In Date My Dad, Watson portrays Ricky Cooper. “Ricky is an ex-baseball player, a widower with three daughters and also has his mother-in-law living with him in his house, who is played by Raquel Welch. The first episode starts off with Ricky Cooper’s 40th birthday, and it’s been 3.5 years since his wife, Isabella, passed away. He is not looking forward to his 40th birthday, but his daughters want him to start dating and living life again. His mother-in-law decides that she is moving out, so his world is turned upside down in the first 10 minutes of the episode,” he said. “Ricky is a guy whose focus is raising his daughters now that his wife passed away. It’s time for him to start living his own life as well.”
Watson continued, “Working with Raquel was great. She’s a Hollywood legend, so it was an adventure every day. The pilot episode premieres tonight, and they are throwing in the second episode as a bonus, so you get the first two episodes on the first night.”
He further added, “I’m really proud of the work I did on this show. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so connected to a character as I have with Ricky Cooper. This is the one I truly felt most connected with.”
On his plans for the future, he said with a sweet laugh, “After I get done doing all the promo for Date My Dad, I plan on sleeping for a week. “Then, my other job away from work is being a real father to my kids. I’m spending time with my kids this summer and focusing on them,” he added.
Speaking of his kids, their ‘youthful energy” is his biggest motivation in life. “I’m opening to learning something new each day. Every day I feel very motivated by them, and I try to throw a little of that energy in me,” he said.
For Watson, the key to longevity in acting involves a great deal of “luck.” “Talent is hopefully what this business is still about, but I think there is so much luck involved. I feel very blessed to work in this business for over 20 years now, and I’m still doing it. I keep working hard on my craft. Timing is everything as well,” he said. “I feel the timing of this show is perfect.”
“If you believe and really want in something, you need to fight and work for it. Nothing happens overnight. It always takes a lot of work,” he told aspiring actors. “You need to work on your craft and you need to be patient, and hopefully everything will fall in the right place. If you love it, stick with it.”
When asked how he stays so young-looking, he joked, “I don’t know. I’m like Ralph Macchio I guess.” “I live in Venice Beach, so on the weekends, I don’t use my car. I try to ride my bike or walk and I do yoga. I try to sweat every day a little bit. I have three kids, so I need to stay active, otherwise they take advantage of me,” he elaborated.
“If people have enjoyed my work before, I think they are going to enjoy Date My Dad even more. This was the role that was built for me,” he concluded. “I hope they tune in tonight and enjoy Date My Dad. I think they will get a big kick out of it.”
The actor defined the word success as “true happiness.” “I feel that success is being a good dad and hopefully raising my kids to be good people someday,” he said.
The premiere of Date My Dad will take place tonight, Friday, June 2 at 9 p.m. EST. Viewers can tune in on UPtv.
To learn more about Barry Watson, follow him on Twitter.
