JAMES
MARSTERS VISITS “SMALLVILLE” AS THE EVIL BRAINIAC
AND TOM WOPAT REUNITES WITH SERIES STAR JOHN SCHNEIDER
Burbank,
CA July 22, 2005
James
Marsters sinks his teeth into another juicy role for The WB
when he joins the cast of SMALLVILLE for multiple episodes.
Marsters will portray Brainiac, a classic DC Comics villain
and one of the Man-of-Steel's most formidable enemies. Additionally,
one episode this season will reunite series star John Schneider
with his former “Dukes of Hazzard” co-star, Tom
Wopat.
Marsters
plays college professor Milton Fine, alter ego of the uber-villain
Brainiac. Possessed of a vast, superior knowledge limited
only by his hubris and emotions, Brainiac comes to earth armed
with a secret about Clark's biological family and the truth
about Krypton's demise. Brainiac's presence in Smallville
will have a devastating effect on Clark and Lex's already
deteriorating friendship.
Marsters
first appeared on The WB in the critically acclaimed hit series
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Spike, the vampire
who first tries to kill Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), but
ultimately falls in love with her. After five seasons on the
show and Spike's untimely demise, Marsters' character was
reborn as a ghost on the series spin-off Angel starring David
Boreanaz.
Marsters
began his professional career in the theater, performing in
stage productions including “The Tempest” and “Red
Noses” at Chicago's renowned Goodman Theatre. In addition,
Marsters revisited the stage in Los Angeles with a starring
role in an original play produced by Noah Wyle, titled “The
Why.” Additional television roles include a guest appearance
on “Northern Exposure” and the series “Strange
Frequency” for VH1, as well as on Gene Roddenberry's
“Andromeda.”
Brainiac
is the latest DC Comics character to appear in SMALLVILLE.
The Flash, Mxyzptlk and Perry White have all made appearances
during the series run. Last season, Lois Lane (Erica Durance)
joined the cast.
Also this
season on SMALLVILLE, veteran actor and Broadway star Tom
Wopat will portray a state senator who was a boyhood friend
of Jonathan Kent (Schneider). In addition to his role co-starring
with Schneider on the hit television series “The Dukes
of Hazzard,” Wopat starred in the popular sitcom “Cybill,”
with Cybill Shepherd, and in the daytime drama “All My
Children.” He was also nominated for Broadway's 1999
Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for his role opposite Bernadette
Peters in the revival of “Annie Get Your Gun.”
Reinterpreting
the Superman mythology from its roots, “Smallville”
was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
(“Shanghai Noon,” “Spiderman 2”), based
on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive
producers, along with Greg Beeman, Ken Horton, Mike Tollin,
Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins
Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television
Production Inc. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe
Schuster.
James
Marsters, Tom Wopat In Season Five!
