Bruce Boxleitner's handsome leading man looks earned him such titles as one of the "Most Watchable Men in America," as well as one of "TV's Top 10 Leading Men." "I don't think much about being known as a hunk, it's a part of this business and it's very flattering," Bruce says, relaxing on his living room couch. "I guess it's better than being 'slug of the year,' " he laughs, with his blue eyes sparkling.

Bruce's role as undercover agent "Scarecrow," in the drama series that ran four years, "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," catapulted his name into the limelight nationally. "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," offers Bruce, "came along after the series 'Bring 'Em Back Alive,' which never took off. CBS was great though, they told me they would find something even better. Then came the script for 'Scarecrow.' " Bruce says he and Kate Jackson clicked as a team and "the show provided a fun, escapist-type hour of entertainment."

Bruce looks at the cancellation of "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" in a philosophical way. "I was ready to move on," he admits, noting he deliberately did as many versatile roles during each "Scarecrow" hiatus of the show in an effort to avoid being pigeonholed as his television character.

Curiously, one role that Bruce loves—a cowboy—seems somewhat contradictory to the limelight "hunk" status he's achieved. But his obvious interest in westerns is evidenced by his ranch-style home and stables with four quarterhorses. A bookcase is filled with books on the old west and autobiographies of Hollywood's legendary cowboys and paintings depicting western scenes line the walls. His attraction to the entertainment industry began when he was growing up in Northern Illinois, watching westerns. "I was born 30 years too late," Bruce laments. "I've always wanted to be a cowboy. I try to hang out with them," admits Bruce, who will reprise his role as "Billy Montana" in "Gambler III," which will air November 22 and 24 on CBS. "I've done a few westerns. I enjoy doing them because you can be natural," he suggests. "Westerns are a part of America's mythology and identity for better or worse. They aren't as popular as they were in the '50s, but they always come and go; I hope this generation keeps them going, but all they seem to want is rock and roll movies. Westerns are a wonderful genre that I hope doesn't die out."

Although Bruce tends to lecture about cowboys and the "loss" of interest in westerns, he isn't complaining, just commenting. It's easy to see that Bruce is very outspoken and honest about what he feels is right to him. For example, he refers to his early days of struggling in an incredulous voice. He got his formal training on the stage at Chicago's prestigious Goodman Theatre, and, through a twist of fate, took over the lead role in the play, Status Quo Vadis. It had a successful run in Chicago, then traveled to Washington, and finally to Broadway, where Bruce says shortly, "it died."

Once in New York, Bruce decided to go for his ultimate dream, to star in television and film. "I figured I was young enough to give it a try, and if I couldn't make it as an actor, I would be a stuntman. I just wanted to be in the movies in some way," he insists. He soon realized that although auditions were held in New York, casting was done in Los Angeles.

I thought to myself, 'What the hell am I doing here, starving to death? Why am I beating my head against the wall doing avant garde theatre? You can't make a living and who the hell cares. . .Errol Flynn never did avant garde theatre.' " Bruce refers to New York as a "crowded hell. It's no place to be if you don't have money." Certainly no place for a struggling young actor fresh off the farm. Bruce did summer stock theatre and saved his money, finally making the move to Los Angeles.

Once in Los Angeles, Bruce started out with a few lines in various television shows, and in the 16 years since he came to Los Angeles, he has accomplished an impressive number of roles. He recently appeared in the made-for-television movie, "Angel in Green," as well as past roles in "The Macahans," "Kiss Me, Kill Me," "Down the Long Hills," and several miniseries; "East of Eden" and "The Last Convertible," to name two. Two feature films to his credit are The Baltimore Bullet, with James Coburn, and a movie that seems out of character for Bruce, the science-fiction fantasy, Tron.

Bruce admits he was reluctant, at first, to accept a role in Tron. He laughs as he recalls his initial reaction to the script. "I was on location in Arizona shooting a western, and I got this script I couldn't even read. All this, 'whamtron' computer stuff." Bruce takes a moment to point out his aversion to computers. "Look around this house, do you see one computer? This is the last hold-out, I hate computers. . .I guess I'm a dinosaur." Bruce admits that he will probably have to get over his negative feelings since his sons, Sam, seven, and Lee, who is almost two, will eventually be using them when they go to school. Despite his feelings about computers, he took the role anyway for at least two reasons. Bruce was impressed with Tron's original computer graphics, and he worked with Jeff Bridges, an actor he greatly admires.

"No one is going to make a movie with my name," Bruce says. "I'm not box office material—that's the reality."

But Bruce is definitely interested in getting into "a really good film. I think the best way to get into a film is to be in someone else's movie. That way, if it falls, it's not your butt in a sling," he laughs.

He has an interest in getting back into television. "I don't want to do a sitcom," he insists. "I like things with humor—I can play comedy—but I like it in a serious context. I don't want to be a comedian. Eight o'clock is what's selling now, but I want to get into a 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. spot, something with a little more bite."

In the meantime, Bruce has recently been chosen by Estee Lauder Inc. as the new Lauder for Men spokesperson and model. He maintains his decision to be the Lauder spokesperson was not to "sell out. There was an attitude that permeated our business that if you were really a serious actor, you wouldn't compromise yourself." Bruce shakes his head and points out, "There are a lot of legendary names that have sold products. Besides, I have the opportunity to get out and meet people who watch my shows. It's also a very good product. I use it, I don't lie." Bruce smiles and says, "It's a nice sideline."

Besides his association with Lauder, Bruce is at his most animated when talking about the "cowboy" activities he does in his free time. He pridefully shows off each of his horses, pausing to tell about how one got sick and he spent hours watching over it. He lovingly pets each one; he has two grays and two roans. One of the roans is used when he ropes steers or does team penning, Bruce explains. "It's great because you're not judged on who you are, but what skills you have." Team penning involves going against a two-minute clock and removing one steer from a herd, wthout scattering them, and leading the steer to the other end of the arena. "It sounds easy, but it isn't. It takes good cowboy skills. When I do these activities, I don't have time to think about my career, or if the phone is going to ring. . .all the things that can drive you crazy." He acknowledges this is why he fell in love with the San Fernando Valley where he lives, because it's a good place to get away from the city.

Even though he has a large kitchen, Bruce admits to not being very domestic. "I usually go out to eat. . .a lot. I think they know me at every restaurant." He also gets out to attend charities, and it seems only natural the charities he is involved with are animal or cowboy related. He serves as national chairman for the American Humane Society and was the spokesperson in 1985. Recently, he emceed the "Golden Boot Awards," which benefits the home for retired actors. Bruce was in his element that night, as he shared the stage with such cowboy legends as Gene Autry, Glenn Ford, Dale Robertson and Clayton Moore.

It's apparent that as cowboy, actor, or both, Bruce is at home.
 

Thanks, Claudia!