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Get to Know Christopher Douglas, Passions' Newest Cast Member!
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"Passions" fans are in for a treat with the addition of Christopher Douglas in the role of Brian. It's been an unusual road that brought Chris to "Passions." After a long-term stint on "One Life to Live," Chris gave up the life of an actor for the life of a cowboy. During his time on the ranch, there were a lot of changes in Chris' life, including meeting and getting engaged to his fianc...e, Joyce. Read our intimate interview with Chris to find out about his relationship, what brought him to "Passions" and how he's enjoying his new role. And make sure to catch him as Brian beginning on September 24.
What made you decide to get back into acting and leave the ranch behind?
When I got engaged to Joyce, I was shoeing horses and working ranches in Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona. Shoeing horses in Arizona was pretty raw. I'm six feet tall and you need to be about 5'2 and four feet wide to do it right. The guy I was working with was 6'2 and both of our backs were killing us. After about the tenth horse of the day you start looking at each other...and I was thinking, "You know, I had it good on One Life to Live!" And there was also the money thing. After getting engaged, I figured if I'm going to do something, I want to do something where I'll be able to support a family. Subsequently, I started thinking about what I was doing before and making good money at...and that was the print work and the acting. I'd much rather do the acting because with that I could have more of a homebase. With the print work, I'd be on a plane every two or three days.
Now that you're living in Los Angeles, do you miss life in Montana?
I do. I had my horses out here for a little while, but I took them back. They were not doing well here at all. They've never been in stalls. They've always been out. We run them on about 20-30 acres at the house in Montana. Here they were in 12-foot by 12-foot stalls. I could just see it in their eyes and they kept getting banged up in the stalls. We got them back home, but after we left I said to Joyce, "I miss the horses!"
How often do you get back to Montana?
About as much as I can. The work schedule at "Passions" is pretty heavy. At "The Young and the Restless," where I was working before this, I had more time off. But this is good. It's always a double-edged sword. You always want to work a lot but at the same time you want to be where your roots are.
How did you meet Joyce?
I was in Arizona shoeing horses and ended up coming over here to Los Angeles. I had started a couple of other businesses in Montana to supplement income. I started a video production service in which we'd do video brochures for saddle-makers, horse trainers, hunting camps, outfitters, and a bunch of different things. I came over for a week and a half to edit a saddle-making video I had done. My modeling agency knew how hard up I was for money so they suggested I go on some appointments. I went on an appointment for Sony and I got there real early. Joyce happened to be there and I thought, "Wow, that's the prettiest girl I've ever seen." I didn't talk to her because I didn't want to seem cheesy. I saw her name on the side of her book and I asked around. It took me a while to find anything out. I actually got in touch with her three days before I was leaving to go back to Arizona. We ate dinner with a bunch of friends. She actually had a job in Scottsdale, Arizona a week and a half later. I drove down to where she was and had dinner with her. A week later she was still there working and I had to take the horses back to Montana. I asked if she'd like to go with me. That was technically our first date. She took six horses back to Montana with me so I really put her through the ringer! She's from Holland--she'd never been around horses. She did really well. She didn't complain once and we kept up conversation the whole 18 hours!
How did you propose?
On our way from Arizona to Montana with the horses on our "first date," we stopped at the Grand Canyon. A little over a year later, her parents and grandparents were here from Holland. Her grandparents had never been to the U.S. before. We drove them from LA to Arizona to the Grand Canyon to Montana and all the way back down. We did a big loop. At the Grand Canyon, we were at the same spot where we'd stopped and looked at the Grand Canyon on our first date. I got down on one knee.
How did you ultimately decide to move back to Los Angeles?
I didn't know I was going to act again until January of this year. I was going to continue to do the video production I had started and stuff like that. Joyce was still working here so we were caught between a rock and a hard place. It turned out that monetarily LA was the better option. I came down here and about a week later had a job, by the grace of God. I got fired from that one and then a week after that got another job, by the grace of God. I was very thankful and very lucky. I thought I'd get here and no one would know or care who Chris Douglas is...I hadn't been acting for five years! I figured nobody would know who I was and nor should they. I'm very happy to be where I am.
How did the "Passions" gig come about for you?
I actually read for this role the very first week I was here. I read for this before "The Young and the Restless" and I was terrible. I thought that maybe I shouldn't be doing this again! When I read for " The Young and the Restless," I connected to the scene a little more. Marni (who works in casting at Y& R) saw something in me so that's how I got hired for it. And then they changed the whole character's persona during my tenure there and it didn't fit with my personality. So, seven months later I got let go. Marni and Donn (Phillip Smith, Passions' Casting Associate) are friends. When I first started on Y&R;, Donn called Marni and asked where they had found me! She said, "What are you talking about? He came in and read for you!" He couldn't believe I was the same guy. I guess I was doing something right on Y&R.; So, then I got to test for the role on "Passions." After testing, I went back to Montana and kind of left it at that. I didn't think I was going to get it.
What was your reaction when you found out you got the part?
I was in that Montana state of mind. It didn't really hit me until I got back to LA. I feel very blessed and thankful. I'm happy to be here.
What did they tell you about the character?
They didn't tell me much at all. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens just like everyone else. Everyone on soaps has a secret somewhere so I'm looking forward to finding out what his secret is! Basically, I'm just trying to get into the groove right now. And once I do, I think I'll be more suited to play with who he is a little more. I'm feeling stiff right now...like a squeaky wheel. Once I get it oiled, it will be a lot better.
Did you know much about "Passions" before you started the audition process here?
As soon as I knew I was being let go from Y&R;, I started watching. The first time I watched, I remember seeing Timmy and Tabitha and the lady who talks to her father's skull! Joyce and I were sitting on the couch and every time a new scene would come up, we'd look at each other like, "Wow!" It's neat to see it because it's so funny. I started watching and wondering what was going to happen next. It's definitely not a typical soap, which is very refreshing. What a blessing to be here...because it's so much fun.
What's been the most surprising thing about "Passions?"
The energy and everyone's enthusiasm is wonderful. So far, it's been a happy place to be.
Are there any particular characters or stories you'd like to be involved with?
I was hoping to be a Warlock! But, it will be fun to see what happens.
Where would you like to see yourself five or ten years from now?
The only thing I know for sure, to quote Al Jarreau, is that the rain falls from the clouds, the sunlight fills up the sky, and that the hummingbirds fly. That's the only thing I'm sure about...the things that happen in nature everyday. My life has been a rollercoaster ride ever since I left the house when I was 18. I'm blessed...that's all I'm sure of.
What are you most proud of in your life?
The family I have and the friends that I've made. Those are the things that are most important to me and they always will be.
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