Review Fix Exclusive: Theo Rossi Interview: From Staten Island to SAMCRO

It started as a brief conversation with a stranger on a Manhattan train. This conversation would unveil itself to be the catalyst to a whole new path for a man, now quite recognizable as the tattooed, yet troubled character, “Juice,” on the show, “Sons of Anarchy.” For Theo Rossi, success has allowed him to not only dedicate himself to his craft, but also demonstrate a love and respect for not only fans of the show, but for people who he considers true heroes.

Thanks to a few good conversations, a few life experiences and a few good friends willing to jump in feet first with him, the 36-year-old has not only made his way across the US to pursue his loves, he has made his way around the world on an ongoing mission to appreciate and recognize those he admires.

“For me, what I’ve learned in my life, it’s the stuff that’s right in front of me that’s really dictated tomorrow,” said Rossi. “Things are happening every day, it’s just that people aren’t aware of it. If you’re constantly looking forward, you may miss what’s right in front of you in the moment.”

Rossi grew up in New York and spent a majority of his youth in Staten Island. Football was his life at that time so after high school, he and some friends attended Albany State University where he played football, for a bit.

While attending, he took advantage of what every fine, young scholar does while at school. He enjoyed a few years of shenanigans before he graduated with a degree in English education.

“College was just this weird learning experience that I believe now after all these years looking back, it really had help to shape me to who I am today,” he said. “I really feel like I was being watched after during that time because I could have been in a lot more trouble than I was.”

Following graduation, Rossi returned to Staten Island, but had no idea what he wanted to do. Although he dabbled in different jobs such as construction and carpentry, acting was not necessarily on his, to do, list.

After watching an old friend take an acting class in Manhattan one day and laughing at what his “tough kid,’ buddy was doing, he found himself back at the class on his own accord. He doesn’t know whether he did it because the teacher told him he wasn’t capable of doing what his friend was doing, or perhaps it was just the plethora of girls he noticed around the room. Regardless, he did go back. Soon after, he landed a role in an independent film. Not the end of the story though.

It wasn‘t until one final push that Rossi was on his way to Los Angeles.

“I remember sitting on a train in Manhattan with this guy and I think I was 22. I had just gotten out of college,” said Rossi. “I had been working at this company for two and a half months at this time. It was a nine to five job and it just wasn’t for me. The man told me that it was great that I had started so young and that in 30 years I’d be on top of the company.”

At that moment Rossi realized that not only did he not want that job for 30 more years, he didn’t want it for 30 more seconds.

That afternoon he left the job.

“I remember it as clear as day because when he said it everything left my body. It was like I was looking at myself and said, ‘Get out, get out now and run,’” said Rossi. “This man made my life flash in front of me and that’s really strange when it happens.”

Rossi and five close friends left for Los Angeles a couple months later only to arrive Halloween night, 1999, with 636 dollars between them.

“It was total chaos,” said Rossi. “We would stay in shanty hotels that charged by the hour and ask to stay for a week, but my friends were as motivated as I was. We made it work.”

Rossi worked on multiple tv shows, but says the opportunity of working on “Sons of Anarchy” was the role that was meant to be.

Growing up, Rossi admits his father had not been around for a large part of it. His uncle, who he referred to as Pops, moved from California to New York when Rossi was 14 and taught him life lessons that he carries with him to this day. Armed with his motorcycle and stories of the road, Pops will always be close to his heart.

“He was just another really good adult figure in my life and was just a really inspirational man. He was so nice to everybody and taught me to never change who I am. He passed away in 2004 and I read the script in 2008,” said Rossi. “It was almost like it was meant to be.”

However, his character has changed a bit since the original script. In the beginning, Juice wasn’t the tattooed, mohawked tech-man he currently is.

“In the original pilot, I even had a different name,” said Rossi. “I think it was Franco or something. I had no tattoos, no Mohawk; the show was entirely different from what it is now.”

Rossi read for multiple roles, but after reading the script, he knew he’d have done anything on the show – just to be a part of it.

“Kurt [Sutter] called me up and was like, I want you to be a part of the show. I don’t know if you’ll have one line or thirty, but if you’re okay with that, I just want you on the show.”

He knew it was going to work.

“Kurt had something magical from day one and partially what I think attracts people to the show is that we all really do love each other,” said Rossi. “We all enjoy being around each other and respect each other and that’s a rarity in this business. I think because Kurt, beyond putting together in my mind some of the greatest actors working today, they are all great people. That’s the coolest part about going to work.”

Over the past three seasons, viewers of the show had the opportunity to get to know Rossi‘s character, Juice, who has taken on a lot in the fourth season.

“This is what I’ve always said about Juice from day one,” said Rossi. “He’s one of those guys, a total nerd, so computer smart. But socially, he’s just so inept. His social interaction is not so fantastic and that was apparent in season one when he was trying to get Tig as his friend and this and that. Because of this, he’s so innocent because really to me, his greatest quality is his loyalty.”

The loyalty Juice has is ultimately what seems to be unraveling him.

“He wants to be led in the right direction,” said Rossi. “That’s why when Clay called him son and gave him the Men of Mayhem patch…that was the only approval he wanted his whole life. He finds the only way out is to take his own life, and he can’t even do that right. He just keeps digging that hole deeper and deeper and you know all he wants to say is, ‘I don’t know how this all happened, it was never my intention to kill myself.’ It’s all out of his hands and he just wants everything to be okay.”

The next few episodes should shed a lot more light about Juice’s situation.

Away from SAMCRO, Rossi has been taking a bit of a break and is involved with other endeavors, especially the Armed Forces.

“I’m obsessed with the military mainly because I think it’s one of the most bad ass things you could do,” said Rossi. “I’m in awe of that fact that people decide to go out and save people’s lives. I’m fascinated by that mentality.”

Rossi originally got involved with the armed services after a conversation with “Sons of Anarchy” guest star Henry Rollins, a man who is frequently involved with USO services.

“He made a really simple statement when we were sitting in makeup on day,” said Rossi. “He just asked me why we haven’t gotten involved with the USO and I said, I’d love to but I had never been asked. Next thing I knew, we were on a plane to Iraq and it’s been full throttle ever since.”

Rossi said he wants to be involved even more and it has become a very important part of his life.

“I’m trying every day to make people more aware of how great I think the men and women of the military are,” said Rossi. “All it is, is about supporting people that are willing to do something most men and women aren’t. It’s their sacrifice that literally drives my ambition and my life every single day. It makes me a better person and I’ll always be grateful and indebted to it.”

While the future of Juice still unknown, Rossi will continue the career he loves and continue thanking those who have made it all possible.

“Our fans are the best fans in the world; they know everything about the show,” said Rossi. “They’re so into it and that’s why I want to spend every moment I can with them. I just have been figuring this whole journey on my feet, taking it all day by day. I don’t even know how this has all happened and that’s why I am so grateful.”