*I’m sure a lot of you guys have seen my Sheriff Tom vs. The Zombies articles lately. The sequel to Mary Horror premiered last Saturday to a sold out theatre. The title character is obviously the eye-patch wearing, evil Sheriff Tom Walker. I figured – with a big screening happening this weekend at New Jersey’s Chiller Theatre – that now would be a good time to talk to the star of the soon to be Mary Horror trilogy. Here is my interview with the star of Sheriff Tom vs. the Zombies – Sheriff Tom himself, played by the talented and humble Joe Parascand!
Can you give readers a little biography about yourself?
I was born on March 2, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. My father was an electrical engineer and my mother was the owner/instructor of an art school. I and my two younger brothers were all exposed to sports and music at an early age. I would eventually become my high school’s fastest sprinter as a senior and later a semi-pro baseball pitcher (clocking in as high as 85 mph). Although very shy as a youth, I eventually developed the habit of imitating my college professors and, thereafter, my work superiors to amuse my friends and co-workers. However, it took a layoff from Bell Laboratories in late 2002 for me to finally consider pursuing acting the following year at age 41.
I signed up with a talent agency, did a couple years of background work while studying the Sanford Meisner technique, and then began to audition for parts. I played the mob boss, DiMarco, in the drama Rough Edge (shooting began in 2010 but the project has been on hiatus since 2011), was the only character in the short Reasons (2011), and then played the part for which I’m most known: the initially crooked and then later, monstrous, Sheriff Tom Walker, in the films of the Mary Horror trilogy: Mary Horror (2011) and Sheriff Tom Vs. The Zombies (2013) with the title of part III TBD at present. I’m currently playing Sgt Benton, the leader of an anti-zombie police force, in a film called The Soulless.
How did you end up auditioning for Mary Horror?
I answered an ad on craigslist that Ryan Scott Weber had posted. It was held at the Bernardsville Library in NJ during late November 2010.
What was your reaction when you realized a sequel was in the works focusing on your character?
I was thrilled and thankful to have the opportunity!
Are you happy with your character’s progression from Mary Horror to Sheriff Tom vs. The Zombies?
Yes, as he evolves from villain in the beginning of Mary Horror to maniac by the end of that film, only to further evolve into a monster in Sheriff Tom vs the Zombies.
What is your favorite Sheriff Tom moment from the new movie?
When he confronts Eric outside Mary’s house with the whole group and all of the zombies present – one nice climax!
What are some of your favorite memories from shooting the new film?
I would say all of the new friends, colleagues, and supporters which I met collectively make up one great overall memory for me.
You’re a really nice guy in reality. How do you get into the mindset of a blood-thirsty murderer when the camera starts to roll?
I guess part of it is focus and the rest is really having gotten to know Sheriff Tom Walker the character from reading Ryan Scott Weber’s great scripts!
Fans seem to root for Sheriff Tom instead of wanting to see him fail, why do you think this is?
I think he evolves from villain/maniac in Mary Horror into more of an anti-hero and part of that is due to you seeing what he went through earlier in his life as a man in flashback scenes and the rest is due to relativity – what’s worse? Sheriff Tom or zombies?
Do you ever think you’ll take Sheriff Tom vs. The Zombies on the road? What are the chances of establishing a fan base outside of New Jersey?
I guess at least part of that will depend on our circumstances/flexibility as I and most of the team are locked into full-time careers outside of acting (for the time being). But time will definitely tell. And, I think its already starting to grow with the help of our utilizing facebook. In addition, those outside of NJ whom we meet at conventions like Chiller Theatre and Monster Mania are helping to spread the word about our films to their friends in PA, CT, NY, MD, DE, etc.
With talks of a third movie already, what do you think is still in store for Sheriff Tom? Can he redeem himself? Can he out due his previous crimes?
I think you will all find out more about Sheriff Tom (and the answers to those questions) and the other characters who survived through Sheriff Tom vs the Zombie in the final film of the trilogy. You’ll also be delighted by the new characters you’ll soon get to know as well.
*Thank you for taking the time to chat with me, Mr. Joe Parascand!
Joe Parascand on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2083091/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Joe Parascand on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kojak01A
