I can count on one hand the number of shows my daughter likes that I enjoy as well. One such show is Cartoon Network's Level Up, a tale of a group of gamers who accidentally open a portal and, along with the help of the game's creator, must send all the bosses and villains and monsters that escape from the game back home. Level Up's cast was nice enough to sit down and chat with us and we're going to feature a different actor each week.To bring things to a close, we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Lonny Ross, who plays Max Ross on Level Up.
Tell us about the character you play on Level Up.
I play Max Ross. He invented the online video game, Conqueror Of All Worlds, which the main characters in Level Up play, and from which the characters are leaking into the real world. Max is kind of like a Donald Trump, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg sandwich. But unlike them, he also has the social skills of a sandwich. Well, maybe Trump too.
Do you share any common traits with your character? Any noticeable differences?
I really can't think of any common traits anyone shares with Max. And if you do, I feel bad for you. Well, unless you're a billionaire. Then I don't feel that bad.
Which has been your favorite episode so far and why?
It is completely self-serving to say "Max Squared" was my favorite. But that's not going to stop me.
When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor? Was there a particular event that triggered it?
Probably acting my way out of detention. Those were Oscar-worthy performances. I'm physically built to be a goofball, so I channeled that into performing. I'd say getting hired on the television show 30 Rock triggered my confidence that I could do this for a living. Thank you, Tina Fey.
What actors and actresses do you admire or look up to?
Dabney Coleman, Art Carney, Jonathan Winters, Cloris Leachman, Richard Dreyfuss. I watch older movies and I admire performers with longevity, who've had great careers.
Before you began work on Level Up, were you much of a gamer? Has Level Up changed that?
I grew up fairly addicted to video games. I guess that makes me a gamer. Level Up has introduced me to the world of online gaming, which I wasn't too familiar with before.
What are your five all-time favorite video games?
At the height of my gaming days, some of my favorites that were not sports-related were Resident Evil, Dead Rising, Tomb Raider, the Grand Theft Auto series, and Twisted Metal.
Level Up airs Tuesday nights at 8:00 PM on Cartoon Network.
