Mission actor on 'Frasier' talks Hilary Duff, Penn Badgley

February 05, 2009 1:32 AM

| Print Story | E-Mail Story

Sandra Gonzalez

The Monitor

Festiva's "Hometown Hollywood" tracks down the big names that have emerged from the Rio Grande Valley, as well as the rising stars who are bound to make us proud in the future. Click here to meet more of them!

He had just finished up the fall semester of his senior year at Sharyland High School when he packed up for Los Angeles. Josh Wise's parents had given him "a gentle nudge out the door" because they knew he was meant to do something greater.

He was three days shy of turning 18 at the time and had set out to do what most people who dream of becoming Hollywood actors never work up the courage to do. For those who pursue their L.A. aspirations, failure often becomed too much to deal with, especially after funds run short, and dreams are abandoned in lieu of a steady paycheck. But Wise has been in L.A. for five years and has stuck it out, even getting his diploma via home schooling in the process.

Things started off on a high point for Wise. Before he lived in L.A., 16-year-old Wise scored a guest spot on Frasier, and soon after he took a role on the short-lived WB show Do Over, alongside a pre-Gossip Girls Penn Badgley.

When the show was cancelled after just 15 episodes, Wise and his family moved back to Texas. But the yearning for L.A. stayed with him; two years later, he moved back to take a second shot at his dream.

But like all things, dreams can change over time. While he still goes to two or three auditions a week, Wise has taken to a new love: writing. He's currently shopping around a script he's written for a science-fiction film.

One thing's for sure: The now-23-year-old won't take no for an answer in this town again. He has found his passion, and aiming for anything less than his grandest dream would be, well, un-Wise.

JOSH WISE
Hometown: Mission
Where he lives: Los Angeles for five years

Where you've seen him: ER, Without a Trace, Lizzie McGuire, Do Over, Frasier

What surprises him about L.A.: Though he enjoys the town, Wise said the once awe-inducing aspect of moviemaking has been somewhat lost. "You lose the glamour of ... movies and TV," he said. "It brings a reality to it. When you're watching movies they lose their essence to a degree" On the plus, Wise said his movie standards have since gone up. "I know it's a good movie if I get lost and forget I'm watching a movie. I look at it different," he said.

Last audition: For an untitled Nancy Meyer's project. Meyers penned movies like The Holiday, Father of the Bride and Somethings Gotta Give.

One movie I wish I'd been in: Star Wars. "That's why I started acting," Wise said. "I wanted to be in the Star Wars films and when I found out they were only making three, that was a hard day in the life of Josh Wise."

His three favorite movies: Braveheart, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Dumb and Dumber

He would eat garbage to work with: Colin Farrell or Martin Scorsese

The toughest part of LA: "To keep on keeping on. I'd say just having faith and making it work."

On Hilary Duff: "We kinda grew up together. Out circle of friends was the same. When she got famous she kinda left the circle of friends. But it was a large circle."

On working with Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley before he was famous: When Wise booked a gig on Do Over, he never anticipated that he would be working along side future TV megastar Penn Badgley. In fact, Wise saw Badgley, who was one year his junior, as his "best friend at the time." And the two still have contact today. "We hang out sometimes when he's here, but he has to live in New York for Gossip Girls," Wise said. And even though they both tried out for the series, Wise said he's proud of his friend's success. "It's cool. I'm very happy he got it. He really deserved it."

Behind the scenes: Wise and Badgley were good friends while working on the set of Do Over. Off the set, they'd hang out at under18 clubs and drive around in Wise's car. But it was on the set when they made many of their teenage boy moments. One day, the pair recalled hearing stories about how the young stars of The Brady Bunch would drive around the sets in golf carts. So, they decided to give it a try. After stealing one from an unsuspecting assistant director, they took turns at the wheel as they cruised around. It was all fun and games - until they were busted. "We actually got in a lot of trouble," Wise said. Filming was delayed while the boys were disciplined for "driving kinda crazy" and taken back to set. "They let us know that we weren't that special."