|  Little Guy, Big Dreams A Chat With 27-Year-Old 'Child' Actor Mario Bosco 
May 24  — Mario Bosco, 27, is pursuing his Hollywood dream while paying a high price: forgoing hormone therapy that would change his child-like looks. Bosco was interviewed by ABCNEWS' Cynthia McFadden on 20/20 Wednesday, and joined a live chat after the broadcast on ABCNEWS.com. Below is a transcript of the chat. |
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Moderator: Welcome to our conversation with 27-year-old actor Mario Bosco. As you may know, Mario was born with hypopituitarism, a condition that disables the body's ability to produce essential growth hormones. Bosco is pursuing his acting dream while forgoing hormone therapy that would change his child-like looks and prolong his life. Mario, thanks for joining us this evening.
Mario Bosco: I'm very happy to be here. I was honored when I was asked to come online and answerquestions.
Moderator: Mario, what exactly is the impact health-wise of forgoing hormone therapy?
Mario Bosco: I guess not growing — I guess that would be one thing. And my voice would not change. My looks, my head. I guess I wouldn't be growing at all. I guess I'd be staying exactly the way I am now. I have a chance with all of these medications that are out today — there might be a big chance for me to do something.
Moderator: Why are you so enamored with showbiz?
Mario Bosco: I've always used to appear in front of my father when he wasalive — singing and dancing. It's always been in my blood. I'm a real big fan of Lucille Ball, and when I saw her perform, Ijust wanted to perform too. She is always in my heart. I always think of her. She's great.
Sookie says: What type of roll do you dream of getting someday?
Mario Bosco: I'd like to play the kid in the sitcom. My dream is to have asituation comedy because I always get myself into situations; a sitcom would be perfect. I wrote a sitcom once called "Dealership Kid". I would like to play a 27-year old, if that opportunity came.
Moderator: Does your family support you in yourdecision to put your acting career above all else?
Mario Bosco: My father always gave me my medication and always helped me. My mother tells me to take my medicine because health comesfirst.
Lucy says: Why do you love Lucy so much?
Mario Bosco: Why I love Lucy is because when she first started out, her actingcoach told her mother that she would never make it. Your daughter doesn't have a chance. She was a hit on television. She stayed on television and is the first lady of television and the queen of the B movies.
Bobo says: Any recurring roles on NYPD Blue?
Mario Bosco: Yes. Yes. Definitely. I was told that if there was any chance of anyone coming back itwould be me. And if I came back it would be in my role as Anthony. And with the respect of Bill Clark and David Milch and StevenBochco I think I would definitely come back as Anthony
TDwelsh says: What actor would you like to most work with?
Mario Bosco: I've worked with a ton of people like Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro,Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby actually gave me my big shot in life in my career. Danny DeVito — I'd like to work with him. And Bob Hope.
Sunshine says: I was wondering how you deal with the commentsthat people throw at you.
Mario Bosco: I've always had comments thrown at me but I keep a straight head and I put my career first. I just don't listen to the comments because those people thatmake those comments are people that don't want to see me succeed, but fail. This is a big step in my life — the one career that I love.
Linz-R says: Hi Mario. I just saw your story on 20/20. Iwas just wondering what it's like to always be asked your age. Do youever get tired of saying that you're 27?
Mario Bosco: Just like my charactor Anthony would say, I'm sick of people asking me that all day. I'm 27 years of age, just as God made me. Sometimes, if I'm with family members or friends and people comeover to me (and with the publicity of NYPD Blue, I have people coming up andasking me that) I say: "Yes, I am." And people have to accept me as I am. I have to answer it with a polite and respectful answer. And I have to deal with it.
Sookie says: How long will you try to stay young?
Mario Bosco: As long as possible. And as long as God will let me. I mean eventually I will take testosterone because my doctor whohelped saved my life has told me to basically do that. I would try to stay young as long as possible to play my roles inTV and movies.
Brenda says: How many acting opportunities have you had?
Mario Bosco: I've had many but not as big as NYPD Blue. I played Mario in a movie called 54 and I played Stanley in a movie called Bullet but nothing as big as the role of Anthony.
Moderator: What if the acting career doesn't panout? Will you regret your decision?
Mario Bosco: It will. That's all I can say. There is no other opportunity. I will make it turn out.
Moderator: What can you offer that any 11- or12-year-old child actor can't?
