There’s a straight line that can be drawn from the stage at Bridgewater State University to Broadway, and even to Hollywood. At least that’s how actor James Colby, ’86, sees it. He plays Boston Police Superintendent Bill Evans in the new film Patriots Day. In March, he’ll be on Broadway in the hit play Sweat.
“It all started at Bridgewater,” the Arlington native said. “Someone said the right thing to me and pointed me in the right direction, and now I’m an actor.”
Mr. Colby started pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Salem State College. When things didn’t work out there, he turned to what was then Bridgewater State College. He had a cousin who had attended the college, and Mr. Colby liked the campus. He majored in history with a minor in political science.
“I had some great professors there at Bridgewater,” Mr. Colby recalled.
His most formative experience on campus was when he was cast in a production of The Threepenny Opera.
“I got my first taste of acting at Bridgewater,” he said. “It was my first time on stage. I just took a stab at it. I’d always secretly wanted to try it. And it ended up kick starting a career.”
After graduation, Mr. Colby appeared in regional theater productions before earning his graduate degree at Brooklyn College. Over the years – after plenty of bartending and waiting tables – he’s appeared on various stages and screens. He was drawn to theater at first but eventually began getting roles on television and in the movies.
Mr. Colby auditioned for director Peter Berg via Skype for the role of Bill Evans in Patriots Day. He read for the part expecting to wait to see if he got it. “As soon as I was finished, Peter said, ‘All right, I’m going to cast you. See you in a month.’”
Mr. Colby celebrated with a whiskey at Gallagher’s, a well-known pub in his adopted hometown, New York City, and the next day went for a run (Evans is an avid marathoner) and injured himself. Fortunately, he was still able to film the scene in Patriots Day when his character crosses the marathon finish line.
Arlington is just north of Boston, and its proximity to the site of the bombing and the aftermath that the film is based on made Mr. Colby’s latest role particularly meaningful.
“What a fitting experience to be a part of this event and the ways the city came together to track these guys down,” he said. “It had such an impact on me just to be a part of it all. It’s just been an amazing experience.”
Mr. Colby was honored with an award from the Bridgewater Alumni Association earlier this year. His wife and daughter came to BSU accept it, as he was on a film shoot. He hopes to return to campus soon.
However, he’s busy well into the new year with the buzz-generating play Sweat, which is moving soon to Broadway.
The one-two punch has made Mr. Colby glad he took that first step onto the stage all those years ago at Bridgewater State.
“I’m one of the few people who can say they’re in the best film and the best play of the year,” he said. (Story by John Winters, G’11, University News & Media)
