The Man Behind ‘The Myth’

Noah Wyle is not a hunk. Or a heartbreaker, daredevil or even a particularly interesting man. At least not according to him. “I’m sick of reading ‘hunk’ in front of my name or how I’m some wild and crazy thrill-seeking, bungee-jumping, race-car driving Hollywood Casanova,” the three-time Emmy nominee and co-star of “ER” grouses good-naturedly.

Who the 25-year-old actor actually is remains to be seen, at least in part with the current run of “The Myth of Fingerprints,” the independent ensemble drama in which he stars. “I think of this as my coming-out party,” Wyle explains over black coffee, “not so much as being my first foray into the film world, but because it’s the first time my other work will be used as a frame of reference.”

Born and raised five minutes from the Hollywood deli where the interview takes place, Wyle is wise to the ways of hype. With the example of seasoned cast mates and a former producer and studio executive as a stepfather, he’s kept his eyes wide open when it comes to both tabloid blind items and overwrought publicist praise.

Back for a fourth acclaimed year as “ER’s” Dr. John Carter, Wyle has learned to believe what he knows, not what he hears. It’s good training for the scrutiny he’s coming under for his big-screen turn in the “blissfully underwritten” story of a New England WASP family unhappy in its own way. It opened Sept. 26 to strong reviews in limited release.

As the heartbroken son who spills his guts like so many giblets at his family Thanksgiving reunion, Wyle is at the center of a potent cast that includes Julianne Moore, Blythe Danner and Roy Scheider.

“A review on ‘The Myth of Fingerprints’ [came out] in Vogue that’s all about my transition to features and not the quality of the film or my work in it,” Wyle says without a hint of petulance. It’s just information to him, an example of industry cynicism to which even he’s not immune.

“It’s easy to say I’m the most recent of a long line of television actors looking to make it in the film world. But look at the movie. If you don’t like it, then trash it, but leave ‘ER’ out of it.”

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Leaving “ER” out of it, however, isn’t possible or even desirable. The 40 million viewers who watched the season premiere of TV’s No. 1 drama and Wyle’s popularity as the Bambi of HMOs helped secure “The Myth of Fingerprints’ ” $3-million budget. An associate producer credit was Wyle’s thank-you for attaching his name first to the project, but it’s his performance that gives audiences and the industry a glimpse, if not of who he is, then of whom they will allow him to be.

“People feel so entitled to television actors,” explains “Myth’s” first-time writer and director, Bart Freundlich, 27. “They’re like property in your living room every week. When appearing in a movie, actors have to be very careful and conscious in changing people’s proprietary opinion of them.”

Good-looking TV stars beware: From Fonzie to Michael J. Fox and any number of “Friends,” the trades are littered with obituaries for the feature film careers of young, “hot” actors. They read like a prime-time who’s who. Wyle knows it and is prepared.

“It comes with the territory, especially since more and more television actors are doing film projects and getting slammed for it,” he says. “I’m absolutely afraid the same thing’s going to happen to me. Having the opportunity to sit back and watch how others have handled it has been educational and terrifying.”

“There are plenty of other, more limited actors who make the transition from TV to leading man in films,” explains friend and “ER” co-star Eriq LaSalle. “Noah has more integrity, nurturing himself in a smaller film like ‘Myth,’ instead of just doing the first starring role that comes his way while he’s hot.”

While Freundlich saw Wyle as the “perfect combination, bankable and a great actor,” he’s convinced that the actor’s interests are elsewhere.

“Noah absolutely has the talent to make the transition, but from what I know about him, it’s not something he cares about. He’s more concerned with being a good actor in whatever he’s doing.” He laughs. “Face it, if you’re looking to break out, you’re not going to be in this film. You’re going to choose something more studio.”

With guns maybe? Or smooching? Not according to Wyle. His plan (“You’ve got to have a plan”) is to take little roles in big movies, big roles in small movies and to avoid at any cost the high-profile romantic comedy the first time out of the box. The overworked genre has proven to be the big-screen Armageddon for more than one aspiring leading man.

