Lenny Von Dohlen on Billy Galvin

"I really started from scratch with this role, because I'm not like Billy at all," says Lenny Von Dohlen, the accomplished young actor who plays the title character in Vestron Pictures "Billy Galvin."

"I have the reverse problem of Billy, who is unable to express his feelings, "Von Dohlen explains. "Keeping a lid on my emotions was the biggest challenge in playing the role. I couldn't understand at first why Billy couldn't tell his girlfriend, Nora, that he loved her. But it because very clear in the script. Billy needs the love of his father - needs to hear his father say 'I love you' - dbefore he can say it to anyone else."

Coming to terms with the emotional problems of his character was only part of Von Dohlen's intense preparation for the role. Von Dohlen knew very little about ironworkers, so he spent five weeks at different Manhattan construction sites "just hanging out with the guys and learning what their lives are all about." He also spent time talking with the "regulars" at working class bars.

"I learned that ironworkers and actors have a major thing in common," adds Von Dohlen. " Courage!"

Von Dohlen also underwent a physical transformation in preparing for the role of Billy. He gained 15 pounds, worked out frequency and changed the way he walked and talked.

"I was relieved to learn that there are slim ironworkers," he laughs. "They aren't all big and beefy."

Von Dohlen made his film debut as Robert Dennis, the leader of a small band, in the Academy Award-winning drama " Tender Mercies." He also starred in the comedy "Electric Dreams," the story of a young man who competes with a lovestruck computer for the affections of a beautiful neighbor. He has appeared in numerous Off-broadway and regional stage productions. Among his television credits are starring role in "Miami Vice,""The Equalizer," "Tales from the Darkside," and the PBS "American Playhouse" production of "Under the Biltmore Clock."

Raised in the small town of Goliad, Texas, Von Dohlen never dreamed that he would become an actor. His family is in the horse racing business, and as a teenager he was obsessed with becoming a jockey. The obsession ended, however, when he grew to almost six feet and knew he would exceed a jockey's weight restrictions.

Von Dohlen says he became involved in a play in junior high school "by accident," and found that he liked it. Now, he says, "I wouldn't trade acting for anything. You need a lot of courage and staying power ... a lot like being a jockey."

When the filming of "Billy Galvin" began, Von Dohlen was somewhat daunted at playing opposite an accomplished screen veteran like Karl Malden. "Karl had been in some of my favorite movies of all time. I was mindful of that. I though it would be like facing Mr. Rushmore."

"But I got over it," he adds. "Once I got into the story, I didn't think about it."

"I wasn't sure what Karl thought of me as an actor or a person until the very end," Von Dohlen continues. "After we were through filming, Karl told me I had done my homework. Had I learned that earlier on, I might have relaxed more and been less tense working with him. I think that not knowing how he felt kept the tension in the story, and it comes through in the film. We really were Billy and Jack until the last day."

Reflecting on the experience of playing a construction worker, Von Dohlen says, "I actually put a screw in that building (the Marketplace, site of the construction scenes in the film). It was one of my proudest achievements. That building will be here longer than I will. So will the movie."

Vestron Pictures presents an Indian Neck ﾐ Mark/Jett Production of a John Gray Film, "Billy Galvin," starring Karl Malden, Lenny Von Dohlen, Joyce Van Patten and Toni Kalem. The film was produced by Tony Mark and Sue Jett and directed by Gray from his original screenplay.

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