Pasadena Magazine

Juice, Squeezed The top-drawer actor of the acclaimed FX series Sons of Anarchy talks about residing in Pasadena, his upcoming ventures, and sheds a little light on Season 7. INTERVIEW BY // KIMBERLY HADDAD ∫ THEO ROSSI IS MORE THAN MOTORCYCLES BRAWLS AND MOHAWKS. THE CHARMING STATEN ISLAND NATIVE, AND PASADENA RESIDENT IS ACTUALLY A PUPPY LOVING WHOLE FOODS JUNKIE WHO SPENDS HIS FREE TIME WHIPPING UP HOMEMADE ALMOND BUTTER, GRUBBING AT GREEN EARTH EATERY, AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. You grew up on the east coast, originally from Staten Island. What brought you out to the city of Pasadena? Anything in particular you love about living here? I'm out here whenever we are fi lming and it's really fascinating to see weather like this. Our fi lming schedule is very different. We fi n- ish shooting around the holidays, late October to November, when it's still warm in Los Angeles, and then I go back to the coldest months in New York. I'm the only cast member who lives here and in NY. I just wish I could come out in November and stay for the beauti- ful 70 degree weather. I mean we just had the second worst storm in New York history. Because this is the food issue, I want to know something. If you could only eat one specifi c meal for the rest of your life what would it be? Almond butter and fruit. Is that even considered a meal? I just love it. I actually make my own and eat three spoonfuls of it every morning. You and Kim Coats are involved with various charity organizations , and I know you have a few other things up your sleeve as well. Care to elaborate? Yes, we have this amazing thing going on with Omaze. Omaze is a beautiful business. They set up different people in the public eye and auction off one in a lifetime experiences. They give people the opportunity to buy "chances," which allow you to win props from the set, or hang out with actors, and even join the red carpet. Obviously the more "chances" you buy, the better luck you have to win. Every dollar goes to a specifi c charity and you are put in a raffl e. Kim is using his daugh- ter's charity, One Heart Source, and I'm doing mine for AVSP, A Very Special Place, which helps disabled people in Staten Island. Brilliant. You've got a big heart. However, your character on SOA seems to differ. Let's get into it. Your role as Juice is extremely versatile. Are there any scenes that were your favorite or especially diffi cult to shoot? Diffi cult, not so much, but I have so many that were my favorite to shoot. My character starts as the comic relief and then progresses into a suicidal murderer who is now involved with one of the biggest secrets on the show. So for me, I think my favorite thing in general is just being together with everyone on the show. We have lost so many people throughout the years. Now we look around and there's so few of us left. Now, I know you can't spoil anything for Season 7, and besides I'd be really mad at you if you did, but is there anything you can say that will get audiences really pumped up for the premiere? I'm naked constantly if that means anything (laughs). I know Kurt actually Tweeted that and he wasn't kidding! I just think that every- one needs to stop trying to guess what's going to happen because you will never fi gure it out. Every episode ends where you just want smash your TV and are like, "Oh my God, I have to see next week!" There's 13 episodes left so you know, just enjoy it. Aside from SOA, I know you have quite a few projects ahead. You just wrapped up a fi lm in New York, you have your own production company, and you're helping stray dogs fi nd shelter. Tell me more. I'm such a huge fi lm buff and wanted to get back into independent fi lm making. So, a few good friends and I came up with Dos Dudes Pictures. We just wrapped up our very fi rst feature fi lm called Bad Hurt and are now submitting it to fi lm festivals. You know the one thing I learned while being on SOA and from Kurt is that at the end of the day, all the other stuff, the chases, and all the other things that happen throughout shows and movies, people always come back to the story. It's that feeling you get that goes through your entire body when you feel a real human emotion. And that's what we're trying to capture with our company. We also just did a huge campaign for the humane society for being a street dog defender. I mean I've got three dogs and I have never lived a day alive without a dog. Alright let's wrap it up. One last question. Is there anything you want people to know about you that they don't already know? I literally am the most normal and craziest person you'll ever meet (laughs). 96 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 TALK the talk_SO14.indd 96 9/29/14 11:59 AM

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