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September 3, 2003
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BOUNCING BACK: "JAG' star David James Elliott is balancing his series work and new fatherhood with swimming, running and cycling training for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon Sept. 14. (The celebrity-studded annual event has raised over $400,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation so far. Coverage will air on Fox Sports Net Oct. 11.) Elliott has Hawaii's feared and revered Ironman triathlon in his sights for next year. The handsome actor was a whole different specimen when he completed last season's "JAG' episodes in exhausted shape, he admits.
Within the same time frame, "My wife (actress Nanci Chambers) had problems with her pregnancy, we moved, I renegotiated my contract for the show -- there was a great deal of stress.' Happily, "everything worked out. We have a wonderful baby boy, the sweetest little guy' -- born in March.
David decided against tackling any assignments during his seasonal hiatus, and he, Nancy and their new son and young daughter spent two months at their house in the Bahamas "and just relaxed.' He came back for the show's ninth season rested and ready.
He's proud to note that the Navy legal drama joins the 50 longest- running series on TV this season. "We're remaining as topical as we can, still doing ripped-from-the-headlines stories. That's actually easier to do toward the end of the season, as our production gets closer and closer to our airdates. We can't be shy about staying current if we want to continue to have the same show we've had.' But it does get dicey, he admits. Last season, says Elliott, the "JAG' company wrestled with whether to prepare Iraq war-related episodes before the war started. They did, and it was to the series' benefit.
