Article: Jason’s ET Obsession

Jason Behr, Extraterrestrial-
The Roswell Hottie’s E.T.
Obsession Saves The Day

December 1999, Entertainment Teen

When it comes to aliens, Jason Behr, the star of the new WB series, Roswell, is a believer. “For me to sit up here and tell you that we are the only intelligent life form that ever existed would be very arrogant….

Truth be told, as a child, the now 26 year old actor was deeply affected by the movie, E.T., and loved any and all films that dealt with the subject of aliens from outer space.
“…I think that the fantasy and the discovery of it all, and the idea behind the fact that there could be other intelligent life forms out there is fascinating”, he says.
And what can be more fascinating than playing the role of the very thing that’s intrigued him for, like forever?

Jason is Roswell’s Max Evans, a teenage relative of the aliens who legend has it, landed in Roswell New Mexico back in the ’40’s. While his human peers are coping with typical identity and self-esteem crises, Max, his sister, and their friend are literally on a quest to find out who they are. Can Jason identify? In a sense, he did the same when he left his Minneapolis, MN digs for Los Angeles, CA.

On His Way

Jason had performed in school plays throughout his childhood, but it was in high school that he became intent on making a career out of acting. In fact, as soon as he graduated, Jason packed his bags and moved to L.A. to see what he could accomplish.

In a town where publicity shots are used as coasters, and audition lines are as long as those at the DMV, Jason was able to score jobs immediately. Despite his instant success, however, there were some bumps in the road. Jason landed his first permanent TV role as Tyler Baker in the cable series Sherman Oaks. But the show was soon cancelled. When the dark-haired charmer landed his next TV role in ABC’s Push, it too met the same fate. Never-the-less, Jason stood firm and landed a bit part in the Reese Witherspoon film, Pleasantville, and the independent film, Rites of Passage, and did guest appearances on Jag, Pacific Blue, Profiler, 7th Heaven, Cracker, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the show that put him in the ring with some of today’s most talented young stars, Dawson’s Creek. Jason played bad boy Chris Wolfe and most certainly got himself noticed.

Jason’s persistence and E.T. connection gave him an extreme advantage when he met Roswell’s producers, and before he knew it, the roll of Max became his. Which just goes to show, you just never know when one of your most favorite interest or hobbies will come in handy.