Jim Beaver

Jim Beaver is currently starring in the murder-mystery mini-series "Harper's Island," which premieres tonight on CBS. Without revealing too much, the genial actor was happy to discuss his role in the new show, as well as what's in store for his character in "Supernatural" this season.

LP) What inspired you to get into acting?

JB) It seemed likethe best alternative to work I could think of. [chuckles] I kind of fell into it, I wanted to be a film historian, but I was sort of limited in my choices of colleges and the ones within my potential didn't have film courses. So I signed up for theater classes -- it was in the ballpark. I auditioned for college plays and got in and did a play and I said my first line on stage and said, "Okay, this is what I'm doin' the rest of my life," because it was great.

LP) How old were you then?

JB) I'd have been 21. I'd done stuff in third and fourth grade, but it wasn't like a career decision then, it was just, "Oh, I guess I'll be in the school play." I was 21 before I ever gave it any serious thought. And once I gave it serious thought I very quickly knew that that was what I wanted to do.

LP) Tell us a little about the plot of "Harper's Island," it sounds like a cross between Lost and the game Clue?

JB) I think CBS is calling it a cross between Lost and "Ten Little Indians." It's kinda similar. I can't say much because black helicopters will land and a SWAT team will kill me. I had a secret clearance when I was in the Marines, not a top secret but up there somewhere, and I signed more confidentiality agreements for "Harper's Island" than I ever did in the Marine Corps. While we were still shooting, they didn't even like me to update my Facebook status as to where I was because it would give people clues as to whether I was still alive on the show. It'll all be answered in the end. It's a bunch of people on an island for a wedding and somebody decides to start knocking them off one by one. And who does what to whom; I'm not at liberty to say. But it's got its "Friday the 13th" aspect. It's mainly "who's next?" and "whodunit?" I call it Survivor 90210. I don't know if CBS would like that or not.

LP) Can you tell us about your role: are you a lead or is it very much an ensemble?

JB) It's an ensemble. I've got a very substantial role. I play the local sheriff, the only local law enforcement on the island.

LP) Doing a good job, if everyone's getting killed.

JB) Well, he's got his own secrets. He's also the father of one of the main characters, so there's also a family dynamic involved as well and he appears to be trying to solve the mystery. Did I frame that well? Man, I'm walking a thin line here.

LP) There's a definite air of mystery surrounding the series. Do you foresee it becoming some kind of cult classic that will be dissected on the internet for years to come?

JB) I don't know about years to come but yeah, it could. I think that it has the potential to be the dramatic scripted version of a show like "Survivor." But yeah, it could. They're doing a lot of press coverage and a lot of advertising. They've given it a great timeslot here in the States so mainly what I hear from people is that they can't wait to see it so, I think it's probably good. The proof, of course, is in the pudding. I think it's got a bunch of good actors in it, the ones I worked with or was able to watch work everything seemed really excellent. It filmed in Vancouver which allowed me to do a little bit of "Supernatural" at the same time, also the fact that they were willing to waive tradition and let the sheriff have a beard so it meant I could go from one show to the other. I only did one or two "Supernatural" episodes over the course of "Harper's Island" cause they had first dibs, but they were kind enough to let me do two or three here and there. And I was really happy about that because I feel very loyal to "Supernatural" and would've hated to mess up their storyline simply because somebody gave me a much, much bigger paycheck. Did I say that out loud? [laughs]

LP) Ending with some "Supernatural" questions; what can you tell us about Bobby's role for the remainder of the season?

JB) Bobby's in the last three episodes of the season and I'm most prominent in the next-to-last episode. Three fourths of the scenes probably take place in Bobby's house so, I'm heavily involved in that one. And I'm briefly involved in the finale. I mean, not terribly briefly but anyway, I'm in it which, I'm happy about because I've done the season finale of every season so it's kind of a tradition.

LP) What does season five [of "Supernatural"] hold in store for Bobby Singer? [addressing speculation that Jim's character may not live past the season four finale]

JB) I don't think I can say. Gosh I don't know what to say. I'd love to help ya out, but... I'm not sure what I could say that would be both truthful and helpful.

LP) No comment?

JB) That's probably the best thing I could say.

LP) Any other "Supernatural" spoilers you can drop for us?

JB) Let's just say that the conflict between Sam and Dean comes to a real head, and over the course of those three episodes it really comes to its boiling point and beyond. By the next-to-last episode and the last one, it's bubbling over and things change. The next-to-last episode is mainly Bobby and Dean trying to confront the differences between Dean and Sam and so, there's a lot of Bobby and Dean on one side and Sam on the other.