Bruin Alumnus stars as blind CIA agent in new TV series “Covert Affairs”
UCLA alumnus Christopher Gorham stars as a blind CIA agent in USA Network’s new action/drama “Covert Affairs.”
By Kimberley Wong
June 20, 2010 9:00 p.m.
Christopher Gorham, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television alumnus, has played everything from superhero techie Jake Foley in “Jake 2.0″ and cute accountant Henry Grubstick in “Ugly Betty” to serial killer Henry Dunn on the TV show “Harper’s Island.”
Gorham’s latest endeavor, however, has an unexpected twist. Gorham plays leading man Auggie Anderson, a CIA agent who was once a special forces officer in Iraq but incurred an explosion that caused him to be blind. As a guide through the ins and outs of the CIA to trainee Annie Walker (Piper Perabo), Gorham’s newest role will debut on USA Network’s new action/drama “Covert Affairs,” airing in July, by the producers of the “Bourne” trilogy and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
In preparation for the series, Gorham has met with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and read war veterans’ books.
“Auggie comes through the worst of this psychological challenge of losing sight, which I think is not completely dissimilar to these guys who come back from war having lost arms or legs. It’s really challenging as the frustration still pops up, especially since he once thrived on the field and now he can’t do much out there,” Gorham said.
Gorham expressed frustration with the limitations of his character, especially with regard to the special spy training.
“The other day I had a very real moment of jealousy when (Perabo) was getting her Ferrari-driving lessons, and I thought it was pretty slighted that they didn’t let the blind guy,” Gorham said.
Gorham said the appeal of “Covert Affairs” is that it’s similar to “Alias” and other CIA spy shows in that it has a great mystery each week, but that this one doesn’t take itself too seriously. Gorham also mentioned the fun on-set atmosphere and the cool spy gadgets he gets to use.
“We’ve invented a laser cane for Auggie that doesn’t really exist, but that isn’t too far from the truth,” Gorham said.
The laser cane, which shoots a green laser grid, is one of many spy gadgets created on the show. Jean-Pierre Demelo, owner of SpyBase.com, said that shows such as “Covert Affairs” often invent gadgets that are ahead of the time and technology.
“We sell spy gadgets, from watch, pen and hat cameras to GPS spy tracking devices and keyloggers, for the FBI and for Hollywood … but I’ve never heard of a laser cane before,” Demelo said.
Despite the little inaccuracies that often accompany CIA-type shows, Demelo said that audiences are drawn to spy stories due to the real-life possibility that anyone can become a spy.
“(Spy equipment) empowers people to do things that they are not usually able to, and it helps individuals. It’s Hollywood in real life made possible for the average Joe,” Demelo said.
Gorham, however, is not the average Bruin. Throughout his career as a UCLA undergraduate, he worked on various projects, including a student film by “Milk” Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television alumnus, and “The Kentucky Cycle,” a six-hour epic directed by theater Professor Gary Gardner. His sincerity and likability has been a catalyst to his success as an actor, Gardner said.
“During “˜Kentucky Cycle,’ all of a sudden Chris became this really handsome young man and all the girls came to the show to swoon over him, like they used to at Elvis Presley, it was so strange. We had all the girls going “˜ooh’ and “˜ahh’ over Chris,” Gardner said.
Despite this je ne sais quoi appeal, Gorham said that he worked hard to receive a bachelor’s degree and a solid UCLA education while he was training at UCLA’s acting school. Now that he’s made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, Gorham has decided to break the first rule of espionage and share his secret to making a career out of acting.
“One, nothing substitutes hard work, and that’s for school and for real life, you can’t just skate by. Two is that fear will kill you. And three is there really are no rules aside from the law,” Gorham said.
To other Bruin alumni, Gorham has imparted some of his own advice.
“I think, in school, just because of the structure of it, your professors tend to want you to do things a certain way but there’s really no right way to do things, especially in the creative field,” Gorham said. “I went to school with a lot of talented people who just put things off because they were afraid. Going for it is the best thing you can do.”
