Feature: Haysbert sets sail with 'Sinbad'

LOS ANGELES, June 25 (UPI) -- Dennis Haysbert, one of the stars of the upcoming animated feature "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas," is finally enjoying star status -- his reward for more than two decades of steady, dependable performances in Hollywood.

Haysbert broke into TV as a young basketball player in the CBS drama series "White Shadow" in 1979, and went on to guest-star in such series as "Magnum, P.I.," "The Incredible Hulk," "Night Court" and "Growing Pains." More recently, he has appeared in the ABC drama series "Now and Again" and the Showtime drama "Soul Food."

His resume also includes well reviewed performances in feature films -- including a hilarious turn as Pedro Cerrano in the 1989 baseball comedy "Major League," and a co-starring role with Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1992 drama "Love Field."

Haysbert's career picked up serious heat when he joined Kiefer Sutherland in the cast of Fox-TV's political drama "24." As a U.S. senator who becomes president, Haysbert has been one of the most popular characters on the series.

"Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" reteams him with Pfeiffer, in a voice cast that also includes Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joseph Fiennes. Like most veteran actors in Hollywood, Haysbert is no newcomer to voiceover work -- his credits include "The New Batman/Superman Adventures" and "Duckman."

On the other hand, it isn't every actor who can say he was personally selected for a role by Jeffrey Katzenberg -- the DreamWorks co-founder who has also produced such animated hits as "Shrek," "Chicken Run" and "Antz." As a top executive at Disney, Katzenberg oversaw production of some of that studio's biggest animated hits -- including "The Lion King."

"Mr. Katzenberg has wanted to use my voice for some time, and the right role came up," said Haysbert in an interview with United Press International.

It is no wonder Katzenberg wanted to use Haysbert's voice. Fans of "24" already know that Haysbert possesses one of the strongest, most distinctive baritone voices in Hollywood.

"I do have my share of people discussing my voice and how distinctive it is," said Haysbert -- who plays first mate Kale to Pitt's Sinbad in the new movie.

Fiennes plays Sinbad's friend Proteus, who faces execution if Sinbad doesn't recover a stolen treasure -- the priceless Book of Peace. Pfeiffer is the villainous Eris, the Goddess of Chaos who orchestrates the plot. Zeta-Jones plays Proteus' fiancée, who joins Sinbad, Kale and crew for exotic adventures on the high seas.

Haysbert said he hopes young black male viewers are drawing some inspiration from seeing him play the president on "24."

"The only people they've had to look up to are rappers, which is fine," he said. "But not all male kids are into rappers. To have kids look at a presidency and say hey, you know what, it's possible. Here it is on television."

Haysbert said minority actors are getting more opportunities now than ever before, but still have a long way to go. He thinks black actors need to create more opportunities for themselves, and look for ways to appeal to the widest possible audience.

"Absolutely, we have to start appealing to everyone," he said. "We can't keep ourselves in a box. We've got to branch out, take chances, write and produce."

Haysbert has "a couple of scripts" that he wants to produce. He figures he's in pretty good position to get the financing he'll need to get those projects made.

"My profile has never been better," he said. "I'm going to hunt down those companies and fight for it. Things are not going to just land on your doorstep. I have to get my foot in there before it closes."