ShareThisBetween "Dawson's Creek" and "Fringe," Joshua Jackson grew up.
"I would say anywhere between 22 and 28 years old is uncomfortable personally," says the 30-year-old actor. "You're going through a massively transitional phase. I needed to go through that phase."
After years away from the grind of series TV, Jackson hesitated a little before accepting a role on "Fringe," in which he plays investigator Peter Bishop. Last time he got involved in a series -- on "Dawson's Creek" -- it cost him a lot of his personal life. This time, he was prepared.
After "Creek" ended, he traveled and "cleared" his head. "Everybody goes through that period in their lives, when they need to get everything straight. Mine came a little later than most," he says. And his was a bit more public.
In 2002, when he was 24, Jackson was arrested in Raleigh, N.C., for assaulting a security guard at a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. He registered a blood alcohol level of 0.14 and posted $1,000 bail and was released. He was later ordered to enter an alcohol education program, pay a fine of $150 and complete 24 hours of community service.
On the career front, he tried more ambitious roles -- starring in "Americano" with Dennis Hopper and "Shadow in the Sun" with Harvey Keitel. He also appeared in "The Mighty Ducks," a family-friendly comedy that was a hit in theaters.
He made his stage debut in London's West End with Patrick Stewart in David Mamet's two-man play, "A Life in the Theatre," which was a critical and box-office success.
Playing heartthrob Pacey, his best-known role, on "Creek" for six seasons did wonders for his career but little for his personal growth. "I didn't have any time to grow up then," he says.
Of the period after "Creek," he says, "it was a godsend because I had the money -- working in TV isn't exactly slave labor -- and I had the time to do what I needed to do."
He was fine with not working for a while, or taking the occasional part to keep his name out there.
When he learned of "Fringe," he had a decision to make about whether he wanted to get involved with such a time-consuming commitment. Part "X-Files," part "Lost," "Fringe" follows the work of a special agent (Anna Torv) assigned to probe mysterious events around the world. She is aided by one of the world's greatest scientists (John Noble) and his son, Peter, who have a complicated and often-strained relationship.
"Fringe," with its complex plots and heavy special effects, makes for long workdays. "The sixth, 12th and 18th show has to be just as important to the actor as the first one," he says. "You have to make a commitment to make the show work every week, and you can't check out of that whenever you want."
The series, which has been off the schedule for weeks, returns at 9 p.m. EDT April 7.
This time, "I knew what I was getting into," he says, "and I wanted to make that commitment ... so far, with this show, I've not had one of those 'what-in-the-(heck)-am-I-doing-with-my-life' moments."
Jackson's life is consumed by "Fringe." Since his significant other lives in Europe, his social life is minimized.
Besides working in a series created by J.J. Abrams, the man behind "Lost," Jackson says "Fringe" speaks to his inner geek. "I'll read a script and think, 'Ooooh, this is SO cool!' I'm a real (nerd) about things like that," he says. "I'm a pretty significant sci-fi (nerd)."
(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)
