Kidsday interviews actor Frank Dolce

We interviewed actor Frank Dolce who stars as Gary Gunderson in the new Fox TV show “Sons of Tucson,” when he visited Planet Hollywood in Manhattan recently.
 
We found that you started dancing when you were 5 and then you went into acting 4 years later. Why did you change?

I didn’t really change. It was a theater program and they had dancing and singing, the whole bit. The dancing was a skill that helped me with that. I never switched, and I was continuing both. One was helping the other.
 
What is the difference between Broadway and your new show?

Well, television is new episodes every week and Broadway is the same performance night after night.
 
So it’s not changing and progressing like the TV show would?

Yeah, the TV show builds on itself.
 
Your new show is a comedy series. Would you like to do any other genre of acting?

I like the comedy. It’s very funny because I watch a ton of TV. All the sitcoms that are out there. I mean I like it if I could do action or drama or something like that. I would definitely do it.
 
What is your advice for all the kids who want to become famous?

Be patient. It’s work. You got to be prepared for it. You got to rehearse a lot. You got to constantly work on your lines and you got to know the right people too.
 
What are some of your hobbies and interests?

We were talking about this — singing, dancing before. I love golf and I ski a lot.
 
In your show you play like an uptight, parental figure. In real life are you anything like that. Like uptight?

I want to think that I’m not that uptight! I do try and be organized like Gary does. He’s very uptight and strict.
 
Where do you attend school or are you home schooled?

I’m home schooled right now because I have to do that for the TV show because the public school and the home school curriculum are different. If I went back to public school I might have to relearn things that I already learned or I might be learning something new and I’d be behind. So that’s why I’m just going to finish out the program as close to the end of the year.
 
You were in “Billy Elliott.” Why did you stop?

I only stopped because I was doing a TV show. Of course, the TV show is a step up from where I was. Because Broadway is on the metropolitan level so to speak and television is on a national level. So I auditioned for it and once I got a call back I realize, this was picked up, this was a TV show, this was a done deal, this was a step up from where I was. So that’s the reason I jumped ship.
 
We Googled imaged you and I saw you wear a lot of hats. You’re wearing one right now. Do you have a hat collection? Do you have a favorite?

Yeah. I have like 130 hats. I have this blue and white fedora that I like.
 
You seem down to earth. What keeps you grounded?

I don’t know. I don’t feel famous for some reason.

Do you hang out with your co-stars Matt and Ben?

Yeah. We don’t have a lot of time to socialize just because everything’s so hectic. It’s either school or it’s on set just because the hours are so limited. We have a different age range. We do try and hang out together.
 
Out of singing, acting and dancing what is your favorite?

I wouldn’t pick a favorite because they’re all related. Theater is kind of a combination of the three and then from theater -- that can take you into television, which is where I got to. So I wouldn’ t pick a favorite.

What inspired you to become an actor?

I started doing theater programs and after that I just started doing auditions. Once I started getting things I just kept going.
 
What do you listen to on your iPod?

Very diverse. I listen to a lot of stuff. I listen to a lot of classic rock. I like some of the new stuff too.
 
What is your favorite genre of music?

Probably classic rock. Again.
 
How do you balance being an actor on a TV show and being just like your average kid?

Lots of sleep. That’ s pretty much it besides the balancing.
 
Are there any celebrities that you would like to meet?

There’s a lot of movies that I’ve seen and a lot of movie stars I’d like to meet. I don’t know Johnny Depp, Leonardo Dicaprio and all those people like that.
 
What celebrities have you worked with?

Well in "Doubt," I was with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams and Philip [Seymour] Hoffman. I’ve met celebrities that I haven’t worked with but those would be the biggest I’ve worked with. In "Billy Elliott," I got to meet Stephen Daldry and Elton John of course. And with the new TV show I got to meet Tyler Libine and all the producers from “Malcolm in the Middle” and some of the cast from “Malcolm in the Middle.”

You used to take dance classes. Which type of dance did you do?

I try to keep pretty well rounded just because when you’re doing theater it calls for a lot of different types. My favorite was probably tap.