Sechelt-raised actor David Paetkau began a new prime time TV gig last week, playing a naïve young immigration officer in the new NBC series LAX.
In the pilot episode, aired Sept. 13, Paetkau's character, Nick, must deal with a mail-order bride who arrives in L.A. with no identification.
"[My character] is kind of green, and I'm still empathetic with the people I deal with," he said.
Paetkau spoke with Coast Reporter on his cell phone from Universal Studios, during a break in shooting on an upcoming episode.
"I'm waiting to film a scene where I'm dealing with a suspected terrorist," he said.
The series, starring Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood, is set in Los Angeles International Airport. Paetkau, who will be a regular character on the series, said the co-stars are great to work with. Locklear is "a sweetheart, very nice and positive and fun to be around."
Paetkau, who is 31 years old, began his acting career only in 1998. Earlier he earned a degree in psychology from Concordia University, spent some time travelling and then decided to take a serious shot at acting.
"I've always had the acting bug lying dormant," said Paetkau. "I said I'd give it three years."Six years later, Paetkau has played in many films including Snow Day (with Chevy Chase), Slap Shot 2 and Where Are You Going.He debuted in the movie Disturbing Behaviour, playing a mind-controlled teen. Two other Sunshine Coast-born actors, Aaron Pearl and Jennifer Copping, were very influential in his acting career, he said.
He's always loved hockey, so Slap Shot 2 was a dream job, "five weeks of hockey and getting paid." Unlike some of the actors who needed doubles for the hockey scenes, he did all his own skating.
There was a bit of a black cloud hanging over the filming of Slap Shot 2, though, a feeling among the cast that it would be difficult to measure up to the classic comedy of the original.
"It was a little sacrilegious making that movie," said Paetkau.
Paetkau's first lead role in an independent film entitled Dirt People turned into a huge disappointment when the movie makers ran out of money and shut down half way through production. "It's hard to make an independent movie," he said.
His role in LAX is his best gig so far, and Paetkau was delighted with the success of the pilot episode.
"It did really well. The ratings are really high," said Paetkau. "If the show becomes a hit, it'll open a lot of doors for me."
