Jarod is a pretender, a very intelligent person with the ability to slide into somebody else's personality, to become a human chameleon. How does he do it? For one, he has a genious IQ that's off the charts. In the early 1960s, he has been taken from his family as a child in order to work for a secret agency called The Centre, which sold the services of Jarod's computer-like mind to the highest bidder. The Centre honed his talent to perfection. Sydney was the main person behind this training, Jarod had spent decades isolated him. But recently, he escaped. Jarod's new mission in life is to help people in need with his gift, and to find out what really happened to his allegedly dead parents. Only, Miss Parker and her team are out to get him.
Every week, Jarod finds himself in a new job, pretending to be
things like a tanker captain, an airline pilot, a bomb squad member, a race car driver, and even as a sex therapist. Even with his genious, though, Jarod had only seen the world though books while in isolation, so in many ways he is still like a child, fascinated by things like ice cream and pez. Sydney and Angelo helps Jarod whenever he can in locating his mother, Miss Parker just wants to capture him and learn the secrets he has uncovered about her past, and some, like Mr. Lyle, want him dead.
starring
| Michael T. Weiss | Andrea Parker | Patrick Bachau | John Gries | |||
| Jarod | Miss Parker | Sydney | Broots |
Other Main Characters
Executive Assistant
Kristi Wuttig
Writers Assistants
Erika Schleich, Chad Mitchell
Director of Photography
Rodney Charters
Editors
Lynne Willingham, Scott Boyd and Peter Basinski
Unit Production Manager
Jan Dewitt
Costume Designer
Barbara Scott
Production Designer
Michael Clausen
Casting Director
Tory Herald
Key Makeup
Angela Nogaro
Music
Velton Ray Bunch
Special Effects
Lou Cooper and Wayne Mosley
Produced by
Twentieth Century Fox Television
in association with NBC Studios
Michael T. Weiss' decision to star in "The Pretender" was greatly influenced by the wide spectrum of professionals he would be asked to portray on the series, which includes a policeman, an airline pilot, a doctor, a lawyer and a stuntman. The role, in short, is every actor's dream.
A native of Chicago, Weiss began acting as a child, appearing in local TV commercials. While in high school, he studied acting at the Second City workshop, and after graduation, he enrolled in the University of Southern California's prestigious school of drama. Shortly after receiving his B.F.A. there in 1984, Weiss landed the role of Dr. Mike Horton on NBC's venerable daytime drama "Days of Our Lives."
Weiss also appeared on prime-time television in the NBC miniseries "The Great Los Angeles Earthquake" and NBC's movie "Take My Daughter, Please." After leaving "Days" in 1990, Weiss co-starred in NBC's 1991 remake of "Dark Shadows," playing dual roles. In 1992, he co-starred in "2000 Malibu Road," with Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Beals.
Three years ago, Weiss co-starred in the offbeat comedy film "Jeffrey" as a handsome, promiscuous gay man obsessed with the celibate title character (played by Steven Weber of NBC's "Wings"). In 1995, he appeared in "Freeway," a feature film produced by Oliver Stone, which won critical raves at the Sundance Film Festival.
Weiss particularly enjoys working on stage. He is proud of his accomplishments as a playwright, and he recently completed the play "Streams of Consciousness." He eventually hopes to direct the project at the Met Theater, a Los Angeles-based ensemble company of which he is a member.
An outspoken environmentalist, Weiss sits on the board of directors of the Earth Communications Office. He also serves as the organization's director of public-service announcements, and he has helped to coordinate a series of PSAs featuring actors who promote environmental awareness. Weiss' birthday is February 2.