David Boreanaz

Sidebar: Starting Out

A husband, father and actor, David Boreanaz was born 16th May 1971 in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied acting and film at New York’s Ithaca College and, after graduating, moved to Los Angeles to try his luck at acting. "I didn’t grow up with any particular desire to be in the business," says Boreanaz. "I enjoy being around people and experiencing life, so I guess that’s what brought me to acting. Other than college, I don’t really have much formal training. However, I understand what this job entails, especially insofar as the commitment level. With that in mind, I always make sure to show up in time for work and learn as I go along."

When it comes to his professional debut, one thing sticks out foremost in Boreanaz’s mind. "It was very embarrassing," he laughs. "I was in a commercial and had to do this crazy dance. So I made a fool of myself right off the bat but nonetheless I kept going and didn’t let it discourage me."

Parking attendant, door-to-door salesman and house painter are a few of the jobs Boreanaz did to pay the bills back when he was an aspiring actor. Some of his early work includes a guest part on the TV sitcom "Married With Children," and roles in the feature films "Aspen Extreme" and "Best of the Best II." Funnily enough, a year before he was hired for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the actor was cast as a Vampire’s victim in the 1996 movie "Macabre Pair of Shorts."

"I love playing tormented souls," says Boreanaz. "I’m still relatively new at this and I’m hoping that the future holds many more job opportunities for me. So far, though, my greatest challenge as an actor has been Angel and it’s a role that I continue to enjoy."

What advice would the actor give to those wishing to follow in his footsteps? "Make sure you get into acting for the right reasons," he says. "Don’t do it just for the fame and publicity, otherwise your career is likely to be short-lived. You’ve got to be ready for the ups as well as the downs. If you’re lucky, and talented, hopefully you’ll experience more of the former than the latter."