IF THAT'S LOVE // Press Archive // Trevor St. John

Controlled Chaos (SOD 11/14/06)
by Mike Bruno

Trevor St. John doesn't mince words when talking about the "bizarro world" of daytime and how he wants to shake it up

As a relatively sane, law-abiding individual, Trevor St. John isn't exactly the spitting image of his devil-may-care One Life to Live character, Todd. However, the recent firing of his good friend, Dan Gauthier (Kevin), has proven that he does share Todd's fierce sense of loyalty to the people he cares about.

"If you want to talk about the [soap opera] business, I don't have much positive to say about it, and Dan is case in point," he states. "It's bizarro world, that's what it is. It's bizarro world."

Certainly, St. John is grateful for the amount of work he has had in "bizarro world" since he joined the show in 2003. After taking on a very difficult recast and pleasing many fans (and angering a few as well) by putting his own personal spin on Todd, the actor has been at the center of some of OLTL's biggest stories, like the Margaret Cochran kidnapping and Todd's execution. But at the same time, the actor was clearly infuriated, and a bit bewildered, by the show's decision to ax Gauthier.

"It's a mistake -- they made a mistake," he states matter-of-factly. "It's the only thing I can think of where you'd take someone who's extremely good at what they do, good-looking, professional and a joy to be around, and fire them.... But you know what? He's going to go and do some prime-time show or some other soap will pick him up and he'll be appreciated."

Gauthier is the 11th actor to play Kevin since the character was born, and that's where St. John gets really confused about OLTL letting him go.

"He has had more experience than any other actor on the show, and that's what's just so absurd," St. John points out. "What are they going to do, recast it? They can't recast it. What are they going to do, find somebody better? This was the best Kevin they ever had and everybody will tell you that, from guys on the crew, stage managers, other actors, fans -- the best Kevin they ever had. and what are they gonna do, bring him back as another actor? You can't do it. It's done."

St. John is happy to report that although Gauthier isn't altogether pleased with how things transpired, the actor is in good spirits. "Dan is fine," he says. "He enjoyed being on the show and is looking forward to working. He's handling it like the professional that he is, with grace and humor and a sense of incredulity, like we all are."

Gauthier's firing adds to St. John's sense that during his 3 1/2 years on the show, he's never felt truly at home in daytime and its ongoing format. When asked if he sees himself working in daytime another 3 1/2 years from now, St. John says flatly: "That's the million-dollar question. It depends. Period."

That said, when you get away from the sore subject of his friend's firing, he will admit that there are a few things he's liked about his recent storylines.

"I was really happy with the execution story," he smiles. "It proved that even in this genre you can have a beginning, a middle and an ending to a storyline. It's much more effective than having it kind of meander. You can't tell a story unless you have a real ending. Always, the most important part to any story is the ending."

St. John's preference for stories that come to an end also affects how he feels about the future of Blair and Todd.

"I'm not saying [Todd and Blair] should never get back together, but let's have some variety," he argues. "Roll the dice, in a sense. It has nothing to do with the actors I work with now. It's just that we need something new. Something that's different and creates some new dynamics. To just put him back with Blair again is so redundant. And then what? That's the big question I have. Because it doesn't work when they're together. It only works when they're not together. I've been saying this for awhile, that they should go their separate ways and then revisit it again in a while."

The actor would prefer that the writers instead explore the dynamic between Todd and Evangeline, but really, it's just about his wanting something fresh and new for Todd. "God, he could become a monk," he deadpans. "It doesn't necessarily have to mean romance, just something different."

St. John tries to keep things interesting for himself by ad-libbing behaviors with Todd, like taking a simple line and delivering it in a way that might throw the other actors (and audience) off-guard. It's a tactic that has turned some fans off, but St. John says it's absolutely essential for him.

"I think I'm getting bolder and bolder as I gain experience and confidence," he nods. "It doesn't matter as much. That's the only way you can ever do anything great -- when you're not concerned with how well it turns out. You just have to go out there and let it be what it is. You straitjacket yourself when you're too concerned about how well you're received. I'm trying to find more humor in it. I'm trying to stir things up a little and create some chaos."

Just the Facts
Birthday: September 3
Hometown: Born in Spokane, WA; raised in nearby Orchard Prairie, WA
Beat Down: St. John attended Whitworth College on a jazz performance scholarship and has played with Marshall Royal (Count Basie Orchestra), Bill Berry (Duke Ellington Orchestra), Slide Hampton and Gene Harris.
Close Call: His first major acting role was opposite Glenn Close in the 1995 TV movie Serving in Silence.
A Perfect Fitness: St. John runs his own fitness company, Bioconstructs, teaching biomechanics to professionals, especially firefighters. "It's still the most unique, best program for fire departments. We actually teach them how to do it themselves, which may not be the best business model, but we feel good about doing it that way."
Baby Love? The actor doesn't like talking in detail about his personal life, though he admits that the subject of kids has come up for him and his wife, Sara. "Yeah, we have serious thoughts about it, so we'll see."

Last summer, St. John shot a part in the Peter Berg directed film, The Kingdom, which stars Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner (scheduled for a 2007 release).

"I play Earl Ripon, a guy who takes his family from the United States to Saudi Arabia -- hence the kingdom," he explains. "While he's there, his next-door neighbor is killed in a terrorist attack, and Jamie Foxx comes to investigate. I'm one of the people he is associated with and interviews."

St. John last shot a film in 1999, an independent feature called The King's Guard, and he says he missed it.

"I showed up on that set and it was like no time had passed," he recalls. "I like how expert everyone is. Everyone is top-notch in every department. They won't stop until they've got it right. It's an amazing process, and I just feel more at home there. Even after 3 1/2 years on [a soap], I feel more relaxed [doing film]. I exhale a bit. It's no slam against this; it's just that some actors have preferences."

St. John credits Executive Producer Frank Valentini for being flexible and helping to make the movie happen for him.

"He is really terrific about letting actors go and do other things because he knows they need it," St. John explains. "He and Shelley Honigbaum, who's a producer, they worked and rearranged the schedule so I could work on this movie and it was very generous."