ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 5, 1997 TAG: 9703050054
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEVIN D. THOMPSON COX NEWS SERVICE
Robert Urich has a new outlook on life. Being told you have a rare form of cancer will do that to a person.
``I've always played guys who were capable, tough and courageous, and I've never been put through the test,'' says the brawny, longtime TV actor, who last August was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a type of soft-tissue cancer.
``I always thought, `How would I behave under pressure?' Well, having cancer has given me a real reason to be on the planet. I'm getting to speak to various groups on surviving this ordeal. I live life from moment to moment, I'm thankful for each day, I don't take things quite so seriously, and that three-picture deal at Paramount isn't quite on the top of my list.''
Luckily for the 49-year-old Urich, the cancer was caught early and was treatable. He just completed six months of grueling chemotherapy and radiation treatments in February, losing his hair in the process. An operation last October to remove any remaining cancerous tissue from his groin area was a resounding success.
``They found no tumor and no cancer,'' Urich says quietly over the telephone from his Los Angeles home. ``They didn't even find any dead cells. I started to wonder if I ever had it. The doctors say there's only a 5 percent chance of this coming back.''
Urich, though, won't be considered cured until 10 years pass without a recurrence. For now, he faces months of back-breaking exercises to get back his strength and stamina.
``I still don't feel like myself yet,'' he says, sounding out of breath.
Urich says after a strenuous regimen of power walking, swimming and rowing, he should start to feel better by summer.
But Urich is healthy enough at the moment to work at least one day a week on the new ABC series ``Vital Signs'' (9 p.m. Thursday). The real-life medical drama is basically "ER" meets "Rescue 911." Urich will introduce a series of medical segments in which real doctors and nurses talk about compelling cases. Then those cases will be re-enacted with actors.
``I get to introduce the pieces and do a commentary at the end. But you won't see me standing in front of emergency vehicles with lights flashing.''
Urich says ``Vital Signs'' isn't the only show he's been offered. But it was a perfect fit for Urich, because it didn't require much time on the set. And since battling cancer, he has developed a fondness for doctors.
``I have found them to be dedicated,'' he says, ``and in the age of HMOs where medicine has become big business, it's heartwarming for me to talk about doctors who really practice the art of medicine.''
In the uncertain world of network TV, Urich has defied the gods for more than 20 years and starred in an astounding 10 series - an industry record.
Despite his incredible longevity, Urich only has two bona-fide hits to his credit: ``Vega$'' and ``Spenser: For Hire,'' both of which aired on ABC for only three seasons.
Why does Urich have more TV lives than a cat?
``I'm a nice fella,'' he jokes. ``Really, I don't know. I'd rather tell you that I had two huge hits and that was it. But there is something people relate to in a personal way. I like people and I like talking to people and finding out about their lives, and I guess all of that comes off on screen.''
Most recently, Urich starred on ``The Lazarus Man,'' a syndicated series where he played an amnesiac searching for his identity. The Reconstruction-era character, he says, was ``the most complex and interesting character I ever played.''
The show was canceled, however, after Urich went public with his illness.
Is he bitter?
``Nah,'' he says quickly, ``because when you're bitter, you start placing blame and it makes you a victim. I can't waste time doing that.''
What he does spend time doing is thinking about hosting a talk show. (He already has a Web page.) The talk show idea, says Urich, came when he appeared on ABC's ``20/20'' last year. After his chat with Diane Sawyer, he received more than 50,000 letters.
``For 25 years, I had done talk shows like Letterman and `The Tonight Show' where you're expected to come on and be engaging and funny or to sell your book, TV show or movie,'' says Urich. ``It was the first time I was just able to talk about things and how I felt about life. So I got to thinking, maybe I can do a talk show that will allow me to talk to people in a more intimate way.''
Another thing Urich would like is his hair. He is eagerly waiting for it to grow back.
``I don't like being bald,'' Urich says seriously. ``Everybody has been very generous and very kind. But, for me, all it does is remind me that I had cancer. I look at my reflection, and I think of chemotherapy, throwing up and a lot of unpleasant thoughts.''
LENGTH: Medium: 87 linesby CNB