1. I understand your career has mainly focused on acting, have you ever considered directing, producing or writing for TV/Film?
I have always been drawn to the writing side of the industry. I have written poetry since I was pretty young. I write it for myself to satisfy my creative nature and as a cathartic or sometimes therapeutic thing too. That lead to writing short films and 2 feature length scripts to date. The notion of pulling off a ‘Matt Damon/Ben Affleck’ and write your own ticket has always appealed!
2. You have followed various different paths throughout your life including, professional volleyball, professional photographer, acting and stand-up comedy. Besides acting which you do now, would you ever be interested to return to any of the other professions that you have done before?
All of them! I still play volleyball on a competitive mens team (indoor 6’s) and on the beach(2’s) in the summer. I just find that the recovery time has quadrupled!! God bless ADVIL!!! And I still dabble with my camera gear. My favorite subject is my wife…she can’t wait until we have kids so I leave her alone!! And as far as comedy goes – I hope there is always an element of that possible in the acting career I will continue to pursue. Stand-up….hmmm – I had the comedic genius of my brother to give me that confidence boost enough to get on stage back in the day. Now I am content with the courtesy laughs from my close friends!
3. In Stargate SG-1 your biggest recurring role was that of the Kull Warrior in a number of episodes. What was it like to wear that costume? I can only imagine it must have been heavy and hot under there?
It was heavy and hot, but as I have always said – the Stargate people made it as easy as possible. It was built from a mold of my body to be a form fitting ass-kicking alien costume… and it is!!!
4. You have had other roles in Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Smallville where you have not had to wear a costume or extensive make-up. Which would you say that you would prefer, costume or no costume?
I would like to say ‘no costume’ BUT there is an art to costume performance and I am still a rookie. There are people who have it down to an art and make a living being the embodiment of peoples wild imaginations. I think I had it pretty easy as the Kull Warrior in terms of costume performance. I have seen other costumes where you create a new speech patterns, facial expressions (on the new face!), mannerisms, walking styles!!! To me the Kull Warrior is the DOORMAN of the Universe….just heavily armed!
I did have a chance to explore some of the costume performance techniques in greater detail as the Polar Bear in Snow Queen with Bridget Fonda. That was very interesting trying to make a polar bear slightly human-like! Thank God they let him be bi-pedal!
5. Have you been watching SG-1 since your episodes to see what is developing?
I have and I am very interested to see fan reactions to these great new characters and people and plots!
6. Is there any chance that you may return to SG-1 or Atlantis?
I sure hope so! I did get a small and possibly recurring role on Atlantis as Security Officer Reed after the Wraith Warrior work. Fingers crossed! As far as the SG-1 – I hope someone out there needs a butt-whooping and they call on the Kull Warrior!
7. Have you got any future projects lined-up that youíd like to share with us?
I just finished a small role on JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE as Jenny McCarthy’s boyfriend. Work is tough! She is very nice to everyone as were all the cast and crew!
At present, I am about to begin filming a series called ALICE, I THINK as a lead, a lovable lug of a Dad, with a 15 year old girl – Alice. It is a family comedy and I couldn’t be happier!
8. You have worked on various TV shows such as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Smallville, Dead Like Me etc. What is it like to be a guest star on a show where everyone already knows each other and you have to fit in? Do you get to work much with the main casts?
My experiences, so far, have all been brilliant. Initially there was some trepidation coming into to something was already ‘at pace’, but the casts have been very welcoming and supportive. I have been very fortunate to meet and work alongside amazing actors. And in doing so, learned a great deal just by watching them do their thing!
9. You have worked on a couple of Muppet movies over the last few years. It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, and The Muppetís Wizard of Oz. Is there a particular reason why you like to get involved in the Muppet Movies?
I auditioned for Kirk Thatcher for the first movie and he was awesome. Kirk is one of those directors that it amazing at what he does as well as brilliant with people – not to mention hilarious! I got along with him well and had a great time. We had to do some ADR (voice over) for the film via satellite phone as he was in LA. We got to joke around a little and at the end of it he said he liked my work and if he could find a spot for me in another film he would! He kept to his word and I got to play with the Muppets again.
10. When you were over in the UK, you were the Lead in a UK Theatre premier of the Canadian play Whole Lotto Love. Would you want to come back to the theatre scene again, and in the UK?
I love the theatre and NEED to get back to it! It is the where I learned the most and confronted the most in terms of acting. I would do theatre anywhere anytime….as long as my heart doesn’t quit when it happens!!!
11. Do you ever get recognised much when you are out in public?
It has only happened a few times. It is so surreal to me still. I haven’t got that much that people can recognize me from yet. I hope that in terms of a benchmark of how my career is doing that I do get recognized more – that will mean I have been fortunate enough to have been in more!
12. Have you ever attended a Convention in the UK for any shows that you have appeared in? If not, do you think you would be interested?
I am on my way to a convention in London for L3 and SP:UK in November and I am extremely excited. I have met all the people who are putting on the convention for my part and they are great. It is going to be a blast. I hope it sells out so my first UK convention is a massive party!!!
13. Are you a big internet user? Do you ever browse for any fans sites about you or the shows that you have appeared on?
I am a little bit techno-tarded…that is what I call it anyway!! I would love to follow along and participate but it has taken my webmaster this long to help me work out updating my own webpage (www.dan-payne.com). I am a basic user, learning as I go, and hoping to catch this century so I can follow along!!
14. Do you have a list of the top 5 or 10 things you would love to achieve? If so, are there any you would like to share with us?
I would love to have a family (2 kids) with my beautiful wife and spend the rest of my life in a success career doing what I love – acting! The rest – I will let the achievements speak for themselves when they happen!!
15. Finally, what would you say to someone if you were trying to convince them to join Galaxy of Stars and have the opportunity to chat to the stars such as yourself?
It is in the name Galaxy of Stars!! If you want to have access to your favorite actors right here, right now – this is it! I look forward to hearing from anyone who wants to drop a line!!
