Advertisement

Scott's World -- UPI Arts & Entertainment

By VERNON SCOTT, United Press International
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

HOLLYWOOD, April 16 (UPI) -- Old grads love reunions, and so do actors and actresses returning to old, familiar roles.

That's the case with Alan Rachins, currently a co-star in TV's "Dharma & Greg" who is starring in a reunion film of his former series, "L.A. Law: The Movie."

Advertisement

Rachins, a seasoned character actor, currently is seen as the hippie father Larry Finkelstein in ABC's "Dharma & Greg," slipped back into his role as Douglas Brackman, a high-powered attorney in "L.A. Law."

So how did Rachins feel about returning to a character he hadn't played in eight years?

"I was reluctant at first because even though I loved 'L.A. Law' and got a lot from the character, it also type-cast me and I was afraid to go back to that.

"I was the office guy, the accountant who was sort of emotionally limited without opportunities to be funny like I'm able to do in 'Dharma & Greg.' Brackman was a solid character but it's a mysterious business how producers see actors once they been in the same role for many years.

Advertisement

"I'm afraid some of them saw me as that serious-minded, plodding accountant in the law office. So I had mixed feelings about returning.

"Then again, it's awfully difficult to let go of some things once a show is over. Not easy to say good-bye to something that's been a part of your life for eight years.

"There were friendships and the familiarity of the sets and company -- and then suddenly to open it up again is kind of hard.

"But once I read the script I got caught up in the excitement of it and had a change of heart."

Rachins laughed and said, "I hope Brackman has changed a bit, partly because how it was written and partly because what I've brought to the part.

I hope he's more mature and grounded.

"The reunion was very special for me. It had some things in common with a class reunion.

"I definitely went on a diet and wanted to recreate the way I looked at that time, which is what people do at class reunions.

"You want to feel at your best when you attend a reunion, like things are going well. I had seen a number of cast members every year or so at various events. I saw a lot of Rick Dysart because we're both from New England.

Advertisement

"I also have seen some of the others. We'd had a wonderful relationship with one another. It was strange walking on that familiar old set.

"Some of us got choked up with nostalgia, doing work that we all loved and respected these many years later."

All the principal players returned for the movie: Susan Dey, Harry Hamlin, Corbin Bernsen, Larry Drake and Jill Eikenberry.

"L.A. Law" was an important boost to all of its cast members who went on to bigger and better projects in television and on movie screens.

"They produced the picture up in Vancouver and it was exciting," Rachins said. "Now we're looking forward to seeing the finished product when it goes on the air.

"One good thing about making the film in Vancouver was the opportunity for us all to go out and have dinner together. That helped us re-familiarize ourselves with all the other characters we greeted on the set each day."

Once in wardrobe and walking onto the set, Rachins found himself easily slipping into the role of Douglas Brackman without a single thought of Finkelstein entering his head.

"Somebody asked me what was the arc of Finkelstein over the five years of the show," Rachins said, "and I asked what was the arc of Fred Mertz who William Frawley played in 'I Love Lucy.'

Advertisement

"They don't change over the years any more than Carroll O'Connor's Archie Bunker changed over the years. Viewers want those characters to be the same year after year. That's why they're loved.

"It's a comic invention and what I'm interested in is to make a great contribution to a show and have some fun things to do as an actor.

"Finkelstein is a lot of fun to play and a big contrast with my role of Brackman in 'L.A. Law.' It took a while to find that new opportunity so I wouldn't be type cast as the serious Brackman."

Fans of the old "L.A. Law" show will see the TV film version on Mother's Day, May 12.

"I played Brackman for eight years and I got to know him pretty well,"

Rachins said. "It's also been eight years since I played him last.

"I have to say it was a great experience and it was somewhat sad to say good-bye again. But now we can look forward to seeing it all happen again on the screen."

Latest Headlines