Tube Talk - David James Elliott

TV Week  Feb 2, 2008

Best known for his role on JAG, David James Elliott wooed audiences for 10 years as hunky Navy lawyer Lt. Harmon Rabb. The high-profile post even led to the Milton, Ontario-born actor scoring a major career coup: landing a spot on People Magazine's 50 "Most Beautiful People" list in 1996. Not bad for a guy who had zero acting aspirations until he was coaxed by a teacher into auditioning for Ryerson University's theater program. After a two-year stint with the Stratford Shakespearean Festival Company, Elliott caught the attention of producers of the CBC's Street Legal. Roles in hit series such as China Beach, Doogie Howser, M.D., Knots Landing and Melrose Place soon followed, as well as a memorable part as an anti-abortion furniture mover in Seinfeld. Off-camera, this jock star keeps his killer physique by competing in marathons, triathlons, and even a recent Ironman competition in Hawaii. The married dad of two is based in California these days but makes frequent forays to Squamish, where he's shooting the new Global series The Guard. TV Week correspondent Anna Dupas caught up with Elliott to talk about what sold him on the Coast Guard drama, how he spends his spare time, and what he and co-star Steve Bacic do when the cameras stop rolling.

AD: Do you spend much time in Squamish?
DJE: I'm just a special guest star on the show, so I go up there when they call me. I've been there three times now. It's a beautiful place. I don't know if I'd want to be there in the winter, though.

AD: What motivated you to accept a role on The Guard?
DJE: I liked the character. He's a guy with MS and he's your chronic dope-smoker, so there were some possibilities to have some levels to play there. And I liked the script, so I came aboard.

AD: How are you enjoying it?
DJE: I'm having a great time. I think they're a wonderfully talented cast. I'm digging it. Steve Bacic and I stay in touch pretty regularly, and when I'm up there I hang with him a lot. We have a good time.

AD: Do you two hit the town?
DJE: It's usually in Squamish, so there's not a lot to do there. We play poker.

AD: I hear you're quite an accomplished athlete.
DJE: I did the Ironman and I've done about 50 marathons. My orthopedic surgeon told me it might be time to start concentrating more on swimming and biking and less on running. I wanted to do the Ironman again, but I wound up with a cracked cartilage, so it kind of derailed some of my long-term marathon plans. But I like swimming a lot, so I've been doing some distance swimming events.

AD: I understand you didn't originally aspire to be an actor.
DJE: I was trying to figure that out when my teacher suggested I try it. And my brother knew some people in the acting program at York University in Toronto, and they suggested that I go to Ryerson 'cause it was the best [acting] school in Canada at that point. So I thought, 'OK. I'll audition for them. If I get in, that's what I'll do. If I don't , I'll come up with a new plan.' Out of, like, a thousand people, they pick 30, and I got in by some miracle 'cause I had no idea what I was doing.

AD: How did it feel to be picked for People's "Most Beautiful" list?
DJE: It was nice. It was flattering. Those were wild days. The show (JAG) was taking off, it was fast and furious, I was working all the time - I was rarely home. It's nice to have a less hectic schedule now, I'll be honest with you.

AD: What was it like to appear on Seinfeld?
DJE: It was cool. I had a great time. Very nice people. I mean, we didn't go hanging out, but it was a nice environment to be in, and I had a good time.

AD: How do you spend your free time these days?
DJE: I like to hang outside of the industry and just have a life, you know? I'm basically a chauffeur to my two children. I'm either picking up my son in Pacific Palisades, or I'm picking up my daughter [a competitive swimmer] over in Hollywood. If I can squeeze in a little time for me, I'll do some golfing.