“I love romantic comedies, but you get 12 a day,” he says. “The jokes are different, but the plots are the same. ‘Picture Perfect,’ ‘Fools Rush In’ are fine movies, but they’ve already been made. For me to do another one doesn’t make great creative sense, especially when I run the risk of being compared to all the other actors who have come out of television with romantic comedies.”

Wyle’s plan not to end up another prime-time casualty is part of a career strategy built on a cliche. “I believe that slow and steady wins the race.”

“I’ve three years left on my contract,” he says. “I love my job; it’s offered me everything I’ve ever wanted and I’ll keep going to work with a smile on my face. But after my contract expires, I have no idea what I’m going to do.”

Wyle, a former Bel Age Hotel waiter, has paid enough dues for his age both in the kitchen and as the boy toy in cheesy cable movies to recognize when he’s blessed.

Professionally, Wyle’s becoming a name brand, while personally he’s found happiness with makeup artist Tracy Warbin. The two met on the “Fingerprints” set in March 1996 and have been living together ever since, raising four cats, three dogs and some expectations considering that another couple who met during the shoot, co-star Moore and writer-director Freundlich, are about to become parents.

Even though there are no plans for marriage or Lamaze classes, Wyle insists that he and Warbin share “a very strong commitment.” The fact that he’s low-key and domesticated is something the tabloids never considered in their race to label him another Hollywood bad boy when he first hit prime time.

“I have a terrific girlfriend, my family’s solid and I spend a lot of time at home,” Wyle says. “I have no inclination to wrap my car around a tree or bite anybody in the stomach. Personally, I’m sequestered on a sound stage 12 hours a day, five days a week. I don’t know how these guys find the time to melt down.”

LaSalle, who considers Wyle one of his “best friends on a very short list,” believes his relationship to be the stabilizing bedrock that outshines the stardom, wealth, critical acclaim and official hunk status that have overwhelmed his peers.

“Being in a successful, loving relationship has a way of making us all better men, actors and artists. Noah’s always been centered but now even more so. It translates to his work and uplifts all his choices,” LaSalle says.

One of the great things about success combined with multiple cups of caffeine is how it changes a young man’s priorities. The actor who relied on tips four short seasons ago now has the freedom to turn down jobs he doesn’t believe in. “I can’t think of anything worse than if I had made ‘Bikini Car Wash II’ and had to try to extol its virtues with a straight face,” he says. “I’d prefer my old tables at the Bel Age.”

Wyle now has the resources and TV-Q to back up his higher callings. Those include not only acting in quality projects but acting in honorable ways. Wyle recently was at the center of a controversy between TV Guide and the entire cast of “ER” when he was offered a September cover of the magazine. He turned it down in support of LaSalle, whose own promised cover story has not materialized after one year and repeated interviews and photo sessions.

(TV Guide seems to have offered an editorial olive branch by recently featuring both Wyle and LaSalle on the cover along with “Returning Favorites” from other prime-time programs.)

“It just didn’t sit right with me,” Wyle explains.

Wyle knows he runs the risk of “looking like a pretentious young kid” for standing up for what is morally right in both friendship and public relations. He knows he’s in for some hazing as he graduates from TV to features. He’s not listening and he’s not afraid to take his lumps. It comes with the territory. So what will he do when the media come gunning for him with adjectives like “hunky,” “crazy” or “TV-trained”? He shrugs. He won’t take it personally. But then he tips his hand.

“I’ll get my share of knocks, because I’m guilty too.” He takes a last swig of coffee before heading to the Warner lot. “I watch movies all the time with TV actors going for the big stretch, thinking, ‘Wow, this is an interesting gamble, I wonder if they can pull it off.’ I’m 60% pulling for them to do a good job, but 40% of me is thinking this is going to be so funny watching them fail.” Could it be, maybe, Noah Wyle is just like a regular guy?