Wes Brown from the highly popular HBO series True Blood is visiting Houston!
Brown has played Luke McDonald on HBO’s True Blood, which took home the show’s only season to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for best ensemble. He is Rachel Bilson’s love interest, Dr. Judson Lyons on Hart of Dixie, and had a major arc on the hit series, Private Practice. Concurrently Wes just completely the western feature, Shadow On The Mesa, and a new series airing April 5th on ABC, Scandal. Also being released this summer is Wyatt Earp’s Revenge, with himself, Val Kilmer and Trace Adkins. He is visiting Houston to support the Rose Ribbon Foundation.
The Rose Ribbon Foundation provides free reconstructive surgery to post-cancer patients who are not able to afford health insurance.
If you would like to meet Wes Brown at the Rose Ribbon Foundation benefit tickets can be purchased for a donation of $125 online at www.roseribbon.org, by credit card at (713)622-2277 or at the door.
The event at SAKS FIFTH AVENUE on Friday, March 30th includes over twenty stars from movie, tv and music that will walk the red carpet; two live performances by three time Carnegie Hall pianist Reuel and country music artist Allen Duhon; and a special guest appearance by iconic Russian artist Olga Tobreluts.
An Interview with Wes Brown
BackstageOL–What got you into acting? – Wes) It was my junior year at LSU. I was involving myself with entertainment type work. Local films, commercials, print jobs, plus I was playing in a rock band. I began taking theater classes. After my junior year I decided to see how I would do in a place like LA so I moved there during the summer of ’03, another musician subbing in for me in our band. During that summer I had booked a few commercials, landed an agent and manager. I had n academic scholarship and had a year left. So, I returned when the new school year started and focused on theater, making it apart of my degree. I moved to California not too long after graduation, and fortunately have been working all the time.
BackstageOL) What was it like to work on True Blood? Wes) I can’t say enough good things about it. First off, to be cast by these producers for a great role on a great show is truly a blessing. Professionally, what I took most is watching some of the best of the best film makers’ work and to learn from them. You never stop learning in this business. Every Monday, for whatever reason, my assigned seat at our table read I was seated next to Allan Ball. Sitting next to an Academy Award winner, (Allen Ball) you shut up and listen. What I believe I took most, other than structural and technical aspects, is to have fun. At the end of the day, it’s a show about vampires. We all take the business of telling stories seriously. At the same time, we should not take ourselves seriously and should always love and enjoy what we do. I can’t sit here and say that getting paid to go fight vampires everyday was not a blast. I almost turned into an owl shooting scenes for the show that many nights.
BackstageOL) Are you also a singer and songwriter? Wes) Sort of. It’s been a long, long time hobby. Would love to begin songwriting professionally. Jace Everett and I have become good friends. He wrote and sings the theme song to True Blood. Also wrote “Your Man” by Josh Turner among others, he has become a mentor to me over the last year. He and I actually just co-wrote our first song together. Jumping into the songwriting world is something I plan on doing in the very near future.
BackstageOL) What brings you to Houston (besides a great group of people) Wes) Other than a great group of people…..I really enjoy going back to Texas. I was born in Fort Worth, and grew up in south Louisiana. I have a bit of family in the Houston area, and grew up an Astros fan. I spend a decent amount of time in east Texas and actually just got back from trip to Cotulla, Texas.
BackstageOL) What are you working on right now? Wes) Only days ago I just wrapped the feature “Shadow On The Mesa”. Set in west, 1880, I play a bounty hunter, whom after discovering his mother was killed, goes searching for answers. The search ends up finding my lost family involved in fighting a battle that inevitably cost my mother her life. It’s my fifth western, by far my favorite genre. The premiere of Scandal on ABC, April 5th, is next to air.
BackstageOL) Can you tell us about Scandal? Wes) Scandal is based on the real life of Judy Smith, the former press secretary of George W. Bush. She is a very well known PR guru, dealing with very high profile cases in crisis management. Some of her clients she has guided and councilled: Monica Lewinsky, Michael Vick, Senator Larry Craig, Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry for drug possession, the Clarence Thomas hearings, and the Enron Congressional hearings. Basically, I play the first high profile case of the season, congressional medal of honor winner, Sullivan St. James, accused of murdering his girlfriend.
BackstageOL) Besides Allen Duhon, who is your favorite country singer? – Wes) To name one, I’d just be throwing someone out there. It’s like having dinner, sometimes it just depends on what kind of mood you’re in. I’ve always been drawn to the songwriters though. That and I am a huge fan of old country. Alabama, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Sr., Loretta Lynn, and Waylon Jennings are among my favorites. I am always completely impressed with the Zac Brown Band because of their broad range of style and musicianship. I also have to appreciate the country singer/actor combination, so Kris Kristofferson and Dwight Yoakum are at the top of my list. New artist favorites would be The Civil Wars.
BackstageOL) To date what is your most recognizable work? Wes) It’s very hard to say. It really depends on where I am and the people I’m around. Last time in Houston, apparently there are a lot of Private Practice fans. Hart of Dixie is on currently, so that has a lot to do with it. I do have to say that True Blood was a huge door opener, and was my first “big” job that really got recognition.
BackstageOL) There is a lot of filming in Louisiana. Is this something you have in your sights? Wes) I think it’s fantastic the amount of work that is going on in Louisiana right now. I have worked there a few times already; it’s very surreal to work as an actor in the place that you grew up, especially a place so far from LA. I just wrote a film, and am planning on shooting it in Louisiana, most likely during football season. Being an LSU fan, it’s not a coincidence
BackstageOL) Is Texas your home state? Wes) I was born in Texas, but moved to Louisiana at 13 days old. I am Texas born, but Louisiana is my home.
