From a special TV Guide bulletin board that was started in February 1997, answers posted 6/23/97. Thanks to John Walsh for setting it up, harvesting the questions and interviewing Derek for the answers.

First of all, it's wonderful to be able to see you on a weekly basis in P:tL. I find the character of Derek Rayne fascinating (indeed, the entire series, premise, and group of characters are fascinating). I am impatiently awaiting the new episodes on Showtime! So, a question: While you're certainly a well-known actor already, it looks as if you're well on your way to "cult" stardom with P:tl. Any thoughts on how you (and your family) will handle such fame and attention? Or, perhaps, have already been called upon to handle it? --Valery (Fri Feb 14 23:34 EST 1997)

I'm an actor now for twenty two years. And the first ten, twelve years I strictly worked in Holland. And I did everything I started on stage, and then I did film and TV and I did some, I think some very interesting films in Holland before I worked internationally. But I captured a large audience after I did some TV shows in Holland. And it looks like it's the same--almost like it's the same thing---happening here in North America now. Because you are a lead in a series, and on the tube every week. Especially because people are tuning in because of the characters.

I know you probably hear it a lot, but I have to say it anyway, I love this show. I was wondering, though, what you love about this show. What attracted you to this role? What do you like about your character? Do you model him after anyone in particular? What's your favorite color? (Just thought I would throw that in there) What do you consider your best work or your favorite role?
 -- Vanessa (Sat Feb 15 0:20 EST 1997)

Well first of all I'd never done, believe it or not, I'd never done sci-fi in my life before. So the whole genre is new to me. Not to look at it, to watch it. But for me to act in it is a whole new experience. What I like about the character, if someone would ask me if what kind of profession would you like to play, a doctor, a lawyer or -- now I'm not talking about the villains, I'm talking about the good guys.

I would love to, I'd never thought about it, but I'm sure that I would be delighted to hear that I would have to play a clairvoyant. Or a very very mysterious guy like Derek Rayne, who has his own resources and who is a single guy and he doesn't get involved really with women. And you hope -- I mean it's a wonderful part to play, it's very, very different from life.

AREA 52: Right. You had been doing a lot of romantic leads. I mean you talked about your work on China Beach...

DEREK: Yes. I tease them all the time that I want more sex in the show. But I think now they all agree that I need a love interest, because it's kind of ridiculous. I mean this guy has no life, right.

First of all, let me say we have all enjoyed your role as "Dr. Derek Rayne" in P:TL and the entire SF House characters and cast...y'all make a wonderful team! Did you know you had your own website on the WWW? Whenever I want information on a person, place or thing I do a web search for it. Last summer after watching P:TL for several episodes, I started up my unofficial Poltergeist: The Legacy web site.  -- Clarianna Demonbreun (Sat Feb 15 9:30 EST 1997)

I was overwhelmed by it. And then I tried to set up through our publicist here in Vancouver, to have our own address that I could use with my home computer. Or with a computer in the production office. But that didn't work out. But, yes, I am aware of Clarianna's web site, and I am very impressed.

What do you guys (stars, crew and families), who've been transplanted to beautiful British Columbia, like to do in your free time. I realize that free time is at a minimum during shooting, but even then you must have things you like to do to relax. If you know what some of the others like to do, please feel free to include that info, too.
 -- Patti (Sat Feb 15 13:08 EST 1997)

Maybe it sounds silly, but besides of the hobbies I have or so, it's just such a incredible experience to do this with your family. To go away from your country, start a whole new life in a whole different country, different language. And for my kids to survive, you know, here in public school -- In a different language, it's -- that's the biggest challenge, it's the biggest adventure. It's just the five of us being here, and trying to survive and having such a wonderful life. But if you ask me like what kind of hobbies you have, well I love to read. So when I'm home and when I'm in the production it's hard to read, because you have to memorize so many lines, and you have to work on your lines. But now the show is over I love to catch up with reading, and I love to -- I do it both in English and in Dutch.

What made you decide to leave Europe and start appearing more in North America? Was that a conscious decision, or did it just kind of 'happen'? What do you think is the biggest difference between working on films and being committed to a television series?
 -- Maryalice (Sat Feb 15 13:35 EST 1997)

I was -- in 1973, before I switched from the Academy of Art to a theater school in Amsterdam, I made a big trip by myself for three months going to Canada, cross country Canada. I went from Vancouver all the way -- I went by Greyhound -- to ... in Mexico. And, you know, from Vancouver to Seattle, Seattle to Portland, Portland to ... all the way. And it was an incredible trip, and really, it really made a big impact on me. And then I went to theater school, and I was with very, very young people how had never been out of Holland. And it's always been in my mind to go back to the States. And when I finished the theater school and started to work in the theater, and then I start doing films, every now and then when I had saved some money I would just go New York, and go to L.A. And so long before I start to work as a professional actor and I was actually thinking about a movie career, I was already visiting New York and Los Angeles. So by the time when I suddenly was confronted with the fact that you're not always working as an actor. (To say it in a nice way.) I would scrape all my money together, and I would go to L.A. or New York and hang out there and see shows. And see Broadway shows and go to movie houses, and try just to find an agent. And so for -- the reason why I'm telling you this all is that long before I was actually trying to find work, I was already getting used to going to the States.

