If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bones, or Angel, you’ll recognize Hollywood actor David Boreanaz, whose father happens to be veteran Philadelphia TV anchor Dave Roberts.
Boreanaz recently began the seventh and final season of his military series, SEAL Team, on Paramount+. We talked to him about life at Malvern Prep, having a famous dad in Philly, and being in a JCPenney TV commercial with Bryan Cranston.
Boreanaz is pronounced in a way that people can’t seem to understand. It’s been since I was introduced to the world and society.
I’m named after… my dad, who was famous for Action News. The biggest weatherman in Philly for many years. I like to call him the mayor of Philadelphia.
I grew up in… Buffalo and then Villanova.
My worst subject at Malvern Prep was… chemistry, without a doubt. I memorized the periodic table and still got a C- on the final exam. That was with a tutor! That’s how bad it was.
I moved to L.A. in… 1991. Drove my Mazda RX-7 across the country. I thought it was the coolest car ever.
The Philly sports team I followed the most was… all of them, including the Unions. 100 percent. Without a doubt. I was completely obsessed. Last year, I was involved in putting together a team to try to buy the Flyers.
The first big concert I went to was… Barry Manilow at the Spectrum, in 1978. I kept asking my mom what that smell was—later I learned it was marijuana—and she said to move on.
Growing up with a TV dad was… exciting but also humbling to see him treat people the way they should be treated. He had no ego. There was no “celebrity.”
I was inspired to act… after seeing Yul Brynner in The King and I in Philadelphia. That was in sixth grade.
My first acting job was… Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! in eighth grade. My first paid job was in a JCPenney commercial with Bryan Cranston, before he was famous. It was about clothes and being a “cool” man. And one of my first TV jobs was on Married… with Children. I was Kelly Bundy’s biker boyfriend, and Al Bundy hit on me.
My most extravagant material possession was… my ’68 Mustang 500 GTO. When people say, “Hey, aren’t you that guy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer?” … I laugh and say yes. It’s a fun show. And I’m proud of my work on it.
The last time I was in Philly was… just a few months ago. I ate at the Saloon with Big Dom, the Eagles’ security guard.
One thing L.A. needs that Philly has is… real fans.
If you want to see me on TV these days… look up SEAL Team. We’re in the final season. I play the commander of Bravo 1. As for what’s next, I can’t talk about that yet.
A classic I’d love to remake is… Goodfellas. I’d love to play Ray Liotta.
When people ask me for advice about breaking into Hollywood, I tell them… slow down, focus, and embrace fear.
My secret talent is that I can… pop and lock. Since the 80s, baby. I can spin on a piece of cardboard too, although these days I can be sore the next morning.
