ACTOR THRIVES AS TOUR GUIDE.Byline: JASON Jason, in Greek mythology Jason, in Greek mythology, son of Aeson. When Pelias usurped the throne of Iolcus and killed (or imprisoned) Aeson and most of his descendants, Jason was smuggled off to the centaur Chiron, who reared him secretly on Mt. Pelion. KANDEL Staff Writer BURBANK - Dean Ricca's career as a tour guide at Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . Studios got off to a shaky start in the summer of 1998. He drove his electric golf cart full of guests through a pickup basketball game being played by the cast of ``ER'' near a soundstage - and ran over George Clooney's basketball. Without a word, Clooney walked over, pulled the mangled ball out from under the cart, then walked away. ``I was just freaked out,'' Ricca said. ``I thought, 1/4I'm so dead.''' Nothing came of his misstep. And in the years since, the aspiring sitcom star has instead used his acting skills to become one of the most sought-after guides on Warner Bros.' popular tours. ``I've long given up the thought of pushing to become a quote-unquote celebrity or star,'' said the 46-year-old North Hollywood bachelor. ``I just want to enjoy what I'm doing. I love coming to work.'' Part entertainer, part celluloid historian, he is one of 21 Warner Bros. guides, a jovial (Jules' Own Version of the International Algebraic Language) An ALGOL-like programming language developed by Systems Development Corp. in the early 1960s and widely used in the military. Its key architect was Jules Schwartz. storyteller during the 2 1/4-hour tour of the historic lot. ``He is the walking knowledge of the history for Warner Bros.,'' said Ricca's boss, Danny Kahn. ``He really does have that incredible knack to quickly establish an engaging rapport with his guests.'' A beefy beefy, beefyness 1. in dog conformation, used to describe overdevelopment of musculature in the hindquarters. 2. in cattle, used to designate the desirable physical conformation of a beef animal, but an undesirable character in dairy cattle. man with a moustache, facial stubble and close-cropped salt-and- pepper hair, Ricca looks like a cross between the Three Stooges' Curly and actor Michael Chiklis Michael Charles Chiklis (born August 30, 1963) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning American actor. He is known for starring in two popular police dramas: The Commish (1991–1995) and The Shield (2002–) and as Ben Grimm/The Thing in the live-action . Ricca was born and raised in Queens, N.Y. He was shy and withdrawn, especially after his older brother died in a fall down the stairs Adv. 1. down the stairs - on a floor below; "the tenants live downstairs" downstairs, on a lower floor, below of their home. ``I completely turned off,'' said Ricca. ``My parents couldn't do anything to get me happy.'' Then his sixth-grade teacher encouraged him to get into acting. He immersed himself in the role of Pig Pen Pig Pen “a walking dust storm.” [Comics: “Peanuts” in Horn, 542–543] See : Dirtiness in a play about the cartoon character Charlie Brown, sprinkling talcum tal·cum n. See talc. talcum talc, talcum powder. powder over his body so he released a cloud of ``dust'' whenever he moved. ``I realized at that point that I really liked performing. I was happy again. So I just kept doing it.'' In 1975, he and his family moved to Tempe, Ariz., where Ricca took center stage as his high school mascot - a Fighting Padre. After moving to Southern California, he's appeared in dozens of plays, a handful of movies and had a run as a stand-up stand·up or stand-up adj. 1. Standing erect; upright: a standup collar. 2. Taken, done, or used while standing: a standup supper; a standup bar. comic. ``At this point I thought I'd have a sitcom,'' he said. ``I would love it just to be involved in something successful that becomes iconic like `Friends.''' ``If something happens, that'll be great. If not, I'm still enjoying myself and having a great time.'' jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com (818) 546-3306 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Dean Ricca has channeled his acting skills into his job as a tour guide at Warner Bros. Studios. While the 46-year-old North Hollywood resident still dreams of landing a spot in a hit sitcom, Ricca says he ``loves coming to work'' at the Burbank lot. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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