Aiken native Bo Mitchell renews with 'Eastbound'
Bo Mitchell turned 15 in 2009 and simultaneously watched his acting career skyrocket.
The young Aiken resident began his acting career at just 9 months of age when he was discovered in a Charlotte mall by a talent agent.
His first job was a JCPenny print ad. From the first photo shoot, Mitchell was a natural and went on to appear in numerous print ads and commercials before beginning to work in television and film at the age of 5.
While his home base is Aiken, he travels the East and West coasts. He appeared in the 2007 ABC series "October Road," "Little Big Shots," Cartoon Network's show "Fridays" and, last year, began working on HBO's "Eastbound & Down."
On "Eastbound & Down," Mitchell's cast mates include Will Ferrell and Danny McBride. Mitchell will be back for a second season of "Eastbound & Down," as well as working on the film "Remnants," where he plays the role of Cowboy Hat Jr. who is one of 12 survivors after World War III.
Mitchell will spend most of this month in New Orleans on location and will return to Wilmington, N.C., in April to film 16 episodes of "Eastbound and Down."
The Aiken Standard was able to catch up with Mitchell and find out how 2009 went for the young actor, nicknamed "Hollywood." He was freshly back in Aiken from a long weekend of snowboarding.
Q&A with Mitchell
Aiken Standard: What was 2009 like for your career?
Bo Mitchell: 2009 was great, my HBO series aired and got great reviews. We were given a second season, and people really started to notice me, the 18- to 45-year-old viewers. I spent the rest of '09 catching up on school, trying to get a extra year ahead and doing a lot of radio and TV interviews.
AS: What is one of your favorite memories from working on "Eastbound & Down"?
BM: (It was) when they gave me a birthday party on set with lobster dinner, crab legs, shrimp and a cake big enough to feed 200 people, and the cast all gave me iTunes gift cards. They asked me my favorite food, and I said seafood. Boy was I surprised.
AS: Do you have a favorite episode?
BM: My favorite episode is No. 5. We got to tear up five BMW cars. We beat them with bats and bricks; what kid my age ever gets to tear up $40,000 cars for the heck of it?
AS: What is your character like on "Eastbound & Down" and is it hard for you to get into the role?
BM: I play Wayne, the nephew of Kenny Powers. I am a big, chubby, scaredy-cat kind of kid and even though my uncle is bad, I think everything he does is cool. It's easy to get into my role as Wayne, I just act stupid.
AS: How has your life changed since taking on this role? Do you find you are recognized more in public these days?
BM: Getting recognized all over the country is cool. Everywhere I've been in '09 people say, "You look like that kid on that show." My mom has to show pictures on her phone when I say it's me because they can't believe it. What's really cool is I met Bam Margera and the Element skateboard team, and they said, "You're that kid." When they realized it was me, they took more pictures with me then I did of them.
Also, I have gotten several companies sponsoring me since the HBO show, sending me clothes, hats, etc. which is so cool: IDGAF Co., Monster Energy Drink Co., Russian Roulette T shirt Co. It's really cool to just have a company send you items to use and wear.
AS: What are you most looking forward to about returning to" Eastbound & Down"?
BM: I am excited about returning to the show, seeing all my show family. I do keep up with most of them, we text and e-mail; but I am ready to see what we get into next with the new episodes, more crazy fun. On this show, I get to act out what most boys my age wish they could do in real life.
AS: What was your highlight of 2009?
BM: One of the great things in 2009 was my show sent me a huge gift. When we were filming my dog of 12 years passed away of old age. It really was hard. So, six months later, the producers sent me a puppy. She is a red and white Siberian Husky with bright blue eyes. She's spoiled rotten at 7 months now; she is beautiful.
AS: What is in the forecast for 2010?
BM: 2010 is looking great, I will be heading to New Orleans to film a movie called "Remnants."
AS: What is your role in "Remnants" like?
BM: I play Cowboy Jr., a kid with a learning disability. I am raised by my very tough father, who is good to me but mean to others. The film is about World War 3 and the end of the world, with 12 survivors left. I have had to watch films like "Rain Man," etc. to study how to have this type of disability. I will say that, in "Remnants," I am one of the 12 but I don't make it to the last four alive. I will head back in the spring to "Eastbound" for Season 2. We will film about four months.
AS: How do you spend your time in Aiken? How often are you here? And what are your hobbies?
BM: When I am home in Aiken, I catch up with friends and I do a lot of skateboarding. I have a skateboard shop I run at our motorcycle shop on Whiskey Road. I catch up on school which I do online, and I play a lot of video games. I always have a lot of friends - over six or more hanging out all the time when I am home. I ride motor cross, ATVs, as well with my family. We have our own track at home. I got in a few great vacations in 2009. I went to Honduras for two weeks, Gatlinburg Tenn., Cherokee, N.C., and snowboarding in Boone, N.C.
Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.