No worries–he’s not a d-bag–David’s just referring to his beers of choice. David Boreanaz, 39-year-old actor who stars in Bones, sat down with DRAFT Magazine to discuss being bullied in childhood, his former career as a Pittsburgh Steelers ball boy, and the cold blondes he loves so much.
Read the exclusive DRAFT interview in its entirety below:
Recently, the mainstream news has been talking about some colleges wanting to bring back the drinking age to 18 instead of 21. Your thoughts?
“It’s a fine line and a slippery slope. You can sign up for the draft when you’re 18, so are you responsible enough to be drinking at that age? I think what happens is you fall into the trap of drinking and driving, and people think 21 is a more responsible age; more deaths will occur on the road with younger people drinking and driving. I don’t really weigh in on one specific spot on that question. It’s a very hot button issue right now. I don’t think it’s going to change, though; it will always be a strict 21 rule. Being a parent now, I tend to lean more towards the 21 age.”
I know you said you were bullied at school, but looking at you now at a strapping 6-foot-1, it’s hard to imagine that kids would pick on you.
“Well, we moved from Buffalo to Philadelphia when I was 8 years old, so I went from a school in a tight-knit community, a community of openness, to going to a school in Philadelphia that was a little bit more bruised up. I was the new kid on the block; I was razzed. It started as that and compounded into getting pushed around a lot. The older I got, the bigger I got, so that changed pretty quickly (laughs).”
Buffalo, Philadelphia, and then Ithaca, New York for college. Cold cities whose residents enjoy drinking beer. Did you have a favorite East Coast Brew?
“Well in Binghamton, New York, it was all about Jenny Cream Ale. Not too many people know about this ale, but it’s reminiscent of what my grandparents used to drink. They used to go to the local bar for happy hour at 5 o’clock on the dot every day, walk in, and have a Jenny. It was served in green cans, and that’s my first real memory of a beer. We’d sit there and play the old shuffleboard game, you know, the ones with magnets and sawdust. That’s what we kids - my sisters and I - would do when they would have their beers; then we’d go behind the bar and clean the glasses for them.”
What was your beer of choice when you attended Ithaca College?
“Anything cold. You don’t really think about anything much more than getting a tap for the keg. I don’t think we were thinking brand names. You’re in college, so it doesn’t really matter.”
What are your favorite two football teams?
“I love the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I used to be a ball boy for the Steelers and had the opportunity to train with Jack Lambert. I remember when I went to their Pennsylvania camp; that was my first introduction into Iron City beer, which is great stuff.”
The first two episodes of ‘Bones’ took place in London. So what beer did you enjoy during your two-plus weeks there?
“I like Stella, that’s a good blonde beer. I always tend towards the blonde beers more than the deep, rich ales that they have over there. I don’t go that way. Anything that’s cold and blonde works for me.”
You’re directing a November episode of ‘Bones.’ Why are you switching hats right now?
“I just enjoy being both in front of and behind the camera, producing, directing. I love the whole process of it. I’m an avid photographer as a hobby; I have a lot of old cameras and like to collect certain types of cameras. It’s something I enjoy and obviously, now with a child, I’m always taking pictures. I’ve directed before so it’s just something fun and challenging. I don’t think consciously ‘Oh, this is where my career is going.’ I just kind of do it. One would be foolish not to take the opportunity of being fortunate enough to be on a show first of all, and then to be around and learn from that so you can expand yourself.”
Do you sit back and ponder what you are thankful for in your life?
“I do it all the time. I don’t necessarily wait until the holidays. I think it happens on a daily basis. I wake up, and I’m thankful that I’m blessed with a beautiful child, a great wife, and the ability to enjoy the freedom of walking out the door and petting my dog. People take all that for granted - just getting up and brushing your teeth. I value all this day in and day out, not just during the holidays.”
If you could sit down with any historical figure, who would that be and why?
“Abraham Lincoln. I’d like to know about his values and how he felt about the unification of the country and world. And I’d like to ask him ‘How do you get through doorways?’ He was pretty tall. I’m in awe of him.”
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Tempestous, gregarious, and artist.
