By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
November 9, 2010
Actor Jon Seda is a Jersey boy at heart, though he currently lives on the West Coast with his wife and children.
“For most of my career I’ve been on the East Coast, but for about the past four or five years I’ve been based out of California,” says Seda, who was born in New York. “I’ve just recently celebrated my 40th birthday. Oh yeah, it’s all up hill from here!”
Seda, who’s best known for his roles in the films “Gladiator” and “Selena,” earned rave reviews for his portrayal of World War II hero John Basilone in the HBO miniseries “The Pacific,” which has just been released on DVD.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. After experiencing Hawaii this year, I have to say it shoots right to the top for me. As soon as I landed, I felt something magical in the air — the locals call it “The Aloha Spirit.” From the beautiful beaches, the food, the entertainment and the sincere kindness of all the people there, the place had me at hello. I would go back again and again. It’s one place that truly lives up to the hype.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. I’m a boxing fan, so I plan weekends around the big fights in Las Vegas. It’s always a great time. But there are some other spots that I would love to take advantage of, too. Santa Barbara is always nice. I like visiting the wine country in Napa Valley or skiing at Big Bear Mountain in California. Now when I’m on the East Coast, it’s the Jersey Shore!
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. I’m so bad with remembering them, but one of my favorite hotels to stay at is the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills is always nice and I’ve recently stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu and did not want to leave!
Q. What are your favorite restaurants?
A. The Hot Grill in Clifton, N.J. — “one cheeseburger all the way” — you have to go there to understand. Uncle Vinnie’s Clam Bar in Raritan, N.J., is Italian cuisine the way it was meant to be. The seafood and pasta are unbelievable and the mussels are awesome! I enjoy the Tower Bar on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. Dimitri the maitre d’ is the best!
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. Besides all of my hygiene essentials, I have to have my shaver, this awesome product by Paul Mitchell called Tea Tree Shaping Cream, my ChapStick, iPod, laptop and a pair of earplugs are a must. I do like to sleep. And, of course, my old beat-up (New York) Mets cap.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. Clifton, N.J., Manhattan, Vancouver, Williams Township, Penn., and Raritan, N.J. The people there really make you feel at home.
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A. I check the weather and get together a list of all the best attractions that might be nearby and I bring a map. You can’t always trust the navigation!
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. I’d like to visit Italy, Spain, Greece, Japan and the pyramids in Egypt. … Basically, the whole world.
Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A. My best vacation was taking my wife and kids to Puerto Rico to meet my 92-year-old grandma for the first time. My worst has to be when I was eight years old and I got lost in Disneyland for seven hours until the park was closing. I refused to let anybody know that I was lost.
© 2010 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
I enjoyed your Q&A with actor Jon Seda but was wondering why you didn’t mention that he was a star of the sensational and long-running tv drama, “Homicide: Life on the Street.” Helen Brower.
Hi Helen. It was edited for space. I only get so much room per column. Thanks for writing!
Jon Seda is the best! Thanks for posting this. I’m glad I found your interview. 🙂