Patrick Muldoon is known best for his roles in the original “Melrose Place” and “Starship Troopers”. Patrick currently returned to his role on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” after a 16 year break. Media Mikes had a chance to chat about his return to soaps and also his connection to Casper Van Dian.
Mike Gencarelli: How has it been returning “Days of Our Lives” after a 16 year break?
Patrick Muldoon: I kind of compare it to what it would be like if you went back to high school 15 years later and all of the same people are there. It’s almost like a family reunion. The halls and dressing rooms are still the same. It was really bizarre in the beginning but there was still that feeling like I never left. I am loving it!
MG: What would you say is the most challenging aspect of working in soaps?
PM: It’s much different. I have been used to working with just one camera. It’s taken some getting used to again. There is a lot of memorization happening. A movie you get four months to work on your lines and memorize them but on soaps you only get one day. Everyone works really hard and we all do our best. It really has the feel of a theater company and a live show
MG: Was it hard picking up the character of Austin Reed after so long?
PM: With soap operas they write the character and as it progresses they write in aspects of the actor playing the role. They did that for me originally so I am really familiar with this character. I played Austin for 3 years which is the longest role I have ever played. It’s weird how emotionally everything reattaches.
MG: You have done TV and movies, what do you look for more in a role or character?
PM: I tend to look at things backwards. When you get a part there is something going on within that character. There is a question that the character is living at that time. There is probably something you need to look at from your own personal life. As things come to you I kind of look at it on a spiritual tip a little bit. Whatever obstacle that character has to face somehow I am being asked to look at that in my own life. In order to be able to play the part you have to look at it from your own life. That is generally what I pay attention to when a part comes across the desk.
MG: You recently reunited with your “Starship Troopers” co-star Casper Van Dien on “Born to Ride”, tell us about that project?
PM: That film actually just got released last year however it was shot almost 7 years ago. It may have been longer than that. I don’t know what exactly happened with the film being tied up for so long. Casper and I are great friends. Neither one of us knew how to ride a motorcycle when we started shooting that. I started out doing circles in a parking lot and then I was going 70 miles an hour down a road. It was such a rush. By the grace of god we got out of that movie alive as neither of knew how to ride.
MG: You starred in 2007’s “Ice Spiders” and you got “Spider 3D” coming up, what can you tell us about that?
PM: I’m not sure why spider science fiction movies find me. (Laughs) We shot “Spiders 3D” in Bulgaria last year. It is really cutting edge technology. This was a role where you either had to hire Casper or myself. I got this one.
MG: Do you find that working on creature films pose any difficulties to CG effects added later?
PM: It’s all fun. It’s like when you see kids in playgrounds shooting each other with sticks. We are just doing the same thing but we are in out 40’s. It’s fun for me. I have been an athlete all my life so when I get to do the action stuff I am very happy.
MG: What else do you have stirring for 2012?
PM: It’s mainly just “Days of Our Lives”. I also am a musician and I will be going to Nashville on one of my breaks from the show to record a solo record. It’s going to have a southern rock vibe to it however it’s still a little early to be talking about that just yet.
