NEWS photo Nell Lucente

INDING STEADY

employment as an actor

in Vancouver can be a
challenge. Not so for North
Vancouver’s Jay Brazeau.

“The hardest thing in life is
not finding work these days, it's
findiny a babysitter on a Friday
night,” quips the 20-year veteran
of stage and film.

At 40, Brazeau, who has
logged over 200 TV appearances
and garnered roles in several
feature films, is entering a new
stage.in life.

Two years ago, he and wife,
actor Suzanne Ristic, gave birth
to their first child, Jean Anton
Napolean Brazeau. A few
months later they moved from
Burnaby to the North Shore,
where the family is now firmly
ensconced.

“Il wish we'd moved here 10
years ago,” laments the award-
winning Brazeau, looking out
the living-room window of his
25-year-old home.

“There’s a sense of communi-
ty here. People still think it takes
you three days to get downtown.
And as far as I’m concerned, |
like it that way. Let the people
stay on the other side if they
want!,” he adds wryly.

Though his primary role is
now that of father to “Johnny
Tony,” Brazeau hasn't forgotten
his prefession.

The burly son of a sign
painter plays the part of Griff, a
lazy fisherman and best friend to
Keith Carradine’s harbor-master
in the just-released feature film

Wednesday, September 7, 1994 — North Shore News — 27

Layne Christensen

SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

harbor seal pup that adopts a
family in Rockport, Maine.

And when CBC-TV children’s
series The Odyssey launches its
third season. Wednesday, Oct. 5,

Brazeau will turn up'asSy- - -..

Walsh, psychiatrist to the show's
main character, 14-year-old Jay
Zeigler.

Though he never knows what
he'll be doing one month to the
next, Brazeau is looking forward
to his directorial debut with the
Arts Club Theatre’s December
production of Breaking Legs, a
comedy about “the theatre, good
food and the mob.” It stars
Bruno Gerussi.

Steady work pays the mort-
gage, says Brazeau, but it’s
fatherhood that is prompting a
change in priorities. Good roles
and impressive film credits seem
less important now than “golden
neighbors” and a secure home
life for Johnny Tony.

“One life dies, and another
begins,” he says with character-
istic aplomb. “And this is a new
life for me. ! can hardly remem-
ber the other life.”

Vancouver theatre-goers

Big Daddy in the Arts Club pro-
duction of Cat on a Hot Tin Root
last year, or his title role in
Cyrano de Bergerac at the
Richmond Gateway theatre.

As for film work, the
Winnipeg native has appeared in
several locally shot features
including Gold Diggers,
intersection, and We're No
Angels.

His work on Angels took him
to L.A. for dubbing and to New
York for opening night and a
party at Tribeca, Robert De
Niro’s production facilities.

At the time, Brazeau recalls
thinking ‘This is it! This is my
stepping stone to the States. I’m
going to make it big now.”

Instead, the movie fizzled and
the party was a dud. “We stayed
half the night,” he says of the
event attended by the likes of
Robin Williams, Jon Lovitt, Spike
Lee, Glenn Close and the film's
stars De Niro and Sean Penn. “1
looked at my wife and said ‘Let's
go home, grab a hot dog or
something.’ There were 50 limos
parked outside and we walked
home to the hotel. tt just wasn’t
me.”

So what is Brazeau?
Distributing Freezies to his

' son and playmates Tori and

Katie, the affable host recites his
plans for the evening. “This
afternoon I’m off to an audition
then we’re going to Nick’s.” No
need for Robert De Niro’s crowd
or a babysitter this Friday night.
Tonight Brazeau will be joined
at this favorite North Shore
eatery by his wife, son and his

VETERAN ACTOR Jay Brazeau brings humor and wit to all his = Andre. The focally shot adven- should have no trouble remem-

golden neighbors. “It’s going to
roles, including that of father to two-year-old Johnny Tony. ture comedy is the true story ofa bering Brazeau’s performance as

a fun night,” he enthuses.

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