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 starring in a JCPenney TV commercial with Bryan Cranston.
My full name is… David Paul Joseph Boreanaz.
Boreanaz is pronounced in a way that people can’t seem to understand. It’s been that way 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 definitely… chemistry. 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 was inspired to act… after seeing Yul Brynner in The King and I in Philadelphia. This was in sixth grade.
My first acting role was… Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! in eighth grade. My first paid role was in a JCPenney commercial with Bryan Cranston, before he was famous. It was about clothes and being a “cool” guy. And one of my first TV roles 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 yeah. 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 was eating at the Saloon with Big Dom, the Eagles’ security guy.
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 our final season. I play the commander of Bravo 1. As for my next project, I can’t talk about that yet.
A classic movie I’d love to star in a remake of is… Goodfellas. I’d love to play Ray Liotta.
I moved to L.A. in… 1991. Drove my Mazda RX-7 across the country. I think that car is the coolest thing ever.
The Philly sports team I follow the most is… all of them, including the Union. 100 percent. No doubt about it. I’m 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—I later learned it was marijuana—and she told me to keep going.
Growing up with a dad on TV was… exciting but also humbling to see him treat people the way they should be treated. He had no ego. There was no “celebrity.”
