Post by icy on Mar 22, 2006 12:38:22 GMT -5
Source: www.mlive.com/entertainment/grpress/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1142956130266950.xml&coll=6
Burt really pumped over tough-guy role on FX's 'Shield'
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By Lorilee Craker
The Grand Rapids Press
It's only his first episode of "The Shield," and already the character played by Kentwood native L. Michael Burt has blood on his hands. As Moses, second-in-command to notorious gangster Antwon Mitchell, kingpin of the One-Niners gang, Burt shows viewers right off the bat he's powerful and lethal.
"Moses is a little manipulative," said Burt in a recent phone interview from his Los Angeles home. "He's mean, he's wicked." His character also is a killer, offing gang member Sticky Fingaz in his debut episode.
Of course, fans of the gritty crime drama about corrupt cops and gangs in L.A. know the show is rife with violence, treachery and blackmail, in and out of the precinct and jail.
"It's real. It's fast," Burt said of his new gig on FX's "The Shield," winner of multiple Emmys for acting, directing and more. "The pace is so quick."
Speed is something the 29-year-old has plenty of. While at East Kentwood High School, Burt broke the school record in the 100-meter dash.
"I still hold the record," he said. Track-and-field success took him all over the state in competitions and to the junior Olympics in the mid '90s.
While enrolled at Western Michigan University, Burt caught the acting bug and moved to Atlanta to pursue indie-film projects. Then, in 2004, he moved to Hollywood to break into the big time.
He has a small movie, "Julius Home," being released in the fall, but "The Shield" is the actor's most high-profile job yet. He appeared in last week's Episode 10, and he said his character will gain prominence next season.
"Moses is instrumental in the Lemansky story," he said, referring to Lem "Lemonhead" Lemansky (played by Kenny Johnson), a cop jailed on heroin charges. The last episode detailed Vic's (show star Michael Chiklis) attempts to negotiate with Antwon Mitchell to keep Lem safe in the clink. "(His character) is striking deals with gang members on this issue," Burt said. "He will have a meatier role soon."
Burt said he is taking pride in the role, especially knowing how much his success would mean to his late mother, Norma Burt, who died of cancer in 2003.
"I went to visit her in the hospital, and she said, 'You a star yet, baby?'" he said. "I told her, 'Not yet, Mama,' and she said, 'You will be. You will be.' That's my biggest motivation to do well."
Burt still has cousins and friends in the Grand Rapids area and is excited for his hometown to watch as his role expands on "The Shield." He also has strong support from Chiklis, winner of several Emmys for his portrayal of thug-yet-family-man detective Vic Mackey.
"I was in awe of Michael Chiklis," said Burt. "He's real cool. He was very sympathetic when he heard about my mother. He said, 'I'm definitely looking out for you.'"
It's guys like Chiklis, and co-star Forest Whitaker, who have helped make Burt's first season on the show a great experience. He also delights in playing such a gritty, no-holds-barred character as Moses.
"I love to touch people emotionally in different ways," he said. "I love to ... change people's outlook on something."
Burt really pumped over tough-guy role on FX's 'Shield'
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By Lorilee Craker
The Grand Rapids Press
It's only his first episode of "The Shield," and already the character played by Kentwood native L. Michael Burt has blood on his hands. As Moses, second-in-command to notorious gangster Antwon Mitchell, kingpin of the One-Niners gang, Burt shows viewers right off the bat he's powerful and lethal.
"Moses is a little manipulative," said Burt in a recent phone interview from his Los Angeles home. "He's mean, he's wicked." His character also is a killer, offing gang member Sticky Fingaz in his debut episode.
Of course, fans of the gritty crime drama about corrupt cops and gangs in L.A. know the show is rife with violence, treachery and blackmail, in and out of the precinct and jail.
"It's real. It's fast," Burt said of his new gig on FX's "The Shield," winner of multiple Emmys for acting, directing and more. "The pace is so quick."
Speed is something the 29-year-old has plenty of. While at East Kentwood High School, Burt broke the school record in the 100-meter dash.
"I still hold the record," he said. Track-and-field success took him all over the state in competitions and to the junior Olympics in the mid '90s.
While enrolled at Western Michigan University, Burt caught the acting bug and moved to Atlanta to pursue indie-film projects. Then, in 2004, he moved to Hollywood to break into the big time.
He has a small movie, "Julius Home," being released in the fall, but "The Shield" is the actor's most high-profile job yet. He appeared in last week's Episode 10, and he said his character will gain prominence next season.
"Moses is instrumental in the Lemansky story," he said, referring to Lem "Lemonhead" Lemansky (played by Kenny Johnson), a cop jailed on heroin charges. The last episode detailed Vic's (show star Michael Chiklis) attempts to negotiate with Antwon Mitchell to keep Lem safe in the clink. "(His character) is striking deals with gang members on this issue," Burt said. "He will have a meatier role soon."
Burt said he is taking pride in the role, especially knowing how much his success would mean to his late mother, Norma Burt, who died of cancer in 2003.
"I went to visit her in the hospital, and she said, 'You a star yet, baby?'" he said. "I told her, 'Not yet, Mama,' and she said, 'You will be. You will be.' That's my biggest motivation to do well."
Burt still has cousins and friends in the Grand Rapids area and is excited for his hometown to watch as his role expands on "The Shield." He also has strong support from Chiklis, winner of several Emmys for his portrayal of thug-yet-family-man detective Vic Mackey.
"I was in awe of Michael Chiklis," said Burt. "He's real cool. He was very sympathetic when he heard about my mother. He said, 'I'm definitely looking out for you.'"
It's guys like Chiklis, and co-star Forest Whitaker, who have helped make Burt's first season on the show a great experience. He also delights in playing such a gritty, no-holds-barred character as Moses.
"I love to touch people emotionally in different ways," he said. "I love to ... change people's outlook on something."