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Star Spotlight
Los Angeles-born Jason Dolley was just 11 years old when he made his acting debut in the film Chasing Daylight. After a handful of acting stints, Jason was cast as Newt in the Disney Channel That's So Raven spin-off Cory In The House. Read on for an up-close-and-personal chat with this rising star!
Q & A
Q:
Tell us how you first got started as an actor.
Jason Dolley: I've always wanted to be an actor. I watched movies and I would see the main character—like the cowboy who saved the day or just the guy on the big screen—and I thought, "You know what? That looks like a lot of fun. I want to give that a try." So it was a gradual process. Going to enough auditions and being at the right place at the right time.
Q:
How old were you when you got your first audition?
Jason: I was 11.
Q:
What was that like at such a young age?
Jason: Well, I did not think of it as pressure at all. I was the one who wanted to do it, so I was the one who wanted to go out there and give it a try. I really didn't feel any pressure from anybody at all when I started out. I just thought, "This is fun." My first job was a commercial for S'mores Cereal.
Q:
How many bowls of S'mores did you have to eat for the commercial?
Jason: Bowl after bowl! But it was really good.
Q:
Tell us about Newt, your character on Cory In The House.
Jason: Newt is an heir to a political dynasty. His parents have always been in politics, but he's totally not into politics. Going into the family business is the last thing on his mind. He is a rocker. He plays the guitar. He's a very musical person. The truth is that he's sort of in his own world.
Q:
Would Newt be a friend of yours if he were a real person?
Jason: I think he would totally be a friend of mine. I play the guitar, so we could jam on the guitar. We dress similarly. He's a guy who would be a lot of fun to hang out with.
Q:
Did you meet Kyle Massey [Cory] before you joined the show?
Jason: I had met Kyle briefly in the audition process. I'd seen him in the room. But other than that, we were basically acquaintances when we started working. But we became friends really quickly just hanging out on the set. It's been a lot of fun.
Q:
How would you describe him?
Jason: Kyle is a very cool person. He's always on. He's got energy all the time and I don't know where he gets it all. And he brings that to the show and to his character. He's very professional and he's a really cool person to work with.
Q:
What's your favorite subject?
Jason: I really like science. I've always really enjoyed learning about what's around you, and how it works.
Q:
Has there been a teacher who has really helped you or inspired you?
Jason: Well, my history teacher, Mrs. Stouffer, who I had as my fourth-grade teacher and then as my eighth-grade teacher. She made history fun. It was always a cool class to go into and be a part of. She was a funny person. She would crack jokes in the middle of class. It kept you interested and it made you want to learn.
Q:
Do you have a favorite book?
Jason: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I can't remember how old I was when I first read that.
Q:
Is there a person, past or present, whom you would really like to meet?
Jason: You know, there is somebody, but I never will meet him. Lou Costello. He was part of the Abbott and Costello comedy team back in the 1940s. I love all of his movies. His style of comedy is always going to be funny.
—Interview by Marie Morreale
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Jason Dolley
(Photo: Courtesy of Disney Channel)
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STAR STATS
Star Calendar
Cory In The House airs every Friday at 8:30 p.m. Check your local listings for repeats!
Check Jason's Web site for his schedule.
Star Stats
Full Name: Jason Scott Dolley
Birthday: July 5, 1991
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Sibling: older brother Jeffrey
Pet: a chocolate Labrador retriever
Star Faves
Cereal: Wheaties
Sports: paintball
Hobbies: hacky sack and yo-yo tricks
Food: sushi
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