November 3, 2010 | Celeb Watch

Zachary Quinto heads off-broadway

Zachary Quinto is probably best known for his turn as the serial killer Sylar in the TV show 'Heroes,' or - for the hardcore trekkies - as Spock in JJ Abrams reworking of 'Star Trek.'

The handsome actor is now headed to the New York stage for a role in a revival of 'Angels in America.'

"This is hopefully a declaration of my intention to have theater be a much more significant part of my career from this point forward,” he said. “I look at the work that I’ve done so far as an investment to that end.”

Quinto will be playing Louis Ironson in the off-broadway production, which opened last week at the Peter Norton Space. Louis leaves his lover, who has AIDS, when he is needed most.

“As I wrestle with how Louis behaves, and I get to know and understand the character more, I see in so many ways how he really is one of the most human representations in this ensemble,” Quinto explained.

The actor is winning raves from his co-workers. Director Michael Greif said: “He starts with the most extraordinary instrument for a stage actor, that incredibly expressive voice. But he also has this physical dexterity. He expresses everything fully through his body.”

Quinto is no stranger to the stage. He started in grade school productions, and eventually studied at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, obtaining his BFA in 1999.

“When I got out of the program at Carnegie, it was such a different climate in the real world,” he said. “I saw how many productions were cast with actors who were on hiatus from TV shows or in between movies, and so I identified the value of making my initial investment in Los Angeles rather than New York.”

This led to parts in shows like '24' and as a gay best bud in Tori Spelling's 'so noTORIous.' And then he was cast as Sylar in 'Heroes,' quickly beocming a darling of the geek set. (A position he cemented when he starred in the new Star Trek movie.)

As for his personal life, mum's the word. He is open about his support for gay-rights and marriage equality, but he isn't about to talk about his own sexuality.

"The fact that these things are such hot-button issues right now, socially and politically, I would much rather talk about that than talk about who I sleep with,” Mr. Quinto said. “I would love to be a voice in this maelstrom of chaos and obsessive celebrity infatuation that says, ‘Let’s talk about something that matters.’” 

Career Zigzag, Changing Coasts And Galaxies [NY Times]