If you haven't gotten a chance to listen to Austin's interview on Artist on Demand, not for the interview, but for his answers.
All know the story of Austin being discovered at 17 during Sundance, and some may know he started taking acting classes when he was around 15. But in this interview he goes way back and talks about being 3 or 4 standing in the front lawn in his pajamas reciting a Charlie Brown book that was his first foray into performing.
He had listened to a Charlie Brown book on tape so much, he ended up memorizing it, and one day just started reciting it in his pj's on the front lawn with his sister doing the girl voices and his dad capturing it on the new video camera. His parents seeing his talent, sent him to a theater class and as he says, he ran away screaming from it.
It was after growing up and playing sports he was bit by the acting bug at 15 and started taking classes. And now 15 years later he has had several television series, been in independent and blockbuster movies, and worked hard into buidling a successful career as an actor on both the big and small screen.
Asked who is inspiration, he says first off his parents, talking about his father and his career as a doctor and his mother who received her 16th World Championship title and as Austin proudly points out will most likely be in the Waterskiing Hall of Fame. You can hear the genuine pride respect and love he has for his parents and it speaks of not just the man he is, but the family who raised him.
Austin also talks about his acting inspiration, while claiming there are so many, he does come up with a few names, Brando, Newman, Steve McQueen, and Robert Mitchum. All incredible actors, rebels, non-comformists, and all have been seen as anti-heroes. Now, there's something to think about.
And a far cry from Charlie Brown.
Austin goes on to talk back one role he would like to play, Fast Eddie Felson. Newman played Fast Eddie in The Hustler and reprised him in The Color of Money. (Heck even OMG thought about Austin doing Fast Eddie while back) Don't think getting to play pool for a movie would a hardship for Austin, but don't think it's not all about the pool, it's the role, the man.
He also talks about more including the new movie LOL, how he was considered for two parts in the movie, Julian and OTH, and his fundraising efforts.
