Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993 TAG: 9307310295
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACKIE HYMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
With few roles for poet-gardeners, the 28-year-old former star of two television series - "21 Jump Street" and "Booker" - is a natural to play a street racer in the Fox TV movie "Born to Run."
The film, directed by Albert Magnoli ("Purple Rain"), debuts Monday (at 8 p.m. on WJPR-Channel 21/27) and also will be released theatrically in Europe.
Grieco recently returned to acting after a year of self-imposed absence. He plays a champion street racer who fights local corruption after his brother gets involved with a mob boss.
"The whole street-racing aspect is the only time in his life when he feels in control and comfortable," Grieco said. "I've always been interested in cars and Harleys and that whole gambit, and this movie seemed like a good thing to do."
"I love this type of character. I don't think that's done much anymore," he said, "a young person dealing with an adult world. It was done in the 1950s with James Dean and Marlon Brando, and it has a message for everyone about keeping your sense of morality."
Street racers illegally mark off city streets as raceways, and compete late at night, attracting large crowds, Grieco said.
"Quarter-mile street racing has been a big problem and a lot of people have died," he said. "It's become more prevalent because of the existence of the muscle cars, the faster cars," either new cars with large engines or souped-up older vehicles.
Participants form outlaw racing clubs, Grieco said. "Their whole point is this is a club, this is a sport, and if they had access to a strip that was made for this, there wouldn't be as many people hurt," he said.
In his personal life, Grieco races 500-horsepower TransAm cars in sanctioned events, and has collected four cars and seven motorcycles. But his parents and business associates try to discourage him, he said.
"Everyone gets after me for the racing and the motorcycles, but it's fun," he said. "For me, it's a normal world in the abnormal world I live in. It's a way to sink back into a normal reality."
Grieco spends his spare time writing poetry and lyrics and singing with a band, although the band hasn't yet made public appearances.
He also maintains about 120 rosebushes at his Hollywood Hills home.
"I'm out there every day," he said. "It's kind of like my solace. It's this place I can go. Every day, I can pick 10 vases of flowers."
Grieco grew up in a family of six in Watertown, N.Y. He attended Central Connecticut College on a football scholarship with dreams of becoming a lawyer. Then he began modeling for the Elite agency and moved to New York City, where for six months he represented Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein and Chanel.
He turned to acting, and spent three years studying. His first television audition led to a year-long role on the soap opera "One Life to Live."
Moving to Los Angeles in 1987, Grieco played guest roles on television series and hit the big time with "21 Jump Street." He landed his own series ("Booker") and starred in the feature films "If Looks Could Kill" and "Mobsters."
Now, after his year off, he's back with "Born to Run" and a one-hour dramatic series that he's co-producing with Lorimar for CBS.
In the first episode of the series, not yet titled or given a broadcast date, Grieco plays a young man released from prison into the custody of his sister. He becomes involved in her insurance investigation business.
The actor said his goals are these: "Continue doing good films, good movies that people will enjoy. I definitely want to direct. I directed a couple of `Bookers.' I'd like to continue to improve."
Beyond hard work, however, Grieco also hopes he'll land a role that turns a career into a comet.
"Obviously, you want THAT role," he said. "You could be a great actor and go through your life and never get a great role. If you stick to it long enough and are smart about it, you'll get these opportunities."
by CNB