Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 31, 1994 TAG: 9406010042
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ian Spelling
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Eisenberg, the 24-year-old actor who plays Nog, also sees a parallel.
``That's a great description for our relationship,'' he says during a telephone interview from his Moorpark, Calif., home.
``They're friends, they play, they argue and they always try to have a good time because it can be tough to have fun on the space station.''
Eisenberg likes to think of Nog, the nephew of Quark (Armin Shimerman), as a ``wild, precocious creature.''
And since Nog is a Ferengi and Eisenberg is buried under heavy makeup and prosthetic appliances, the actor can play the character slightly over the top.
``Also, because we haven't seen a Ferengi kid before, I'm almost writing the book on him,'' Eisenberg says. ``Things I do differently are OK because they really haven't been done before.
``I also like his naivete with Jake. Jake tries to put Nog on the right track, but there's sometimes no helping this Nog guy because he doesn't understand how things work.
``What's great is Nog really wants to learn, and Jake and Quark are always trying to help him. Those scenes are interesting, because sometimes they're serious, sometimes they're humorous and sometimes they're serious AND humorous.''
Eisenberg, who was born in Hollywood but grew up in Thousand Oaks, Calif., became interested in acting in a roundabout way. He had kidney problems as a child and spent the first three years of high school on dialysis.
A transplant operation at the end of his junior year was a success, but Eisenberg's psyche still needed to heal. ``I had my transplant and was feeling good, but when you're in high school you're trying to find that niche where you belong.
``I always felt left out and was made fun of because I was short [because of the kidney problems] and didn't go to parties and football games.''
Finally, someone suggested Eisenberg consider acting.
``I started doing work as an extra and began taking acting classes. My height didn't seem to matter, and no one was making fun of me.
``I found where I belonged.''
After landing an extended part as an extra in the film ``Colors'' (1988), he went on to meatier roles in ``The Horror Show'' (1989), ``Streets'' (1990), ``Puppet Master III'' (1991) and the ``Undertaking Pallor'' episode of HBO's ``Tales from the Crypt.''
He also performed on stage in several regional theater productions.
Recent projects include the film ``Pterodactyl Woman From Beverly Hills,'' in which Eisenberg plays Beverly D'Angelo's son.
``It's a black comedy,'' the actor says of the already completed movie, which may be released directly to video.
``It's pretty much seen through my eyes, so I did a lot of that `Ferris Bueller' thing and talked to the camera. It's off the wall.''
Though Eisenberg appeared in just a few ``DS9'' episodes this year, he is featured in the upcoming season finale, ``The Jem'Hadar,'' and says he hopes to be in more scenes next year.
That way he'll be able to further develop his character and spend more time with his friends Lofton, Shimerman and Max Grodenchik, who plays Nog's father.
``It'll be fun to see where Nog goes,'' Eisenberg says. ``I have ideas of what would be fun and cool to do.
``Nog is just so fun to play. He's not a boring or quiet kid, and he's not too loud or obnoxious. He's just a little different.
Con calendar
Terracon '94 at the Coast Terrace Inn in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 10-12. (Call 403-469-9765.)
Creation at the Airport Raddison in Buffalo, N.Y., featuring Gates McFadden. (June 11-12 only; 818-409-0960.)
Trek/sci-fi alert
If you have Trek or science-fiction news or trivia to share - or if you have questions relating to ``Star Trek'' - write to Ian Spelling, in care of the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
by CNB