Into the Black with David Blue The Stargate Universe player quips his way across the cosmos

Since he stopped waiting tables and started living his dream as a working actor, David Blue has racked up an impressive resume on shows such as the ‘tweener sitcom “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” and the teen detective drama “Veronica Mars.” He’s also had recurring roles as photographer Cliff St. Paul on ABC’s hit sitcom, “Ugly Betty,” and as techno­geek vampire Logan Griffen on CBS’ cult favorite, “Moonlight.” And it all began with a rat.

“I played a rat in my second grade school’s production of ‘The Nutcracker,’” recalls Blue. “I put on a fake nose and when they said, ‘Go!’ I kind of ran across the stage and ran back. I’d like to think my acting has gotten a little better since then.”

After doing more acting in school, Blue found himself at a crossroads when it came time to go to college.

“I’d almost decided to go to the University of Florida to study computer science, but the night before I was supposed to move into my apartment I had an epiphany. I realized acting is what I love doing. I had to try making a living at it. So I lost my security deposit to that apartment in Gainesville and went to the Conser­vatory at the University of Central Florida.”

Clearly, Gainesville’s loss has become “Stargate Universe’s” gain. Blue’s current assignment takes him deep into the heart of the unknown in the latest spinoff of the feature film, Stargate, and the SYFY Channel’s series, “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate Atlantis.” In “Stargate Universe,” Blue plays slacker genius Eli Wal­lace, who is part of a team forced to retreat through a stargate after their base is attacked. They find themselves trapped aboard an ancient starship and unable to return to Earth. As they struggle to survive, they must not only face the perils from without, but intrigues from within as personalities mesh and clash. Think of it as “Lost” meets “Star Trek” and you start to picture the possibilities, especially con­sidering the quality cast which includes Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Ming Na. Blue couldn’t be more pleased to be going boldly where no one has gone before.

“I loved the original movie, and I’d watched every episode of ‘SG-1.’ It was always on when I got home from waiting tables or class so I ended up really getting into it. I really liked that world. So when this project came up, I thought, ‘That would be cool!’ But when I read the first three-hour script for the premiere, I was floored. They were taking on this huge opus of ideas and it went from ‘Oh, this would be fun,’ to ‘I’ve got to be a part of this!’”

One of the things Blue loves about Eli is the humor. “It’s my brand of humor: the nerdy geeky TV/movie fan who tries to relate everything in their real life to something they saw on TV or in a movie. I pretty much do that every day. [laughs] But they also made Eli a real character. There’s a lot to him including some really emotional stuff that you get to see in the middle of the season.”

One of the byproducts of starring on a hit sci-fi series is the chance to interact with the fan base at sci-fi conventions. Blue is looking forward to the experience.

“It’s a little strange and I’m always going to feel when someone asks me for an autograph, that they’re referring to someone behind me. But I love passionate fans because I used to be that for shows I loved, like “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” I’m like that now for “Lost.” We ran past Michael Emerson who plays Ben on “Lost” at Comicon and I damn near flipped out. So to provide that for somebody else is something I never would have expected in a million years. And to be out there spreading the love for the show, to me it’s more like a bonus instead of another job.”  ▼

“Stargate Universe” airs Fridays at 9PM on SYFY.