Entertainment Features

Since 2000, George Eads has played forensic scientist Nick Stokes on CSI: Vegas, which is the most watched television programme in the world, no less.

The native of Texas spends most of his year in Los Angeles, where the long-running show about Crime Scene Investigators is filmed (but not based, the clue to where it’s based is in the title).

There are now ten series of CSI being shown on TV stations around the globe, and available as box sets for purchase by fans of slick American crime procedural shows.

JOE got on the phone to George for a quick chat and to chew the fat about his lack of Irishness, getting recognised, dying on screen and how to chill if you’re an actor in LA.

By Nick Bradshaw

JOE: Mr Eads, how are ya?

George Eads: I’m good. Where in the world are you calling from? Where exactly are you based?

JOE: Currently in Galway on the sunny [rainy] Atlantic Coast of Ireland. Just across the water from the US of A. We’re virtually neighbours.

George: So do you need to borrow a cup of sugar?

JOE: It’s kind of you to offer, but we’re fully sugared up here at the moment.

George: Probably for the best. It’d take me a good few days to get it over to you.

JOE: So have you been to Ireland, George?

George: No, I’ve never been . But it’s on the list, believe me.

JOE: You’ll be wanting to visit the land of your ancestors, I take it. You being an American, you must have some Irish roots.

George: D’you know, I’m not too sure I do. My mother’s Greek and on my father’s side, the family tree just dies in Texas. My dad’s a big guy, but I’m not sure what his background is.

JOE: So you could be one of the very small number of American’s who have no claim at all on any Irish ancestry at all? Possibly a first for JOE.ie.

George: There’s a real chance of that.

JOE: Well that would be a rare thing. Well you’re welcome to visit, although you’ll probably be recognised. Given the length of time you’ve been in CSI and given the fact that CSI is the most watch programme around the world, there can’t be many places where you can go that you don’t get spotted.

George: That’s true. What a thing to think about. It’s amazing the reach of the show, and the fact that we’re being seen in so many places and dubbed into so many languages.

Once, I was in Spain out in the middle of the brush when these two old local ladies walked past me, pointed at me and just said ‘CSI’ loudly then carried on. That’s the sort of thing that happens.

JOE: You must get around a fair bit, what with being a big-time TV actor in a major series...

George: I’m very lucky. For instance, I went to Monte Carlo for an award ceremony, and before going there I thought Monte Carlo was a place that only existed on postcards. But I got to go there and stay next to the Casino.

I don’t want to sound all Gomer Pyle-like, but I’ve not gotten out of Texas all that much, so the opportunities to go to great places around the world because of CSI is kinda cool – especially as I get to go places with a great woman by my side.

JOE: A great woman? The best type. That’ll be your fiancée, I take it?

George: We’re getting married in June. We’ll have been together for six and a half years by the time of the wedding, which is a pretty long interview process for both of us to go through, don’t you think?

JOE: It sounds that way. Fairly indepth.

So George, we’ve had the interns here doing some research on you (i.e. typing in your name into Wikipedia), and they say that you got your break in a soap opera, but that you died in the pilot episode. That must have been a bit of a drag.

George: You’re telling me! I called my mother when I was reading the script and said “Mom, they killed me in the pilot episode! I thought I had a long-term job.” She goes: “Well you better make that death memorable, boy.”