Rex Linn – CSI: Miami

Q) What are the current projects that you are working on?

A) I am currently a series regular on the number one watched show in the world, which is “CSI: Miami.”

Q) Please tell us about your character Detective Frank Tripp on the show “CSI: Miami.”

A) He’s basically the smart ass cop. I get to be the smart-aleck on the show so it gets to be a lot more fun. I don’t have to say “DNA” or “saliva” too many times. I can just be the bad guy towards the bad guy.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) Originally, they called and wanted me to come in and audition just for one episode, not for the whole series. I told them I’ve played a detective a lot of times with people like Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell and Harrison Ford. I told them that I don’t want to have to go in and read for the part of a detective and they can just look at my resume tape. They don’t hire off resume tapes, so a long story short, I decided to go in and read. I did one episode and towards the end of that episode, my agent called and said they wanted me for one more. That turned in to nine in a row the first season, thirteen on the second season, I did nineteen the third season and then last year they put me on as a regular so I did all the episodes. I was a season regular this year, too.

Q) The show is in its fifth season. What is new about the show and your character?

A) We can’t shy away too much from the style of the show. I think this year we’re going to try to add a little more character scenarios then plot driven. As far as my character, I don’t know exactly what they are going to do. There had been rumors that they were going to explore my character a little bit more. They explored him a little bit in the second and third season, but I am hoping they have a couple of episodes involving my character in a big way. I am not sure how my character will truly change this season or if he’ll change at all. I am just crossing my fingers and hoping for a really good episode for me.

Q) What is it like working with such an amazing cast?

A) It’s great! David Caruso is fantastic. The whole cast gets along and they are all talented. I especially like working with David because he just raises the bar. To go to work with David you have to be prepared. He raises the bar and I like that. It’s just very challenging. Also, it’s great to work with Emily, Adam, Khandi, Eva, Jonathan and all of them. I’ve just been really lucky! I love to get in the car and go to work. All of my coworkers are fantastic and the crew is great. We have the best crew on the planet. It’s a great thrill for me, I don’t take it for granted and I really am having a great time.

Q) What is it about your role that challenges you?

A) It’s fun to be the smart-aleck cop on the show, but you also have to show a sensitive side. You don’t want to be just an ass the whole time. You don’t want the audience to turn against you so there are other parts where I have to be really nice. There is a fine line between it so that’s always a challenge. You want to be able to have the audience laugh at your comments, but you also don’t want to be received as a jerk either. There is a fine line and that’s challenging.

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming the show?

A) They did an episode of my character where my then wife (I am divorced now on the show) tried to set me up. It was an episode called “Bait” and I would just say that the whole process for that was my most memorable moment. There are certain moments I enjoyed, like being down in the Everglades, being on Alligator Alley and on airboat rides. For the most part, as a whole, it would have been that episode. I had so much fun on it and I really worked hard at it. We got some really high ratings on that.

Q) What is it about the show that continues to draw in viewers?

A) First of all, you have to realize that the red head (Mr. Caruso) has a huge fan base. I would say that first would be David and second it’s the style of the show. It was really a fresh premise when it was first introduced (first came CSI: Las Vegas, followed by CSI: Miami and then CSI: New York). People weren’t used to seeing bullets going in slow motion through a brain, through a wall and through a piece of wood. It was just a fresh premise and it’s got such a great style to it that I think it just captivates audiences. It’s the style in combination with the characters that are on the show.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I like to cook. I love to dine out. I love eating out at restaurants. I am not a big toy buyer, but I do spend a lot of money on food. I love to hunt birds. I love to read and I love to go to movies. I am a big movie goer! If I can, I try to see three to four movies a week.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) I would like to say first of all, thank you for being a fan and that’s a great reward for all of the crap we put up with in this business as actors, all the frustrations and long days or weeks that we experience as actors trying to find work. I just want to thank all of the fans for watching the show. On behalf of the rest of the cast and crew of “CSI: Miami,” we just want to say that we’re going to have a great fifth season and hopefully have a great sixth and seventh season. Thank you so much for watching!