Mario Bosco: I have the experience because I have lived through the years so Ican play the role better than an 11-year old. I could play 27, like I did on NYPD Blue, or I can play an11-year old. It's people like you guys that basically believe in me and keepme up every day. You make me happy. Every day you get your ups and downs but you have your reality,and with fans that love me like you, I'm a very happy person.
Fabian says: Good evening Mario. I admire and respect youfor choosing happiness over anything else! It takes a lot ofcourage to go against what is expected from us!
Moderator: It does take a lot of courage to step out into an audience andperform. When I first started out, I did a movie and that's how I knewthat's what I wanted to do. I appreciate that you admire what I do because I really love thatand not too many people get to do that.
Moderator: Do you feel lonely without a woman?
Mario Bosco: Occasionally, yes, but I have so many cousins. My cousin Maria and my cousin Angelo's fiance, Joann. So I'm not really lonely.
Wolfsnap says: Are you concerned that, when your actingcareer takes off, you will be type-cast?
Mario Bosco: Type casting exists. You can't deny it. Every actor that has ever performed has been type cast. It might be a red-headed woman. I'm a brown-haired brown-eyedkid. Every actor is different.
Tallulah2000 says: Do you resent the fact that you weredeprived the growth drugs as a child because of economics?
Mario Bosco: No, I was never deprived. I was the one who stopped mymedication. It had nothing to do with money. It had to do with the factthat my father died and he gave me the shots and I didn't trust anyone else.
R says: Do you "pretend" to be a child occasionally? When and why?
Mario Bosco: I guess everybody, old and young, always wants to be a kid anddoesn't want to grow up. So sure, I play video games and hang out with my friends.
Remember_me says: I'm an actor myself, and to see you actand put everything else behind you is just amazing and inspiring
Mario Bosco: My inspiration has always been to be an actor and my advice to you is to stick with it, and some day your dreamwill come true. There are plenty of actors and plenty of room.
Marcy says: Have you worked at any other jobs besidesacting and chocolate selling in your 27 years?
Mario Bosco: I've learned the car business for the past 8 years. I loved myboss and every minute of it but it was never my cup of tea.
ZZ says: What did you think of Denny Franz of NYPD? Does he have a sense of humor?
Mario Bosco: Working with Dennis Franz has been the best experience of mylife. He has a lot of patience. Get the In Style magazine for June because I quote Dennis Franzin it. He always tells me if we make mistakes, we will get through it. He's a real gentlemen.
Erin82 says: What kind of advice did your father give you,to help you stay positive throughout life?
Mario Bosco: My father always told me your health comes first but my father would always love to see me on TV. When he saw me on TV commercials, he was so excited. My father up in heaven — this is for you, dad. I love it.
Jodi says: Have you brought your "Dealership Kid" idea toany networks yet?
Mario Bosco: I asked Bill Clark from NYPD if he was interested but heexplained to me that it was a cop show. Eventually if I have money I will do it myself but if anyone is interested, please write in.
Shanna says: What do you like to do for fun?
Mario Bosco: I like to keep a lot of time to myself to read scripts. But I like to play the game of PhaseTen with my cousin.
Koren says: What's your favorite TV sitcom?
Mario Bosco: First I would say "NYPD Blue." Second, "I Love Lucy." Third, I would say "The Honeymooners." Fourth, I'd definitely say "The Cosby Show," because Mr. Cosby gaveme my big break in show business.
ThunderBay says: What sports you like to watch and play ?
Mario Bosco: I'm really not a player. But I say WTG Yankees! And the Knicks. The Knicks are upthere, baby!
Mario Bosco: Thank you everybody. I'd like to thank the wonderful crew of ABC News. I would like to thank Cynthia, Kathy and Claire and also thewonderful crew at Stephen Bochco Productions. And I'd like to thank Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch,Mark Tinker and my wonderful co-stars Dennis Franz and Rick Schroeder andthe rest of the cast. I'd also like to thank Andrea Thompson on her wonderful careermove as a news reporter. I'd like to thank my entire group of fans and my family. My cousin Maria for supporting me and being next to me for thisproject. My wonderful cousin Angelo who is here tonight and right next tome and his fiance, JoAnn, without whom we wouldn't be anywhere. And my friend, Ray. I'd like to thank everybody. If you get a dream that you want to do, pursue it until the end,because you only have one life. I'd like to thank everybody with love and God blessyou.
Moderator: Mario, thanks for your time tonight, and many thanks to those in our audience who submitted questions. If you'd like to check out recent 20/20 chat transcripts, please visit this Web address. Thanks again for joining this ABCNEWS.com live event. Good night!
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