Duncan Regehr - 1990 Interview - TV Scene Magazine
Story by Janette Hyem, taken from the 6th Edition, 1990
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In 1976-1980, Regehr trained for
a spot on Canada's Olympic Boxing
Team, but he chose to pursue acting
instead. Doing all his own stunts,
Duncan is also a figure skater and
an accomplished fencer. One reason
for Regehr's grace is his background
in Shakespearian Theatre. He
performed at the Stratford, Ontario,
Shakespeare Festival in "Hamlet" and
"Pericles" amongst others.
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His previous roles include "V,"
"Wizards and Warriors," "The Last
Days of Pompeii," and more. To get
the role as Zorro was a long
procedure. He had talked about
doing the show two years before
and at the time was tied up with
Disney Studios. "At the time I was
doing a film called 'Earth Star
Voyager,' which should have been a
series. I tried to get out of it but
failed. So two years later when they
asked me again, I said, 'Yes.' I just
guess it was meant to be. The first
episode aired in January 1990. And
of course as you know, the second
season started production in May.
Again to be directed by Ray Austin,
the British director," so says Duncan
Regehr.
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In this season his father "changes,"
going from father "A" - Efrem
Zimbalist, Jr. to a new father -
father "B" - Henry Darrow, better
known as Manolito in "High
Chaparral." The likeness between the
"new father" and son is uncanny to
say the least. Besides the visual
features, they even sound the same.
But back to Mr. Regehr. "Zorro is a
fabulous role to play. I learned to do
fencing and riding when I was in
Stratford, Ontario. I just kept it up
and boy has it come in useful. I like
to do as much of my stunt work as I
can, because I feel that's how it
should be."
Rumour has it that Regehr was
picked for the role of Zorro because
of his eyes. They were portrayed so
well in Errol Flynn, "My Wicked,
Wicked Ways." His eyes, we
presume! To shoot an episode takes
3 days. Two episodes are done in
one week. "The days are very long
and hard and very physical. I have
long speeches to do as I'm either
one character or the other. But I'm
supported by such good actors and
of course Ray Austin as director -
they are really wonderful. I love
playing Zorro and Don Diego also.
They are such opposite characters.
Zorro is so flamboyant and Diego is
so timid and unsure of himself. And
of course he has this kind of "on-off"
romance with Victoria who runs the
inn. Zorro of course loves everyone
including the Alcalde's sergeant.
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