I was first aware of that big chunk of eye candy Eric Close when he was a regular in the daytime TV soap “Santa Barbara,” playing hunky Sawyer Walker. He then showed up on the prime time “McKenna” playing a rugged modern cowboy trying to save his father’s bogus dude ranch. Whatever. He was still a hunk!

After “McKenna,” Close stepped up to leading actor in “Dark Skies,” a way cool alien conspiracy series set in the 60′s. After that, he played John Goodman – I kid you not! Actually, in “Now and Again” Close and Goodman played the same character before and after some physical enhancements a la “The Six-Million Dollar Man.”

In Close’s case, his hunkiness is less the long hair and bare-chested pecs type and more the sincere trim way good-looking will-you-have-my-baby type. He plays a quieter hero – when given the opportunity – and is shaping up well as rock solid leading man.

A native New Yorker, 42 year old Close has been working in TV for nearly 20 years. I would almost swear that he hasn’t aged a day since “Santa Barbara,” but on closer inspection I see a ruggedness developing that I like. Both in looks and in acting style.

I believe the reason I haven’t really noticed the physical change is because we see Eric Close all the time. The guy always works. If we saw him less frequently, we’d notice even subtle changes. Here are just his TV series for the past 18 years:

Santa Barbara – 1992-1993
McKenna – 1994-1995
Sisters – 1995-1996
Dark Skies – 1996-1997
The Magnificent Seven – 1998-2000
Now and Again – 1999-2000
Taken – 2002
Without a Trace – 2002-2009
Seven Deadly Sins – 2010 (filming now)

In America, all actors start on stage, then some are destined for TV and some are destined for movies. I like the British formula better, where actors aren’t steered away from any venue. Close fits that mold with plenty of stage and movie experience, and an incredible TV track record. He can do it all.

Close has taken a recent move toward directing, which somewhat bums me out because if he succeeds – and yes, I hope the best for him – that’s less eye candy for yours truly to take in. Sigh.

Six-Eye Jackson

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