Jack McGee

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - Veteran character actor Jack McGee will talk to California Lutheran University students and the community at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in the first of a series of informal discussions with actors on their craft.

“A Conversation With … Jack McGee” will be held in the Preus-Brandt Forum on the Thousand Oaks campus. Actor, writer and director Markus Flanagan, who teaches at CLU, will be the moderator for a one-hour talk followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

McGee co-stars in “The Fighter,” the 2010 film that has been nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The movie also received four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, including Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for McGee and the four other stars.

The youngest of eight children born and raised in the South Bronx, McGee began striving to get noticed early in life and went on to be the president of his senior class and a star football player before discovering his knack for performing. He performed with the 1960s rock band “The Young Rascals” and in the late 1970s worked as a New York City firefighter to make ends meet. Fittingly, his first big part was in the 1985 firefighter film “Turk 182.” McGee went on to appear in a series of feature films and television movies and series. His most notable role has been as Chief Jerry Reilly on FX’s edgy firefighter drama “Rescue Me.” He also played Hickey in the Spike TV series “Players” last year and has recently guest starred on several shows including “CSI: Miami,” “Criminal Minds” and “Monk.” McGee appeared with Kevin Spacey in the 2010 film “Father of Invention” and with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts in the 2009 action thriller “The International.” Later this year, he will be seen alongside Nicholas Cage in “Drive Angry” and with Brad Pitt in “Moneyball.”

Flanagan, a 24-year veteran in the industry, has appeared in 10 movies and more than 100 TV shows. He also lectures for acting programs throughout the country.

Flanagan’s 2007 book, “One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor’s Survival Guide,” explains how to make it in the business of acting while staying sane and focused. The “A Conversation With…” talks at CLU will take the same approach, providing theatre arts students and other aspiring actors with advice from professionals. The next talk in the series at 7 p.m., March 23, will feature Doug Jones, who is best known for his work under heavy makeup and prosthetics playing science fiction and horror characters.

Donations will be accepted. All proceeds will benefit the CLU Theatre Arts Department.

Preus-Brandt Forum is located south of Olsen Road near Mountclef Boulevard.

For more information, call (805) 493-3415 or e-mail dramadpt@callutheran.edu.