|
|
|
Then, one day, Watkins world spun out of control with a near-fatal accident that changed his life forever. Four years and a miraculous recovery later, he is trying to make a comeback and rebuild the life he once had. In 1995, Watkins was on vacation in Nevada when he fell off a boat and became entangled in the running propeller. Watkins spent 10 days in the hospital having suffered broken ribs, a broken arm, and broken leg due to the spinning propeller. He attributes his survival to a great rescue team and the support of people around him, including his fans. Having undergone several operations, which included putting pins in his leg and hip and getting dental implants as a result of his teeth being knocked out, Watkins refers to himself as "The Bionic Man". "I believe what I've been through has given me a whole new perspective of what life is all about," Watkins said. "I'm more sympathetic and I have a whole different view of hospitals and what they're all about." "I can tell you, it's no fun getting caught up in the red tape of a medical crisis." Watkins, 34, has endured much pain in his life. If trying to return to health wasn't enough of a challenge, he also lost his father last year to prostate cancer. "I've learned that in life, there are times where you take one step forward and two steps back, but I learned no matter what comes your way, you have to learn to deal with it. I look at this as growth in life,"Watkins said. Watkins has been married to his wife, Andrea, for almost six years (their anniversary is May 16). He said she has been the inspiration of his life and has helped him through everything. After the accident, Watkins and his wife moved from New York back to his native California, where he continued medical treatment. Today, he and his wife are trying to find what path lies ahead for them. Watkins works with computers and designs Web sites. His wife, who was never a part of the show business world, manages a health club in Los Angeles, where he works out every day, building up his strength. "I'm getting by with this job, and going on auditions whenever I'm called,"Watkins said. Watkins recently hired an agent with the hope of getting back into the business he so dearly loved. He landed a commercial for Toyota as part of their "everyday people" campaign, but the calls are few and far between. Auditioning for roles has become part of his life. Watkins feels luck is what will get him back in the limelight, and he is willing to accept whatever comes his way. "I see myself sitting in a room with 100 other guys up for the role, and I think I need to rework my way of thinking. I had luck before, and now I need to get used to starting over,"Watkins said. Watkins was doing quite well in the world of entertainment before the accident. He was a principal player in the movie Soldiers and appeared in the Fox TV series Tribes. He also co-starred in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (the show), where he played opposite Jennifer Aniston. Watkins feels his accident was part of the reason he was let go from As The World Turns, but was told that because the show got a new producer, he was let go to trim the fat, he said. "I hold no remorse toward the show, and in fact, the four-and-a-half years I was there, it was nothing but bliss," Watkins said. "I've just come to terms with that's the way the industry works. One day you're tied to the deck, then the deck washes away." Watkins was bitten by the show biz bug in high school. He wanted to be a stunt man, but after seeing a Buster Keaton festival, he knew acting was for him, he said. Pursuing his dream, he earned a bachlor's degree in drama from San Diego State University. Watkins love for show business will always be a part of him, but he said if things don't work out, he could settle for a 9-to-5 job. In fact, he and his wife have already discussed the possibility of him leading a "normal life" and settling down. "I think if I had to have a regular job I'd survive, but probably I will run a puppet show on the side to be able to say I'm in show business. And, I will continue auditioning and dreaming,"Watkins said. Greg likes to hear from his fans and can be reached by e-mail at mail@gregwatkins.com or visit his web site at http://www.gregwatkins.com. Mark Edward Wilows has written articles for Soap Opera Magazine and currently does features on soap stars and celebrities for the Indiana Post-Tribune. In the past, Mark has covered soap opera news for Chicago Daytime and the Danny Bonaduce show. This article was originally published in the Indiana Post-Tribune on May 9, 1999 and is used with permission of the author.
|
A few years ago, Greg Watkins had everything going for him: fame,
fortune and a starring role for five years as debonair businessman
|
|