Hillside students get to hear about the ups and downs of show business
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers IMPROV- Actor Don Stark, seated, performs an impromptu skit with eighth-grade Hillside Middle School student Gene Walinski, 13, at left, last Friday in the school's library. Stark, best known for his role on FOX's "That 70's Show," visited the school to speak with students about becoming an actor.

Don Stark sat alone in Hillside Middle School's library, carefully thumbing through a book's yellowing pages.

At the door, a horde of curious students peered inside, straining to get a good look at the actor best known for his eight-year stint as Bob Pinciotti on the Fox television sitcom "That '70s Show."

"I feel like the gorilla at the zoo," Stark said with a laugh.

Stark, 53, was invited by English and social studies teacher Eric Adler to speak to about 250 Hillside students last Friday.

He described the more serious aspects of his craft and the importance of education, reading and raising a family. He used his humor and commanding presence to charm the students, inviting a few to perform with him in improvised skits.

"It was fun," sixth-grader Tyler Watkins said. "I've done plays before, but not with actual stars."

Tyler, 12, an aspiring actress, performed a skit with Stark about a girl who must convince her father to let her go to a friend's party. It elicited a rousing response from her fellow students.

Besides working on "That '70s Show," Stark appeared on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and NBC's "Father of the Pride," where he was the voice of Vincent, a pink flamingo with a thick Brooklyn accent.

Born in New York, Stark moved frequently as a kid, living in Massachusetts, Texas and Louisiana before coming to California. He graduated from Cleveland High School in Reseda.

It was there that Stark- on a dare from a high school friend- auditioned for his first role, a character named Marvin Hudgens in the drama "Dark of the Moon," but he always considered himself an athlete first. He wanted to play professional football and ultimately become a sports broadcaster.

He intended to study business at Cal State Northridge, but once there, he fell in love with theater.

But it never came easy, he said.

"It's hard work, but you want to make it look easy," Stark said. "You have to love to read. From reading, you learn about people, events, history and understanding the human condition.

"Just like sports, you have to train to be an actor," he continued. "You break down the script, you rehearse the script and you work with your instrument- your body- to tap into emotion, so it's real. There's a lot that goes into it. I can't think and do it all at the same time. I have to react and be free to whatever happens. I have to focus my attention outside my body."

When asked if he could cry on cue, tears welled up in his eyes within seconds. Stark explained he did it by channeling base emotions and recalling vivid memories of putting down a pet dog as a child.

The students were impressed.

"I liked when he said to do what you want to do and don't give up," said sixth-grader Austin Kropfl, 11, who enjoys skateboarding and playing football.

"I'm still shaking," said eighthgrader Brett Walters, 13, who got to perform in a quick improv skit. "I'm a big fan of all his work."

For years, Hillside has welcomed professionals from a wide variety of careers to speak to students.

"It's important for middle school students to see connections of what they're doing now and what they could be doing in the future," said Principal Susanne Wolf. "It makes what they're learning more relevant."

Wolf was pleased with Stark's ability to relate with the students.

"He engaged them," the principal said, "he was personable, he made eye contact, and he used words on the students' level. He made it have meaning for them."