Post by Forever Xena on Sept 4, 2005 7:55:26 GMT -6
‘Numb3rs’ just adds up for Morrow
Sunday, August 28, 2005 By Eirik Knutzen Copley News Service
A year or so ago, the highly enthused producers of “Numb3rs” sent the pilot script to Rob Morrow along with a message that said, “Take either part — which one would you like?”
Flattered, the handsome actor who made his breakthrough as Dr. Joel Fleischman on “Northern Exposure,” raced through the pages, loved it and let it be known that he would prefer to play seasoned FBI Agent Don Eppes rather than Charlie Eppes, his math genius younger brother.
“Of course, I didn’t hear from them again,” laughs Morrow, 42, who has heard and seen all that Hollywood has to offer since making his screen debut in the terrible comedy feature film “Private Resort” (1985).
“Shortly after that, I found out that they had made an expensive pilot with David Krumholtz as Charlie and someone else as Don. Then they called again to say they were making another ‘Numb3rs’ pilot, hopefully with me as Don and David still as the math brother.”
No fool, Morrow immediately consulted his really smart actress-producer wife, Debbon Ayer, who recommended that he apply the “Five P’s Principle” to the equation: The People (involved), the Pay, the Part, the Play (writing) and the Place.
It all added up in a hurry as the project would be shot in Los Angeles assuring a genuine family life, the script was terrific, the role exceptional, the pay was excellent and famed brothers Ridley and Tony Scott served as executive producers.
“Numb3rs” — his fourth TV series as a regular — has been a lovefest ever since, according to Morrow, who spends an average of 14 hours a day when the company shoots interiors at their converted warehouse studio in downtown Los Angeles and counts the seconds until he can spend quality time on weekends with his wife and 4-year-old daughter, Tu Simone, usually referred to as Tu Morrow.
“My wife is involved in everything I do, plus Debbie is a fantastic mother who still finds time to do TV commercials, guest-star on shows like ‘Judging Amy’ and do small parts in movies,” he says appreciatively. “And my daughter ... she is the best thing that ever happened to me, bar none.
“I love being Tu’s dad. I love watching her grow up. I can’t remember what my life was like before she came along; I can’t imagine life without her.”
By accident or design, Tu’s arrival finally put his life in clear perspective. “Everything seemed arbitrary until my daughter came along,” says Morrow, emotion choking off words in his throat.
Born along with a younger sister in New Rochelle, N.Y., Morrow was left a very angry 9-year-old when his parents divorced and “basically didn’t learn a thing in school beyond the fifth grade.”
The son of an industrial lighting designer and a dental hygienist somehow managed to graduate in 1979 from Sunrise High School in Miami, Fla., then became a drama major at the University of New Hampshire.
He spent the next eight years in New York, incurring large debts through a series of low-paying odd jobs and free acting gigs off-Broadway.
One season on the drama series “Tattingers” (1989) delighted creditors; “Northern Exposure” (1990-95) put him over the top artistically and financially. Unfortunately, his quality cable TV series “Street Time” (2002-03) folded prematurely.
“‘Northern Exposure’ meant everything to my career and changed my life in countless ways, all for the good,” says Morrow, who received two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of the sympathetic, boyish-looking Dr. Fleischman.
“Finally, I was recognized by my peers, earned a good income and got five years of on-the-job training in screen acting, directing and producing. I took advantage of it all.”
Sunday, August 28, 2005 By Eirik Knutzen Copley News Service
A year or so ago, the highly enthused producers of “Numb3rs” sent the pilot script to Rob Morrow along with a message that said, “Take either part — which one would you like?”
Flattered, the handsome actor who made his breakthrough as Dr. Joel Fleischman on “Northern Exposure,” raced through the pages, loved it and let it be known that he would prefer to play seasoned FBI Agent Don Eppes rather than Charlie Eppes, his math genius younger brother.
“Of course, I didn’t hear from them again,” laughs Morrow, 42, who has heard and seen all that Hollywood has to offer since making his screen debut in the terrible comedy feature film “Private Resort” (1985).
“Shortly after that, I found out that they had made an expensive pilot with David Krumholtz as Charlie and someone else as Don. Then they called again to say they were making another ‘Numb3rs’ pilot, hopefully with me as Don and David still as the math brother.”
No fool, Morrow immediately consulted his really smart actress-producer wife, Debbon Ayer, who recommended that he apply the “Five P’s Principle” to the equation: The People (involved), the Pay, the Part, the Play (writing) and the Place.
It all added up in a hurry as the project would be shot in Los Angeles assuring a genuine family life, the script was terrific, the role exceptional, the pay was excellent and famed brothers Ridley and Tony Scott served as executive producers.
“Numb3rs” — his fourth TV series as a regular — has been a lovefest ever since, according to Morrow, who spends an average of 14 hours a day when the company shoots interiors at their converted warehouse studio in downtown Los Angeles and counts the seconds until he can spend quality time on weekends with his wife and 4-year-old daughter, Tu Simone, usually referred to as Tu Morrow.
“My wife is involved in everything I do, plus Debbie is a fantastic mother who still finds time to do TV commercials, guest-star on shows like ‘Judging Amy’ and do small parts in movies,” he says appreciatively. “And my daughter ... she is the best thing that ever happened to me, bar none.
“I love being Tu’s dad. I love watching her grow up. I can’t remember what my life was like before she came along; I can’t imagine life without her.”
By accident or design, Tu’s arrival finally put his life in clear perspective. “Everything seemed arbitrary until my daughter came along,” says Morrow, emotion choking off words in his throat.
Born along with a younger sister in New Rochelle, N.Y., Morrow was left a very angry 9-year-old when his parents divorced and “basically didn’t learn a thing in school beyond the fifth grade.”
The son of an industrial lighting designer and a dental hygienist somehow managed to graduate in 1979 from Sunrise High School in Miami, Fla., then became a drama major at the University of New Hampshire.
He spent the next eight years in New York, incurring large debts through a series of low-paying odd jobs and free acting gigs off-Broadway.
One season on the drama series “Tattingers” (1989) delighted creditors; “Northern Exposure” (1990-95) put him over the top artistically and financially. Unfortunately, his quality cable TV series “Street Time” (2002-03) folded prematurely.
“‘Northern Exposure’ meant everything to my career and changed my life in countless ways, all for the good,” says Morrow, who received two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of the sympathetic, boyish-looking Dr. Fleischman.
“Finally, I was recognized by my peers, earned a good income and got five years of on-the-job training in screen acting, directing and producing. I took advantage of it all.”