He’s dark and broody. In a bad-boy kind of way. But as with all the characters on the hit series, “Friday Night Lights,” there’s a reason why Tim Riggins is the way he is. Zeeks caught up with his real-life alter ego, Taylor Kitsch, who explains the method behind the madness of Riggins.

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Zeeks: Tell us a little about your character in Friday Night Lights
Taylor: I play Tim Riggins, a troubled teenager who has a hard time trusting people due to his upbringing or lack thereof. He uses alcohol to hide or simply postpone his problems. He is a kid struggling to find his own purpose in life and his own identity.

Zeeks: Your character is involved with Lyla, your paralyzed best friend’s girlfriend. What’s up with that?
Taylor: When tragedy strikes, people turn to one another for support. I think that’s the case with this. We’re both finding it so hard to deal with — we find one another through all this and provide support for each other.

Zeeks: Why was it so hard for Tim to visit Jason in the hospital?
Taylor: As unhealthy as it is, Tim is the kind of person who deals with problems and tragedies like this on his own. There is also guilt — he feels guilty knowing or telling himself he could have done something to stop his friend’s injury. It’s just another thing in his life that hurts him to face, so the easiest thing for him to do is postpone the pain of seeing his best friend in such a horrible condition.

Zeeks: Did you play football before you got this role?
Taylor: I played football before this role. I love the competition. I love football a lot more (now), as well. Respect the sport more than I did when we started.

Zeeks: What did you do to prepare for the role?
Taylor: Just did a lot of little things in breaking this character down. I tried to understand why he drinks and what drinking does to him and his family.

Zeeks: Did you seek inspiration for playing the character?
Taylor: His looks come from a movie called State of Grace. His hair and some of the mannerisms are from the character played by Gary Oldman. I love watching Sean Penn and take as much as I can from him for this character, but I also have to make him my own, so a lot of his personality comes from what I choose.

Zeeks: Why do you think the show works so well?
Taylor: The show works so well because the cast and crew are all on the same page and believe in it so much and want it to be the BEST. It’s that simple.

Zeeks: What’s Kyle Chandler like to work with?
Taylor: Kyle Chandler is an amazing person. I learned an incredible amount from him. On and off the set, he is a constant professional and just a genuine person. We can all learn from him.

Zeeks: Best and worst thing about being on a hit TV show?
Taylor: The best thing is that I feel incredibly lucky to be Tim Riggins, and I’m given the challenge every day to play him and go through what he has to go through. It’s an actor’s dream. Worst thing is being away from family and missing the little things.

Taylor’s Tidbits:

Favorite movie: I have a few: State of Grace, Hurly Burly and Dead Man Walking. Thank You for Smoking was fun.

Actor you really admire: Sean Penn would be Number 1 on my list. He has had a major influence on my choices and for me as an actor. I truly believe he is the BEST out there. I also enjoy Al Pacino, Gary Oldman and Daniel Day Lewis.

Food you would NEVER eat: Sea urchin!!

Favorite TV snack and/or tailgate food: Those huge bratwurst sausages