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Former local attorney now starring in movie with Eric Roberts
Lassiter Holmes is a memorable man — from his stature and classic handsome looks to his warm smile and Clark Kent-like curl of hair hovering over his forehead.
It’s hard to believe the actor has only been in the business for about a year and Holmes has already scored more than half a dozen roles in feature films, including his latest and biggest role in the horror “The Cloth.”
Holmes co-stars as Father Diekmen, a priest who serves as part of the secretorganization within the Catholic Church which battles the ever-growing number of demonic possessions nationwide.
He had the opportunity to act alongside Danny Trejo (“Desperado,” “Machete”) and Eric Roberts (“The Immortals,” “The Dark Knight”).
“We had good rapport,” Holmes said of Roberts.
While the father of four isn’t native to the Valley, he has called McAllen home since the early ‘90s when he moved down from Dallas to work as a lawyer.
After landing in some legal hot water, Holmes was disbarred and served a sentence for a white-collar crime. Since then, he has worked odd jobs to make ends meet.
Some of Holmes’ friends are in the movie business and suggested he audition for a play or two.
So he donned a suit, memorized a piece and jumped in head-first.
One of his most revered performances was that of Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” in July at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg.
Reviewer Jim McKone stated the cast all received standing ovations, and that Holmes was one of the top actors in the play.
“It was incredible,” the actor said.
He also portrayed Lyndon B. Johnson in the play “Pat & Lyndon,” a two-act play directed by local Pedro Garcia.
“I found out later that they had been auditioning people for three months trying to find somebody for this role,” Holmes said. “…I did the bit for them and they were like, ‘We’ll call you.’ …But I heard them … and I knew that I had gotten the part. And it turned out to be the most wonderful experience.”
Soon the Valley will see the former attorney in seven upcoming feature films, including the documentary “Miracle at Donna,” which tells the true story of the 1961 football Texas State Championship and the obliteration of racial barriers.
He can also be seen in a horror film called “Jacob,” a movie based on the true story of Jacob Kell, a 15-year-old who killed 35 people in five days.
The film debuted at Houston’s “Splatterfest” and received rave reviews for being original and entertaining.
Holmes took a role as an extra and throughout filming he impressed the director, Larry Carrell, thereby expanding his role with more speaking parts and more screen time, the actor said.
“The director just kept staring at me,” Holmes said.
When a moment came for Holmes to provide a bit of comic relief in a tense scene, he delivered his line and managed to make Carrell laugh so hard he was crying.
“We did four more takes and he laughed every time,” Holmes said. “And then the fifth time, finally he didn’t laugh and we finished.”
In the beginning of Holmes’ acting career, he said he’d give it a try for just a month and see what happens. When he began landing gigs, he told himself he’d give it just a year.
One year and a handful of feature films later, Holmes is considering a move to Los Angeles.
“I would really need a job to make it work so if I get a role in something that would pay the bills I’d probably stay in LA,” Holmes said. “The competition is fierce out there but... I will always keep my apartment here so I can be near my boys.”
