ARTICLES

The seductee, Jason Biggs 
Thursday, January 24, 2002 http://www.canoe.ca

When actor Jason Biggs says, "I'm a regular guy," you tend to believe him. The star who hit big in American Pie has in fact been an actor since childhood, and, "Having seen the ups and downs since an early age," as he puts it, Biggs seems pretty comfortable in his own skin. 

Right now, the actor is in Toronto being comfortable with Kathleen Turner's skin, as the two co-star in the stage play, The Graduate, at the Canon Theatre. Biggs is Benjamin and Turner is Mrs. Robinson, who appears in the buff for the famous seduction scene. 

Biggs and Turner gave interviews yesterday here in town to promote their theatrical turn, and Turner waltzed into the room -- fully dressed, we hasten to add -- to hug her youthful co-star. She looked fluffy. 

Jason Biggs, although famous for the pastry silliness of American Pie -- and the plain old silliness of such films as Saving Silverman or Losers -- is no stage newcomer. 

At the tender age of 13, he co-starred with Judd Hirsch in Conversations With My Father, which toured the U.S. 

"It feels great to be in front of a live audience again," he said yesterday. "I'd almost forgotten. It's so rewarding to go out there and give an unedited, full performance with the audience feeding off you and you feeding off the audience. 

"No second takes." 

Biggs points out that his co-star Alicia Silverstone is also someone who was a child actor. "It can be tough to make that transition from child actor to successful adult actor. I'd like to think I'm making that transition now," he said. 

Anything he'd like to accomplish outside the world of acting? Actually, yes -- Biggs would like to finish college. "All the money I earned growing up was set aside for college, and the irony is, I ended up dropping out. Proud of me though my mom is -- and she is proud -- I know she'd be pretty psyched if I got my college degree." 

Starring in The Graduate here and in other cities is the biggest commitment Biggs has made in years. 

"I know exactly what I'm going to be doing for the next four months -- that's the first time since high school." With film and TV auditions, shoots, and promotional jaunts, Biggs said he'd never stopped long enough to acquire any habits or routines. He's looking forward to that. 

"I'll be able to get up and read the newspaper," he said. "I'll even have breakfast."