Marc Blucas

A star athlete from small-town Pennsylvania, Marc Blucas had supporting roles on film and television before winning his big break, playing vampire hunter Riley Finn in a regular role on the popular supernatural TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (The WB) beginning in 1999. A top high school basketball player and subsequent college hoops achiever with Wake Forest University, Blucas played overseas for the Manchester Giants for a season after the NBA draft didn't pick him up. An admirer of the film "A Few Good Men," he initially looked to go from the basketball court to a court of law with a career as an attorney, but realized his passion was sparked by the acting aspect of the film. Exceptional athletic skill made the neophyte stand out from millions of would-be actors, and opened additional doors for him. He made his film debut when producers needed a babyfaced basketballer to portray a benched Knick in the feature "Eddie" (1996), and won a behind-the-scenes technical coordinator job on the basketball-themed biopic "Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story" (CBS, 1996). Serious about his new craft, Blucas became an eager acting student and spent time developing his skills before going out for further roles. In 1998, a bit part in "Pleasantville" turned into an important opportunity for Blucas, whose basketball knowledge was a useful commodity for the filmmakers. He ended up with a larger acting role, and also assisted the production by choreographing the film's basketball scenes.