William Gregory Lee: "It was a matter of following my dream, or keeping a $5 an hour job."
Wind on Water
Persistence pays
By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin
WILLIAM Gregory Lee is "the mature brother" on "Wind on Water," a frightening thought, the 25-year-old actor says, considering "I've been fired from so many jobs I can't remember the exact number."
All the dismissals were in the name of acting.
"In New York and later Los Angeles I got called for hundreds of auditions," he said during a break in filming on the Big Island production. "I always worked a regular job as a restaurant host -- meet and greet -- but if I got an audition call I might be late or not show up.
"It was a matter of following my dream, or keeping a $5 an hour job."
Lee co-stars as Cole Connolly, the older of the two Connolly brothers.
"For a while my role will be as the patriarch of the family since our dad died," he said. "I take over a lot of the responsibility so mom (played by Bo Derek) can be alone and recover. "
Born and raised in Virginia Beach where he learned to surf, Lee began acting after high school when he auditioned for a guest role on "America's Most Wanted." He won the role, and later filmed a second guest spot on the series, but neither episode aired; the criminals were caught before Lee's segments could be shown.
"Justice was served, but not my acting career," Lee said, laughing.
But acting was always something Lee wanted to do, though he said he "never had the courage to tell anyone" or had the grades or money for college. He moved to New York to study with acting coaches for three years, getting minor roles on soap operas.
When he learned a friend was heading to Hollywood, Lee decided to leave as well.
"I knew L.A. was where I needed to be for my type, a younger leading male," Lee said. "It was really scary just heading out like that. I had a thousand dollars in my pocket and I knew if the car breaks down I'm totally screwed."
Then more auditions and more rejections in L.A.
"I got a lot of doors slammed in my face." Other than talent, persistence will get an actor work eventually, Lee said.
Lee had already been rejected for one "Wind" part when he was called back to audition for Cole six times, meeting finally with producers then network executives, including NBC president Warren Littlefield.
"There were more than 30 people in one room and six of us reading for the role," Lee said. "Just before one guy went in he stood up and said he was going to be sick. He threw up. I was sick to my stomach driving to the studio.
"You go into this room and you're not introduced to anybody. They just sit there and look at you as you read lines for 10 minutes. Then you leave, go home and wait."
As for having Bo Derek as a mom, Lee said it's been "really exciting."
Unlike his screen brother Brian Gross, Lee knew who Bo was.
"My dad took me to see 'Tarzan the Ape Man' which I thought was great but my mom wasn't exactly thrilled."
This article first appeared here
© 1998 Honolulu Star-Bulletin