Life's A 'Beach' For Muscleman Kickinger

This Former Mr. Universe Knows It Takes More Than A Good Body to Make It In Hollywood

You've probably seen him on those 1-800-Collect commercials with "Married With Children's" Ed O'Neill You know, he's the big muscular guy who tip toes across the hot sand to use the pay phone. Or, if you've been anywhere near the fitness world, you will know him as the former Mr. Universe who has pumped up the cover of dozens of muscle magazines like Muscle & Fitness, Musclemag, Sport & Fitness, Ironman, and Flex.

He's also known for his film roles in "Lethal Weapon 4," "Mixed Nuts," and television gigs like "Shasta McNasty," "Home Improvement," and "Caroline In The City." Now, the bodybuilder-turned-actor talks about his hit new FX comedy "Son of the Beach."

Full Plate
Roland Kickinger is eating a lot. His plate is piled high with savory chicken breasts, and his salad looks more like my mother's garden. After all, he's a big guy. Standing 6'4" and weighing in at a slimmed down 250 pounds (Kickinger's competition weight was 300 pounds, but he was told to lose weight for the camera), it's no surprise that this guy has been pegged the "next Arnold."

But don't call him that. He's a man with his own name and mission.

"I'm the first Roland," he says with a determined grin.

We meet at his new home in California's San Fernando Valley. It's a bachelor pad, but clean and very comfortable.

He's finishing dinner as we talk.

To say that this guy is driven, is an understatement.

Kickinger tells me that when he first arrived in the U.S. in 1995, "(he) was pretty much homeless."

Speaking no English, giving up his safe and secure life in Austria and having no Hollywood connections, Kickinger relied on his will to succeed, resourcefulness, and sense of humor.

"Now I'm working on the beach, and then I was just hanging out there," Kickinger laughs.

"The beginning of the first year was really tough, because you know I didn't have a working permit. All my savings (were) back in Austria. I said to myself, 'If I want to start in a new country, I want to start from zero.' I see so many people they start using up savings and soon it's gone and then they don't have anything anymore."

So Kickinger took odd jobs to keep going, including posing for pictures with tourists on the Venice Beach boardwalk.

His big break came when he talked his way into the corporate offices of health and fitness guru Joe Weider. Weider was impressed with Kickinger's charismatic determination and soon after, signed him to be the spokesperson for the Weider health and fitness empire. A role he still enjoys.

"Joe Weider saw something in me and supported me," Kickinger says admiringly.

USA Or Bust
"Looking back, I can say I did all that and that is good," Kickinger says of his early days in Hollywood.

But I'm curious why he felt compelled to give up such a comfortable life in Austria.

Kickinger tells me that he felt, "there was something else in life. I wanted to take chances and risk some things."

And did he always dream of being an actor?

"I wanted to be a professional bodybuilder and then I wanted to get into acting. That didn't really start until 1997," Kickinger tells me.

One of his biggest goals was to learn English and reduce his accent.

He enrolled at Santa Monica College and took English classes.

But he admits, "Sometimes when I'm in a rush or a little nervous, the accent comes back fast."

The similarities to another champion bodybuilder turned movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger are inevitable.

Kickinger himself says that Schwarzenegger (who he knows personally) has been a "great inspiration," and is "an awesome guy."

But Kickinger is also quick to point out that he is his own man with his own career.

And what a career it is.

Son Of The Beach
"Chip Rommel is a 'exchange lifeguard' from Germany. He believes that one day there will be an ocean in Germany. And until this happens he's here in Malibu and wants to become the best lifeguard in the world," Kickinger says of his character on the new FX comedy "Son of the Beach." "He looks up to Notch Johnson (played by Timothy Stack) who is the best life guard."

But isn't the character of Notch Johnson a bit out of shape to be a lifeguard?

"The difference between Notch Johnson and Chip Rommel is that Notch has the chest hair -- the bushy chest. And Chip doesn't have any. It is so funny," Kickinger tells me.

I ask him if "Son Of The Beach" is a funny version of "Baywatch."

"I don't think it has lots to do with 'Baywatch' because we make fun of anything and everything. We make fun in a very good-hearted and good-spirited way. We make fun in a very innocent way is how each character plays it. We don't know any better," Kickinger says.

And does the cast get along off-screen as well as on?

"It's a really good team in front of the camera; a great team behind the camera. Everyone is really nice," Kickinger tells me.

And the cable show is picking up quite a following.

"We get lots of mail. Everyone loves the show. "

Kickinger's role on the comedy all stated with that famous MCI commercial. After the 1-800-Collect ad aired in 1999, parts started flooding in.

"It really kind of snowballed. It was great working with O'Neill, Mr. Bundy, it was a fun little spot. I had kids running after me with change, so I didn't have to go back on the beach and burn my tootsies," Kickinger says.

One of the roles that Kickinger took was on the show "Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer." And although the show was cancelled, one of the writers on the show took notice of Kickinger.

"The writer on the show, Tim Stack pitched a show to Howard Stern, the concept of 'Son Of the Beach.' He wrote the character of Chip Rommel, but he had no clue who should play that," Kickinger says. "But then he saw me doing my work on that show, and said, 'This is going to be Chip Rommel.' Of course he told me that afterwards, after the auditions and sweating."

And unlike "Desmond Pfeiffer," "Son of the Beach" is quite the hit.

Kickinger tells me that "reruns start on June 20, and the new episodes will start Aug. 1 on FX at 10:00."

Shake, Rattle, and Roll
As Kickinger signs an autograph for one of you lucky readers, we chat a bit more.

Kickinger has been a great surprise. Despite his success, he remains down-to-earth and one heck of a nice guy.

"I'm happy that I remain the same person. I always remained faithful to my beliefs. I never really got into the scene, the monster of Hollywood as they call it," Kickinger tells me.

Instead, Kickinger is more of a homebody: A guy who likes to relax with friends at home rather than to make the rounds of the Hollywood party circuit.

"I see a lot of future here (in Hollywood). It's good timing (for me)," Kickinger says.

As they say, "timing is everything." But in Kickinger's case, it also has meant a lot of hard work and an unmatched will to succeed.

"I'll make you a protein shake," Kickinger tells me as we finish the interview.

Apparently, he thinks I need it.

The Big Scoop:

Please indulge me a personal congratulation to my sister Gretchen Rohr. A Rhodes Scholar, she graduates from Oxford University this month. An undergraduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, she heads to Georgetown Law School in the fall.

CBS Sports broadcaster and former ESPN "Bodyshaping" host Kimiko Tanaka who you remember was doing that outrageous "adventure race" challenge, called and told me that after "52 hard hours and many memories to go with it," Team Media crossed the finish line. She says that even with the blisters, the challenge was "amazing" and "the best thing (she's) ever done." Way to go Tanaka!

Star Grazing:

Jenny McCarthy at Big K-Mart on Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles. "K Mart? Yes, K-Mart." She bought groceries and a toy for her pooch.

Just Teasing

• Next Column: Meet the stars of Keenen Ivory Wayans "Scary Movie." "Scary Movie," a very funny knock-off of our favorites teen screamers stars: Marlon Wayans, Cheri Oteri, Shawn Wayans, John Abrahams and Shannon Elizabeth.
• One one on one with "Scary Movie"costar Carmen Electra. She talks about her life, her looks and her loves.
• Past On The Set columns.

Note: "On The Set" appears every week in our Entertainment section. To have this column delivered right to your e-mail box, click here. Have a question about your favorite celebrity? Let Steven know.

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