James Boyle, the Wire
The glamorous life of an actor has taken Bristol native Charlie Saxton to countless memorable settings: On Broadway directed by late acting great Philip Seymour Hoffman, co-starring in acclaimed HBO series Hung for three seasons and fleeing from deadly spores in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening.
It was to no shock, then, when Saxton found himself suspended
in the air by a harness a few weeks ago while filming an episode of the new Fox comedy, Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life.
“You follow the script, do what the scene calls for and just go with it,” said Saxton. “They have me climbing trees, running through the woods. I’m not the most physically active guy, so it is a little surprising how much action they have me doing.”
Saxton, 25, plays Neal, one of the best friends of the title character, portrayed by Jack Cutmore-Scott.
The show takes its ensemble of twenty-somethings and puts them in various situations that fall way outside the norm.
“This is basically a show about how to survive your 20s,” said Saxton. “We look at things that they don’t prepare you for in college, like how to deal with a crazy ex-girlfriend or a best friend that has overstayed his welcome.”
Fox greenlit the show earlier this year and put together a fresh-faced cast of young actors and actresses to film a 13-episode first season. The single-camera comedy relies heavily on the ensemble’s ability to sell some unusual circumstances, a task that Saxton says they readily embraced.
“The show is like nothing else that’s out there,” said Saxton. “The cast was assembled in the usual way, but the chemistry was there immediately. We just enjoy each other’s presence. Last week, we wrapped a 17-hour shoot at 6:30 in the morning, and we still got together later that night to hang out.”
Speaking from California on a day off from shooting, Saxton says that production on the final episode of the season wraps this week, in time to come home for a holiday break. The show’s first episode debuts Jan. 3, following The Simpsons, and there is some talk about a special premiere night viewing at the Borough Pub on Farragut Avenue in Bristol, one of Saxton’s favorite places to frequent when in town.
Nothing has been finalized as yet, but Saxton encourages everyone to check out the show nevertheless.
“I grew up watching The Simpsons with my family,” said Saxton. “It’s really exciting and surreal to now be on the same night.”
The 2008 Bristol High School grad and former class president started acting at an early age, taking the stage at the Bristol Riverside Theater at 5 years old and continuing throughout his school years at the encouragement of his mother, local acclaimed actress Drucie McDaniel.
After graduation, Saxton made his way to Hollywood with a role in the 2009 film Bandslam as Bug the bassist, followed quickly by scoring the part of Tom Jane’s son in HBO’s Hung. By then, Saxton knew that acting was the life for him and signed up for representation from renowned agency CAA.
“It was the choice of going all in or going to college,” said Saxton. “I’ve had my ups and downs like everybody else in the business. The downs can get really down, but the ups can be amazing. That’s where I am right now with this show.”
Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life premieres on Fox Jan. 3 at 8:30 p.m. For information, visit www.fox.com/cooper-barretts-guide-to-surviving-life.
