ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512070004
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HOLLYWOOD
SOURCE: SUSAN KING LOS ANGELES TIMES
Vondie Curtis-Hall has a lot to be happy about these days.
On the personal front, the Detroit native recently married writer-actress Kasi Lemmons. Professionally, his career is on the fast track. Last season, he received an Emmy nomination for his guest appearance on ``ER'' as a suicidal transsexual. Not only does he have two feature films in the can, he's preparing to direct a feature that he wrote.
And last, but not least, Curtis-Hall has been receiving a lot of attention for his role on CBS' acclaimed medical series ``Chicago Hope'' (airing Mondays at 10 p.m. on WDBJ-Channel 7).
Curtis-Hall, who joined the David E. Kelley show earlier this year, plays Dr. Dennis Hancock, a compassionate internist who leaves his own inner-city clinic to join the hospital staff at Chicago Hope.
Sipping on cranberry juice at a hotel restaurant, Curtis-Hall says he wasn't looking to do a series when ``Chicago Hope'' came his way. ``I had done the `ER' turn and a couple of weeks later they called and wanted a meeting,'' he says.
Curtis-Hall, though, was waiting to hear about a feature. So he kept going back and forth with the ``Chicago Hope'' producers. ``Then I went in and met with [executive producer] John Tinker. They told me what they had in mind - the character they wanted. They wanted him to work in the inner city and have this sensibility - my own sensibility in terms of wanting to make a difference.''
The ensemble cast - which includes Adam Arkin, Roxanne Hart and Christine Lahti, who came on staff after Mandy Patinkin announced his departure - was a strong drawing card. ``David Kelley and I had spoken a year or so ago about `Picket Fences,''' he says. ``I knew I wanted to work with them. It was an opportunity to have a steady job, increase exposure and to do good work and still have a film career. It is the best of all worlds.''
Says Tinker of Curtis-Hall: ``He's one of those actors who gives you a surprise and always does something differently, a little something more than the material. He's intelligent and it is combined, I think, with sort of an inner peace. He doesn't need to play the balcony, you know.''
Besides having Dr. Hancock explore alternative medicines on the series this season, Tinker hopes to delve into his home life. ``We never ever really referred to it. The series is still so young and there are so many characters. We haven't really gotten around to it. We have a picture in our minds of who he is. He's a divorced guy and a divorced father who has got the kids most of the time. We would like to see his children and do some stories about that and see some of his personal life and romance.''
Curtis-Hall has some plans of his own also: As soon as ``Chicago Hope'' wraps next March, he will direct his first feature, ``Gridlock.''
``Laurence Fishburne and Tim Roth are going to star in it,'' he says with enthusiasm. ``When I leave here I am going over to Gramercy Pictures - they are going to distribute it - and talk about our ideas for distribution.''
In Hollywood jargon, he says, the film is a cross between ``Midnight Cowboy,'' ``Drugstore Cowboy'' and ``Pulp Fiction.'' ``It's one of those dark, funny comedies,'' he adds.
Curtis-Hall doesn't know if he'll give himself a role in his picture. ``I may do a tiny, tiny role,'' he says, smiling.
He doesn't have any plans, though, on quitting acting if his directing career takes off. ``I love acting,'' he says.
Curtis-Hall does want the ``ability to chart my own destiny. I think as a writer and director you have the opportunity to make broader statements as an actor. When you're being directed by someone else, it's someone else's vision. As a director, I put my own vision [on screen], how I see life and the things I want to say.''
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Vondie Curtis-Hall plays Dr. Dennis Hancock on ``Chicagoby CNBHope.'' color.