Sioux City native lands role in CBS drama
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, November 07, 2007
"Dying" on stage is something most actors hope never happens.
But his "death" in a top-ranking CBS television show is just one more credit on an acting resume for a certain Central High School graduate.
Sioux City native Tom Katsis, who has lived in California since 1985, will portray a character in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," which airs Thursday.
Katsis has spent the past few years growing his acting career. He has appeared in award-winning short films, full-length features, TV episodes and commercials, most of which have been available only to viewers on the West Coast.
He garnered the "CSI" television part due to "keeping himself out there," he said in a phone conversation from his Los Angeles home, and having his agent, Andy Henry, submit his name for possible gigs.
"Typically for television, and especially for one-line parts, you might go in with 10 to 12 other people and then if they like you, you'll get called back later that day with three to five others," he explained. "When my agent called, he said, 'Tom, you're going straight to the producer to read on camera.'"
The part called for an "upscale business guy" who utters one line in the show, the most difficult to audition for "because if you don't capture the moment immediately, you're out," Katsis said.
The next day, the 1958 Central High alumnus was in. Three days later, Katsis was part of the "CSI" cast, shooting on Sept. 19. Katsis portrays a character who is brutally attacked following a heinous assault on his wife.
"I survive long enough to crawl out of the house where some soccer players find me and I get to say, 'Please help me!'" he said of his "nifty little part."
The character does not survive, Katsis said, "not a surprise, considering I spent almost two hours in makeup and look gruesome." What's different in this episode, called "Who & What," is that it is to be continued into the show that immediately follows "CSI" on Thursday, "Without a Trace."
Katsis was not able to meet the star of "CSI," William Petersen, although he did stand two to three feet away from him.
"I hung out with Robert David Hall," Katsis said of the actor who plays the role of coroner Dr. Albert Robbins on the show.
Katsis taught at East High School from 1965 to '72, then served as a home school counselor at West Junior High until 1974. He left education and entered the insurance business, "which I still keep my hand in," before moving to California two decades ago.
Katsis, 68, began his acting career in the fourth grade at Hunt Elementary School, playing Santa Claus. At Central and then at Wayne State College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1962, he continued to act, including numerous parts for Sioux City Community Theatre and Lamb Productions.
"I don't get back to Sioux City much since my mom (Sophie Katsis) died five years ago," he said. "But my sister Marti Bostinelos and my good buddy Jack Mook are there, so I still have ties and great memories."
What: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
Who: Former Sioux Cityan Tom Katsis.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday.
Where: CBS-TV.
But his "death" in a top-ranking CBS television show is just one more credit on an acting resume for a certain Central High School graduate.
Sioux City native Tom Katsis, who has lived in California since 1985, will portray a character in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," which airs Thursday.
Katsis has spent the past few years growing his acting career. He has appeared in award-winning short films, full-length features, TV episodes and commercials, most of which have been available only to viewers on the West Coast.
He garnered the "CSI" television part due to "keeping himself out there," he said in a phone conversation from his Los Angeles home, and having his agent, Andy Henry, submit his name for possible gigs.
"Typically for television, and especially for one-line parts, you might go in with 10 to 12 other people and then if they like you, you'll get called back later that day with three to five others," he explained. "When my agent called, he said, 'Tom, you're going straight to the producer to read on camera.'"
The part called for an "upscale business guy" who utters one line in the show, the most difficult to audition for "because if you don't capture the moment immediately, you're out," Katsis said.
The next day, the 1958 Central High alumnus was in. Three days later, Katsis was part of the "CSI" cast, shooting on Sept. 19. Katsis portrays a character who is brutally attacked following a heinous assault on his wife.
"I survive long enough to crawl out of the house where some soccer players find me and I get to say, 'Please help me!'" he said of his "nifty little part."
The character does not survive, Katsis said, "not a surprise, considering I spent almost two hours in makeup and look gruesome." What's different in this episode, called "Who & What," is that it is to be continued into the show that immediately follows "CSI" on Thursday, "Without a Trace."
Katsis was not able to meet the star of "CSI," William Petersen, although he did stand two to three feet away from him.
"I hung out with Robert David Hall," Katsis said of the actor who plays the role of coroner Dr. Albert Robbins on the show.
Katsis taught at East High School from 1965 to '72, then served as a home school counselor at West Junior High until 1974. He left education and entered the insurance business, "which I still keep my hand in," before moving to California two decades ago.
Katsis, 68, began his acting career in the fourth grade at Hunt Elementary School, playing Santa Claus. At Central and then at Wayne State College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1962, he continued to act, including numerous parts for Sioux City Community Theatre and Lamb Productions.
"I don't get back to Sioux City much since my mom (Sophie Katsis) died five years ago," he said. "But my sister Marti Bostinelos and my good buddy Jack Mook are there, so I still have ties and great memories."
What: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
Who: Former Sioux Cityan Tom Katsis.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday.
Where: CBS-TV.
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Linda Hazer Snyder wrote on Nov 8, 2007 1:52 PM:
Stan Rocklin wrote on Nov 7, 2007 10:57 PM: