Discovered while eating in a Wendy's located at the Lake Forest, Illinois, Oasis over the Tri-State Toll Road (I-94) when he was coming back after watching a bike race at the Northbrook Velodrome with a friend. Service was lousy and Charlie started making jokes at this guy waiting for his French fries. The guy happened to be
Patrick Read Johnson, who would be the director of
Angus (1995). After watching Charlie keep the Wendy's crew, and waiting customers, entertained for a few minutes more, Johnson approached Charlie, and asked if he'd like to be star in a movie. Charlie looked Johnson up and down, squinted, and asked, "What kind of movie?" Johnson then produced his official Turner Pictures Director business card, and assured Charlie it was a legit movie, rated PG-13, and that if he were to head down to meet with legendary Chicago casting director, Jane Alderman, the next day, he had a really good shot at getting the part.
