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Stephen A. Smith is a “different animal” when it comes to his acting career.
That’s something the ESPN personality heard many times over the years from his colleagues, and it has served as fuel for his goal of making it to primetime television, Smith said in an interview with The Post on Monday.
Smith, who’s known for his loud, theatrical personality as a sports analyst across multiple shows at ESPN, will have a guest star role on “Law & Order,” airing Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
“I’ve always been told and all my colleagues always say, ‘When the lights come on, he’s a different animal. He’s ready,'” Smith, 57, said. “So, I take pride in that. And the lights come on, it’s showtime and it’s time to step up and produce, and that’s what I pride myself on being able to do.”
It might be difficult to grasp another version of Smith, who became a household name by being himself in front of the camera.
In the episode entitled “Tough Love,” Smith plays Ted Hunter, an outspoken sports agent who is stabbed to death, leaving a trail of suspects who wanted him gone.
“It was crazy to say the least,” Smith said of playing the character. “I mean, from the standpoint of knowing who [sports agents] are and how they can be as professionals, I get that because I’ve been in sports journalism for over 30 years, so in that regard, that’s fine.
“But it’s still a challenge when you have to go in front of the cameras on a set and act the role and step out of character and be something that you’re not.”
The most fascinating part of all is that Smith has never taken a single acting class or sought any type of formal training.
Smith explained that he was approached by Pam Wexler, a writer for “Law & Order,” about a guest star role on the show — just as he was for his role on “General Hospital,” which is ABC’s longest-running soap opera.
“We were both in LA, said she was a fan and that many of her colleagues were fans and they wanted to know if I would be interested in appearing on ‘Law & Order,'” Smith recalled of his conversation with Wexler. “And I said, ‘The ‘Law & Order’? Are you kidding me? Prime time? Are you kidding me? Absolutely!’ So, I jumped at it and that’s how it happened. I was ecstatic.”
Smith made his acting debut on “General Hospital,” with a short cameo appearance as a television reporter on Feb. 2, 2007.
Later in 2007, he was in the Chris Rock motion picture, “I Think I Love My Wife.”
Smith returned to “General Hospital” in April 2016 as Brick, a surveillance expert for the Mob, and has continued to make regular appearances on the soap opera since then — and most recently April 28.
This is just the beginning for Smith’s acting career, and he said he won’t stop until he lands more roles on primetime television and in movies.
However, giving up his job with ESPN to become a full-time actor is where he draws the line.
“It would have to be the right opportunity, of course,” Smith said of future acting roles. “I mean, I have a day job that pays me pretty well, so I don’t really need the work.”
Smith signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN in March, according to The Athletic.
“If I’m gonna do it, it has to be the kind of [role] that I want,” Smith said. “I want to be in the movies. I want to be on primetime television. I want to be on epic shows like ‘Law & Order,’ I want to work with great actors and great directors and stuff like that. It’s certainly something that I aspire to do. There’s no doubt about that.”
“If the right opportunity presents itself, of course I’d be willing to do it and sacrifice the time necessary in order to do it well because I’m not interested in doing anything half-ass. That would basically be my approach, but it’s not going to be something that’s going to compel me to give up my day job — that I’m not going to do.
“I wouldn’t do that to become a full-time actor. That’s not what I would do, not after what I’ve been blessed to accomplish and I’m on throughout my career over the last 30 years. I’ll continue doing this for as long as I can.”
Smith credited “General Hospital” star Maurice Bernard, who’s played Sonny Corinthos on the soap since 1993, along with producer Frank Valentini, for taking him under their wing in Hollywood.
He also attributed longtime “General Hospital” stars, Laura Wright, who plays Carly Corinthos, and Steve Burton, who plays Jason Morgan, for “teaching me about the profession.”
“I remember when Maurice Bernard told me one time [on set], ‘This is who I need you to be at this moment.’ And when I went and taped the scene for ‘Law & Order,’ I was like, ‘This is who I need to be in this moment right here. This is what it calls for,'” Smith said. “And I knew it instinctually because of the things that they taught me over the years, and I’m incredibly grateful to them, and they’re all my friends and we communicate all the time.”
English (US)