Actor's new career chapter

Actor Pat O'Brien (not the one who died in 1983, or the TV talking head) has packed his books and moved back to the Midwest. O'Brien's best gig as a "B" actor in Hollywood was as the dweeby math teacher on "Saved by the Bell." Even now, as he tours Glen Berger's one-man play "Underneath the Lintel," O'Brien is recognized.

Raised in Wisconsin, O'Brien helped to found Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre in Eau Claire in his student days there. After many years in Los Angeles, he's relocated to the Twin Cities and has brought "Lintel" to several stagings in Iowa, Minnesota and his home state. O'Brien plays a persnickety librarian whose curiosity is piqued when a book shows up at his desk, 123 years overdue. He explores clues to the book's journey that take him around the world. O'Brien opens a monthlong run on Wednesday at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. We tossed him some questions via the Internet.

Q What were your favorite memories of theater in Eau Claire?

A My favorite at Fanny Hill was the night we piñata-ed the disco ball. When I started the theater we had to share space with a disco. So every week we had to take down the set, haul out the stage floor and hang that damn disco ball back up. Disco died in the '80s; the theater flourished. We were sweeping up those little square-inch mirrors for weeks.

Q If Steven Spielberg saw you on the street, would he nod in recognition?

A What, is he in town? Unfortunately, my part was almost completely cut out of "Catch Me If You Can." I played a college administrator introducing Mr. Di Caprio to an auditorium filled with bobby-socked coeds. I had a nice long speech, but it ended up on the cutting-room floor. I can be seen somewhat out-of-focus amidst the coeds, but that was enough to get my name in the credits. He did tell me that I was, and I quote, "a wonderful actor," but that was before he cut me out of his movie.

Q Are you Facebook friends with Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, by any chance?

A I wish. I didn't keep in touch with the gang. I played poker a couple times with Dennis Haskins (Mr. Belding) and ran into him at the occasional commercial audition and Dustin Diamond (Screech) lived fairly close to us in Burbank. I talked to him in front of the local Toys R Us once. Rumor had it he liked to hang around there and be recognized. But I just opened a Facebook page. Friends of Mr. Dewey can go to: "patrick thomas o'brien."

Q As her erstwhile high-school math teacher, did you ever think Jessie (Elizabeth Berkley) would grow up to work in "Showgirls"?

A She was quite "grown up" during SBTB. She was the oldest of the gang. And probably the best pure (maybe a bad choice of adjective) actor of them all. But "Showgirls" was a shame. It's really not fair how one mistake can sabotage a promising career.

Q Did Jimmy Fallon's people consider bringing you on with Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zach on SBTB) recently?

A His people tried to contact my people, but I lack people so it didn't go anywhere.

Q That schoolteacher experience must serve you well for this show, yeah?

A Yeah, they're both eccentric characters, although the librarian is not a bore like Mr. Dewey. In fact he's pretty intense for a librarian.

Q Were you attracted to this show because it has a reference to Sheboygan, Wis.?

A I must confess to taking a liberty with the script. The author uses Stamford, Connecticut. It's just a passing reference and I think Mr. Berger would agree that Sheboygan is a better comic choice. I mean, "Stamford"? "Sheboygan"? No contest.

Q As a Packers fan living in the Twin Cities, where are you at with the prospect of seeing Brett Favre in purple?

A I look forward to seeing him in purple. Purple welts.

Q Did Brad Pitt ever invite you over to his set trailer during "Benjamin Button"?

A Sorry, but that will have to remain Brad's and my little secret. Besides, unlike the Strib, the Enquirer pays good money for that kinda dirt.

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299