UCLA Class of 1996 graduate Christopher Gorham, who plays Betty Suarez’s love interest on the Emmy-winning show “Ugly Betty,” has kept his alma mater close to him throughout his rise in Hollywood. But it’s not in his heart necessarily, or in his head, but in a rather unlikely and little less of a sentimental spot.
“I still have a chunk of Kerckhoff,” stated Gorham. “(It’s a) piece that I have on my bookcase that I love.”
Not only did the former Bruin’s time on campus coincide with a golden era for the Bruins athletically ““ UCLA beat USC in football every year, and the basketball team took home the NCAA championship in 1995 ““ Gorham was also present for the damaging 1994 Northridge Earthquake, when he found his one-of-a-kind Bruin keepsake in the aftermath.
Then a second-year resident in Sproul Hall, Gorham still remembers the incident well.
“I was on 4 North and I woke up in midair. My roommate and I built a loft, and I just woke up with my mattress and everything bouncing up and down so hard. We couldn’t get our door open, which was scary.”
The rest of Gorham’s time in Westwood, though, was pretty standard student fare.
He lived in Sproul Hall his two first years before moving off-campus, he estimates attending “almost” every home football game during his four years, and he was heavily involved on campus, including holding a job with student union operations. A film and theater arts student, Gorham was just like any other undergraduate, and that’s exactly how he wanted it.
“I always knew (acting) is what I wanted to do. I went to a performing arts magnet school in Fresno and then decided to go to UCLA for my theater degree,” he said. “I looked at a couple other places like USC and NYU, but really, I wanted to go to a more traditional campus. It was really the best of both worlds because second year was really when my acting track started, so I got conservatory training and a great general education.”
While he thought the strong general education UCLA provided was imperative, Gorham still most values his acting classes, as he was part of the initial year of UCLA’s more defined acting track.
“I came in as a theater major, but sophomore year the program changed, and then we had to re-audition to get into this more specialized program. There were like 60 people and only 11 of us were picked, (so) we spent all our time together.”
“It was a real advantage,” he explained. “We were given classes that the rest of the department couldn’t take. We essentially had the same curriculum and professors that the graduate students had.”
Gorham’s former theater professor and current vice chair of the undergraduate theater program Gary Gardner remembers his theater career at UCLA well, especially the time when the actor first began receiving attention from not just the professors or cast, but from the audience.
At one point, Gorham was working on both Gardner’s play “The Kentucky Cycle” as well an experimental play with a graduate student which required him to don a very unforgiving costume.
“All of a sudden, I saw girls coming to “˜The Kentucky Cycle’ twice, and even three or four times, and I realized Chris had sort of developed a fan group of girls who thought he looked good in spandex,” Gardner said.
Beyond his looks however, Gardner still remembers Gorham’s talent and work ethic.
“Because he’s so normal, you don’t realize how talented he is at acting normal,” Gardner said. “He was one of the sweetest, shyest, non-pushy, very gentle men. He never questioned anything. He would just do it, and if he didn’t know how to do it, he would ask.”
After graduation, Gorham quickly began putting his degree to use, slowly gaining bigger and bigger acting credits. From the supporting role of shy and sensitive Harrison John on the WB’s 1999 series “Popular” to leading roles on high-profile network shows such as “Out of Practice” and “Jake 2.0,” Gorham was never far from the limelight.
It is only a little over 10 years later, and Gorham seems to have already hit his stride, graduating this year from guest star to regular cast member on the award-winning ABC comedy “Ugly Betty,” which was one of television’s highest-rated new programs last season.
“The show has hit a real sweet spot. Its one of those shows that is embraced by the critics and the audience,” he said. “I think it’s a testament to the work everyone on the show is doing ““ actors, writers, crew. The whole thing hinges on the lead part, and America Ferrara is amazing ““ you just fall in love with the character, and everything falls into place.”
Gardner credits Gorham’s current success on his close similarities to some of Hollywood’s most lauded leading men. “He’s a wonderful actor; he has that Jimmy Stewart, Tom Hanks quality. He displays that decency, that American goodness,” said Gardner. “I really think he should be the new Tom Hanks.”
To put his talent to good use, Gorham has some interesting story lines to look forward to this year as his character, Henry Grubstick, must try and balance his feelings for Betty along with his ex-girlfriend’s poorly timed pregnancy.
After already filming six episodes of the new season, Gorham seems ready for anything.
“I’ve had a lot, quite a range already, and it’s been a blast,” he said. “The writers have really outdone themselves, and I welcome the challenge. I’ve played a lot of different parts, so there is nothing I shy away from; it’s always really exciting.”
After playing so many different parts on a wide variety of projects, Gorham only offers simple advice to those looking toward Hollywood after leaving UCLA.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that theater will kill you. If you decide that this is really what you want to do, you really have to go for it,” he said. “If you’re waiting in the wings for something to happen to you or a sign that you’re ready, you’re just going to be unhappy. You have to take it upon yourself to move forward.”
As for advice for his Bruin football team, Gorham is a little more specific.
“I’d like to see a little more on the offensive side from the football team,” he said. “And shore up that defense.”