Contrary to popular belief, Kirby Heyborne has not been in every LDS movie ever made. But he has been in quite a few — especially over the past couple of years.
For those who don't recognize Heyborne's name — or face — here's a quick role call:
— In "The Singles Ward," Heyborne co-starred as a would-be missionary waiting for his call.
— In "The R.M.," he starred as the title character, a returned missionary.
— In "The Work and the Story," he had a bit part as a member of a film crew.
— In "The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey," he was Sam, the brother of Nephi.
— In "The Best Two Years," which opens today in local theaters, he plays yet another missionary.
— And two upcoming films in which he'll appear are "Saints and Soldiers," a World War II drama, and "Sons of Provo," a boy-band spoof.
"I was not in '(The Legend of) Johnny Lingo,' " he quickly points out, adding with a laugh, "Also, you may not have noticed this, but I'm in the background in Richard Dutcher's movies. I'm playing 'the set.' "
The 27-year-old Heyborne is humble about his rising success in Mormon cinema, as well as his future acting prospects. "I certainly don't think I'm the most talented actor — here or anywhere. I do think I might be the luckiest one, though. I've either auditioned very well or people just seem to like me. Either that, or they've pitied me and given me jobs. That really is something I should look into."
"The Singles Ward" was his first film; before that, he was selling insurance in Utah County.
Heyborne said he is thankful for the breaks he's received in mostly local feature-film productions. Though he admits that it also led to him being typecast as a missionary. (In real life, he served an LDS mission in the Dominican Republic.)
In "The Best Two Years," Heyborne plays Elder Calhoun, a newly arrived LDS missionary in Holland whose enthusiasm for his work rubs off on his jaded companion, Elder Rogers (KC Clyde). "I'm what they like to call in the industry a 'plot device,' " he said during a telephone interview from Southern California.
Actually, Calhoun, a bit of a naive rube when he first arrives in Holland, is something of a departure for Heyborne. "He's the least cool character I've played — or maybe he's the most cool one, I'm not exactly sure."
Most of "The Best Two Years" was shot in Alpine, with Heyborne shooting just a few days of exterior footage in the Netherlands. "That was really nice. And the film itself ain't too bad."
Heyborne said he's quite proud of the movie. And he's also happy that "Sons of Provo" is "a real change of pace. And believe it or not, it's actually us singing and dancing in the film. So I hope we don't come off as complete idiots. Or if we do, I hope people enjoy watching us come off as complete idiots. That would be all right. It would be par for the course."
He's also proud of his work in "Saints and Soldiers," in which he plays a British spy during World War II, complete with an accent that was honed through his improv work with the Comedy Sports troupe in Provo.
"I'm excited to be in my first R-rated movie," he said, joking about "Saints and Soldiers' " rating, which ignited a local controversy a couple of weeks ago. 'I'm hoping it will give my career that needed edge."
Though Heyborne shot all these films while living in Utah, he's now in Los Angeles, where he and his wife, Trisha, and their two young children moved over the holidays. He's hoping that his success here will also translate there. "I'm trying to be realistic about it. It's hard work to make it as an actor — doubly so in Hollywood. I mean, you may be the big cheese in Utah, but here you're simply another face with a few movies on your rsum. And it takes time just to get the casting people to recognize your face or name."
When they decided to make the move, Heyborne and his wife came up with what he calls their "seven-year plan." "Hopefully by then I'll be making money. Otherwise, we'll be back here."
Although he jokes about being in the (currently) R-rated "Saints and Soldiers" — and although that film does have him "smoking" (with stage cigarettes, not tobacco) — Heyborne said he is concerned about the kinds of roles he'll play. If a part conflicts with his LDS values, he says he simply won't take it. "Fortunately, nobody wants to see me with my shirt off."
While on "Saints and Soldiers," Heyborne met fellow LDS actor Corbin Allred, who also lives in L.A. — and who is already a seasoned veteran, though he's still in his 20s. Allred has been acting since he was 12, starred in a TV sitcom ("Teen Angel") and has more recently been seen in guest spots on such high-profile shows as "ER" and "CSI." "He was very supportive, and the fact that he is still so successful and so humble makes you believe it can really be done."
However, he has been busy auditioning for guest spots and bit parts in television series and pilots. Most recently, Heyborne auditioned for a role on the ABC sitcom "It's All Relative," which, from his perspective, seemed to work. "I think it did very well, but you know how it goes, Hollywood people will say anything to humor you. I've got my fingers crossed. Obviously, that doesn't help pay the bills, though."
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com