Catching Up With Jordi Vilasuso
What did Jordi Vilasuso do on his summer vacation? Well, he found a prime-time gig and said hello to a “little friend” at a film festival, but now it’s time to hit the books — and maybe even find a new lady friend.
“I just left school and bought some more books, actually,” laughs GUIDING LIGHT’s former Tony. “I’m taking archeology and biopsychology — don’t ask me why. I signed up late for classes and these are part of my requirements, so I’m getting them out of the way.”
Vilasuso is working toward his degree at a community college in Los Angeles. But he has one complaint: “I don’t have any pretty girls in my classes,” he sighs. “I really want some pretty girls. But that would be distracting. I’m there purely for learning.”
Does that mean he’s no longer linked to his old co-star Aubrey Dollar (ex-Marina)? “I am on the market,” he confirms. “I’m back!”
One thing Vilasuso is not in the market for is new pals; he is still tight with several old friends from GL. “George Alvarez (Father Ray), who played my brother on the show, is my friend for life,” Vilasuso reveals. “That guy really took me under his wing. I’m supposed to hang out with Jessica Jimenez (ex-Catalina), who played my first TV wife, tonight. We always get together. I’m in touch with Oliver Macready (ex-Romeo), who played my best friend on the show. I was in New York two weeks ago and I got to see George and Nancy St. Alban (Michelle). I heard she and some of my friends were let go from the show.”
That includes his “cousin,” Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny). “I’m shocked,” he marvels. “He’s the reason that show’s on the air. I don’t know what they’re doing. They’re moving the studios, the ratings are poor, they got rid of the character I used to play, so who knows? I wish them the best, because they taught me a lot and they’re good people over there.”
Still, Vilasuso warns that fans should not look for him back at GL or any daytime series. “I’ve moved on,” he insists. “I did my time and I don’t regret it. There were people, big actors, who told me not to take the part on GL when I got it. I was like, ‘F- that. I’m 19. I’m going to move to New York and have a great time.’ I had some of the best cast members. It was so much fun. I got to work with amazing people.”
These days, the actor divides his time between classes, the audition circuit and working with his writing partner. “I try to flex my acting muscles and stay creative,” he says. To that end, he did a guest gig on CBS’ Numb3rs that airs Oct. 7.
Then he let off a little steam with some buddies. “I was just at the Telluride Film Festival,” he explains. “It was awesome. I partied…probably too much. I drove across five states to get there — California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. It took 14 hours and was the total frat road trip with the boys. I had my entourage there. I rode with a cinematographer friend, a writer/producer friend and a director friend, so we had all the creative angles covered. We talked movie-making the whole time and were just bashing each other.”
The highlight of Telluride was a toss-up. Sure, Vilasuso was thrilled to catch up with cast mates from his movie, The Lost City, and even more excited that the film was a hit as the festival-opener. But could that compare to meeting an icon? “I hung out with Steven Bauer a lot, which was cool. I grew up with Scarface!” he marvels.
After that, it was back to Earth and back to Los Angeles, where the East Coast transplant has been busy making a new home for himself. “Now I’m a West Coaster,” he declares. “I like it. I didn’t think I would, but I converted. I’m actually going out tonight to one of those ‘Hollywood’ clubs — Mood or LAX. I really don’t go to places like that unless I’m invited, because I’m not going to wait in line. I have a great bar a block from my house. I don’t have to drive, so I just go kick it, and there’s always cool people there.”
But what about a pretty girl or two?
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