Medford’s Justin Baldoni co-stars in TV movie to be seen Monday

A guy could forget his roots in Hollywood, lose his way. But when Medford’s Justin Baldoni landed a featured role in a movie this summer, he didn’t just keep his feet on the ground, he found roles for his mom and dad.

Baldoni, 20, a former stand-out athlete at South Medford High School, auditioned for and got one of eight featured parts in "Wedding Daze," a Hallmark movie starring John Larroquette that will air at 8 p.m. Monday on the Hallmark Channel (Ch. 29 in most of Jackson County). He plays an Italian photographer whose parents appear in several scenes.

Justin’s real parents, Sam and Sharon Baldoni, are a filmmaker and a feng shui consultant, but both were trained as actors. So Justin asked director George Stanford Brown ("The Rookies") if the parts had been cast.

"My parents look like my parents," says Justin, who adds he has "an ethnic look."

He showed pictures of his parents to casting people.

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"They’re perfect," they said.

Next thing he knew his parents were on a plane to Los Angeles. Which is why Justin figures he’ll one day be able to show his grandchildren pictorial proof that the first time he had a part in a big film, he found gigs for his parents, too.

Justin was less thespian than jock in high school, playing soccer and track. He credits a part-time disc jockey stint at a local radio station for sparking an interest in show business.

His father, who made films in Hollywood, moved the family from Santa Monica to the Rogue Valley a decade ago.

"I didn’t want him affected by what was going on in L.A.," Sam says. "It’s not a great place to raise kids. Money affects people."

After high school Justin went to California State University at Long Beach for a year, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He acted in scenes shot for a Chinese television series and got parts in a couple of low-budget films. He got an agent and a manager.

He had a role in an action indie picture called "Forgotten" about a veteran of the Iraq invasion, and was up for a role in the latest "Superman" film. He has a recurring role in the soap "The Young and the Restless," and he just got back from another in an endless series of auditions.

"It’s been crazy," he says. "Every day something new."

Dad Sam sounds reconciled to Justin’s career.

"He’s doing very well," he says. "He’s one of those kind of solid kids. And he wanted to be an actor. It’s his spirit."

"Wedding Daze" is about a couple of empty-nesters who are busy reclaiming their lives when their grown daughters start coming home to roost one by one. Complicating matters, each is pursued by a lover, which means that dad Jack (John Larroquette) faces a father-of-the-bride situation times three.

Justin plays Guillermo, a suave photographer who proposes to daughter Nora. The other daughters are wooed by James Waterston ("Dead Poets Society") and Sebastian Tillinger ("Hart’s War").

"It’s an awesome movie," Justin says. "The first day was very surreal acting with John (Larroquette). I used to watch him on ‘Night Court.’ He’s really amazing to work with. You just react."

Justin had a stroke of luck in getting the part. He’d been working on a thick Italian accent for another role. He didn’t get that one, but it came in handy for this one.

"It was a blessing in disguise," he says. "This is a much better quality movie."

He describes his character as easily excited and very dramatic.

"Everything is a big deal with him," he says. "Life or death, no gray area."

At the ripe old age of 20, the actor attributes much of his early success to a small-town upbringing and spiritual roots. A member of the Baha’i faith, he prays often and doesn’t drink, smoke or party.

"God has blessed me," he says. "Growing up in Medford you appreciate people more. The little things, as opposed to a place like L.A. where things are taken for granted."