Which sci-fi series were you offered a part in several years ago which you didn't take?  -- Clarianna asking this Q for Richard (Sat Feb 15 21:22 EST 1997)

I read for the role of the Captain in Deep Space Nine. And it was between Avery Brooks and me. And Avery got it, and I didn't get it. I don't know why -- for what reason. But I must admit that I freaked out, because my agent f***ed up and he didn't really tell me there would be seven years in syndication. And at that time we were not even considering going to the States. And especially not taking three boys and raising them in Los Angeles. So I think I didn't do a very convincing audition for the whole network and everything. But one of the guys, the top guy of Paramount was there, John Symes. And he's working now for MGM, and he's now my boss overlooking Poltergeist. So when I met him in the beginning of the first season he said, "Oh, I remember you. You were there for Deep Space Nine."

Do you feel a little funny playing a character who has the same first name you do? Ever wonder when your costars/director/writers (and the fans!) mean *you* or your *character*?  -- Valery (Sat Feb 15 23:57 EST 1997)

It's never happened before in all those years, all those parts, I've never played a Derek. And it was not because I play the part. I remember I heard -- I was in a jury for a film festival in Belgium when I actually heard about the series. No, no I was shooting in England when I heard about the series. And I decided to go to L.A. just for a few days, to fly to L.A. for a few -- just to meet Richard Lewis, the creator of the show. And I had a very nice talk with him, and he told me about the series, and he told me about Derek Rayne. And I remember I was sitting there on his couch in his office and I heard the name Derek, spelled exactly the same way. And I thought it must be an omen. It really crossed my mind like this part is for me. He was once with his wife, he was in a small town in northern California. And he was walking there and there was a sign for a shop, the shop was closed, but it was a tailor, and the tailor's name was Derek Rayne. And this was long before he created the show, and he always remembered that name. He thought it was a great name. So it was long before he even knew about me. But it is odd, it's weird because people talk about Derek, and -- also for guest actors who are, you know, just on the show for one or two days, it's easy to remember my name.

My friends here have already asked many of the questions I had for you and I'd much appreciate those answers, but I'd like to add my voice for this one too: Do you personally believe in the supernatural and have you ever had an encounter?
 -- Donna-Ruth Love DeBoer (Sun Feb 16 17:31 EST 1997)

I'm not --excuse me, how can I say it?-- I'm not living totally obsessed by it. I have some amazing experiences myself, especially with clairvoyance. I've been to a couple of clairvoyants, and there's actually one guy in Holland who said amazing things. Really really, really, really amazing things. Yes. Well, things he could never know. And by that time I didn't even know. And of course you sometimes have those incredible coincidences, or how you call them, that you say something that the other is just thinking something and you speak it out. But there's nothing really like, you know, like ghost appearances or all that kind of stuff that I'm fighting in Poltergeist. No, I've never experienced that.

What challenges do you encounter when trying to act around the computerized special effects that are not there yet?  -- Clarianna (Mon Feb 17 17:03 EST 1997)

It's hard. We did a show where we were getting attacked by all kind of wasps, something like small -- I'm not sure if you've seen the show yet, it's called "Lights Out." It's little flies, deadly flies. So they were not there, so we had to act. And I remember that I saw stuff from Who Framed Roger Rabbit and all these films where the actors are working with animated figures and they're not there yet.

So it was quite an experience to do it. But I tell you, to play that you are attacked by a wasp who's not there yet, is a very funny thing to do. Because you are making all the movements and then later on they put the thing in. But that was the only time that we had to act with something that was not there.

If you could have anyone guest star as a love interest who would it be?  -- Kamala (Tue Feb 18 1:17 EST 1997)

So many, there are so many. My God. I mean, I don't want to name one because there are so many. Sometimes when I'm watching a film, I see a wonderful actress, so gorgeous, so sexy, so nice. You know, easy in her skin, talented, everything. And I don't even know her name. And I think, "Oh my God I would love to have her on the show. I would love it." But it's hard to say. It's like naming a favorite author. There's not a one that would make me say, "Okay, that's the one I'm waiting for." I worked with actresses on the show. They were not so much love interests, but they were just guest actors. And I had never heard of them until I worked with them, and they were wonderful. So I don't know. You can always name a star, but they will never come on the show anyway.

Last season Helen Shaver directed an episode of Poltergeist: The Legacy (and did a wonderful job with it, by the way). Do you have any interest in doing the same?  -- Mary W. (Wed Mar 12 12:56 EST 1997)

No. It is such a hard, first of all your power -- not so much your power, but -- how should I say it? -- your input is very limited.

Martin Cummins is going to direct an episode I think this year. And Helen Shaver's going to direct one again. And I love it; it's wonderful, there's nothing better than to be directed by your fellow actors, it's just great. But for me to do the same thing I don't really -- first of all I have enough difficulty still with playing the lead in English. Although I speak English almost like my own language. But still there is a certain difficulty in it.

Does the show deal with good and evil in a Judeo-Christian definition of evil, or just basic, all-around, every kind of good and evil? Thanks for talking to us here, and for a really cool show!  -- Devin T. (Fri Mar 21 12:46 EST 1997)

I understand your question well. There are two answers. One for me and one for the show. I think for the show it is very black/white, a good and evil.

For me personally I don't -- I think I am as bad as good. I really believe that every human being has bad in himself. So I personally I would love to see much more a subtle version than just the devil in disguise.

But that's the personal, that's my personal opinion and that's not the show. The show -- part of the show is this big effect and everything, and that's what people like to see.

 

Note: The transcriptionist misspelled the P:TL character name "Derek Rayne" as "Derek Rain" and the actor Martin Cummins as Cummings. They've been corrected in this version of the transcript.