ENTERTAINMENT
Spurred by that unknown force known as curiosity, he‘ followed the white rabbit’.
But, he was a cautious, prudent man, and so he reached for this new branch cautiously, clinging to his PI job in the hopes of testing the waters without having to jump in.
“ Shucks!” – turns out he wouldn’ t be able to do both. The days that he was required for the new acting opportunity were going to conflict with his PI job.
Oh well, guess its back to that familiar tree. That’ s“ fine” he thought.
Well, Marino, the universe did not think that was fine:“ Whoa! I saw you reach for that branch. Hmm... I’ ll just cancel that PI job for you.”
And so be it. With that obstacle gone, he called casting back up and was put on the show as a background paramedic( because by that point, all the police officer positions were taken)
The pilot for“ Trauma” was a success; he was called back to be on the show in the background, eventually“ noticed”, plucked, and put in the foreground.
And given lines. And then more lines. And support from other actors. And then a lead character in a television series. All that after being a sheriff.
“ I absolutely love acting.” he says. He has no memorable moments of being a sheriff, even after 17 years of being on the force.
Nevertheless, perhaps you can and should never fully shed a past life.
As the lead actor on Homicide Hunter, he plays, not a ballet dancer or a clown. No, he plays a detective. The difference, however, is that instead of shaking down people who need more help than jail-time, he gets to tell the stories of people who are part of the criminal process – stories of both the victims, and the wrong-doers. It’ s no small feat.
After all, he belonged to a world of people who unintentionally or intentionally, knowingly or unknowingly, hurt people they should be helping; people who undoubtedly become embittered by the contrast of their idealized view of police-work, against the realities of their own fragile moral framework, and those of the organizations and structures they work for. He saw that world for what it was and then left, went with the flow, finding himself in a world of people who act fake to tell a story that is more real and purposive than the idealized versions around them. When you think it about, Marino’ s story is full of symbolism.
And make no mistake – Homicide Hunter is one of the most realistic crime shows out there, which is why it has gained so much popularity.
Marino explained that because the show is based on real life cases, the people who actually lived through those situations are part of the audience, part of the process. Friends and family of people who have been murdered, and who have been imprisoned. They are there to help the actors tell their story. They’ ve suffered, cried, feared, regretted, raged, and lamented. Surely, no amount of adjectives can adequately capture the range of emotions that beset the survivors of a crime and the criminal justice system.
He aptly explained in no uncertain terms, that because of this key distinguishing feature of the show, they all treat their jobs, their roles, with a certain degree of reverence, acknowledging that what is happening on set is a reenactment of something that deeply and irrevocably changed people’ s lives – and they will be reliving it with you.
That is, I have no doubt, part of what Marino likes about the show – the fact that it is real, it has depth. Purposive poignancy.
Nevertheless, unshackled from his previous life as a sheriff, and propelled into a life of recognizable fame, he still charmingly, but unsurprisingly says: I am just a normal guy.
Indeed, but that’ s what makes you and your life so interesting.
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Fall 2016 1961 Magazine