence with my interest in acting.  It was something I decided to do at a very young age.  I kept a close eye on the movies, new and old, growing up, so I have had hundreds of influences.  I certainly credit him with furthering my appreciation for great acting as in the aforementioned “Pretty Poison.”

3.  WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST ACTING JOB (FILM OR THEATRE) THAT MADE YOU FEEL THAT IT WAS SOMETHING YOU NEEDED TO DO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.  AND WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT IT I.E., STUDY OR CONNECTING WITH THOSE WHO MIGHT MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU?

I was passionate about acting long before I set foot onstage or in front of a camera.  I always loved the movies.  I voraciously read up on them as a child.  In fourth grade I did a book report on (Universal founder) Carl Laemmle and couldn’t even pronounce his name when I had to read it out loud.  In high school, when all the parts went to the seniors, I became the freshman stage manager though I didn’t know what a stage manager was.  When I was dissatisfied with the theatre group in college I created my own.  Looking back, I seem a little ravenous, but I was doing what I was compelled to do.

Turning this into a career was the tricky part.  As a senior in college I interned at an Off-Broadway theatre, sweeping and building and taking tickets and getting a sense of what was going on, eventually getting a role here and there.  Within a year I had my Equity card.  I studied around Manhattan, most notably with the great Betty Buckley.  In the process I met people; people on the same life-path as me who thought of me when a role came up or who wanted to collaborate in one way or another.  In L.A. one of my best friends is writer/director Richard Gale.  We have a great track record together.  Our first project was nominated for a local Emmy and our next one won the coveted statue.  (Yes, I have an Emmy in my living room for On-Camera Performer) We’ve done two multi-award winning short films together.  In one of them, “Criticized,” which has won 19 awards at various film festivals, I play a very Norman Bates-esque character.

4.  WHO ARE A FEW ACTORS WHO ALSO INSPIRE YOU IN THE BUSINESS AND WHY?

I’ll start with the veterans:  Jimmy Stewart for one because, despite his image, he took a lot of risks, as did Barbara Stanwyck.  Joan Crawford’s another one I admire because she came from nothing.  Watch her in “Grand Hotel.” She gets in the ring with Garbo and the Barrymores and emerges triumphant.  Jimmy, Barbara, and Joan also managed to survive and have diverse careers in a fickle industry through reinventing themselves.  Today’s actors earn my admiration for the same qualities: risk-taking and diversity.  I love Sean Penn, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and, of course, Meryl.  The list goes on.

5.  DO YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE DOING SERIOUS DRAMA OR COMEDY?

Comedy really IS more difficult. I didn’t believe it at first.  There are so many different styles of comedy and overplaying or underplaying can kill a scene.  An “American Pie” isn’t a “Bringing Up Baby,” which isn’t an “Ace Ventura,” which isn’t a “Working Girl.”  In drama, for the most part, there is one truth.  I can’t really call drama easier, but it can be easier to navigate.  I’m putting my money where my mouth is and I’m taking some risks, appearing onstage now in two comedies downtown.

6.  WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOU FIT IN THE INDUSTRY AND WHY?

Being a “type” helps.  An “Anthony Perkins-type” for example.

7.  DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE MORE OF A PASSION FOR "CHARACTER" ACTING THAN BEING CONSIDERED A "LEADING" MAN?  WHICH IS MORE REALISTIC IN THE FACE OF WHAT HOLLYWOOD IS TODAY?

The line is definitely blurred today and that’s a good thing.  Nothing against Clark Gable or Gary Cooper, but they’d never gain 30 pounds for a role or play a schizophrenic like their modern-day counterparts George Clooney and Brad Pitt.  I love performing and character work is all I care about.  I’ve done the leading-man thing and it’s gratifying but not necessarily satisfying.

8.  WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AS A CREATIVE ARTIST—THERE'S A SIDE OF YOU THAT IS EXTREMELY PASSIONATE, COMPELLING, EVEN MYSTERIOUS, SOMETHING THAT ALL SPECIAL OR EVEN GREAT ACTORS HAVE—IN OTHER WORDS WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?

Well thank you for that.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of just going from job to job, because in acting, you’re sort of doing just that.  But I do want to focus on film (with the occasional stage appearance). My template is the film career of Vincent D’Onofrio.  He does off-beat, independent projects he cares about.   

9.  HOW DO YOU HANDLE REJECTION, TRUTH AND REALITY?

Rejection’s easy at this point.  You don’t take it personally.  You don’t beat yourself up over it.  If possible, just learn from it.  As for truth and reality, they kinda’ go hand-in-hand, and I THINK I’m living in it.  I could be wrong.

10.  SO FAR IN YOUR YOUNG CAREER, WHAT PLAYS OR FILMS HAVE YOU REALLY ENJOYED DOING BECAUSE YOU CAN IDENTIFY WITH LIFE AS YOU'VE DISCOVERED IT TO BE? 

Honestly, and this is not a cop-out, they’ve all had their merits.  Each project, from the fluffiest comedy to the heaviest drama, touches on deep and true aspects of life, and life is more diverse than my resume can ever be.  Each production is a discovery.

11.  WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHO DO YOU SEE?  ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH IT?

Aren’t we all works in progress?  Like a great sculpture or painting in progress, there’s always an area that needs work…an area we can’t get quite right.  I pursue a wonderful art form that lets me play with and explore these different aspects.  A little discomfort when we look in the mirror helps us grow, and, not to mention, it keeps us interesting.