'New York' Crowns Prom King

See Also: 'Admissions' Episode Guide

From modeling to acting to...murder suspect?

Todd Brueggemann will be familiar to watchers of CSI: New York as the prom king, Jason Francis, in last night's episode, "Admissions". The 21-year-old actor hails from Ozark, Missouri, and he goes by the stage name Todd Julian. New York wasn't Brueggemann's first acting gig, but it's his biggest so far.

Acting wasn't in the cards for Brueggemann until an injury in his senior year of high school changed his plans. "I was going to play college basketball somewhere. And when I couldn't, I just wanted to leave. It was terrible. I was miserable. (Basketball) was what I was really passionate about for 18 years," he told News Leader. Brueggemann's parents thought to try something different. He had been approached about modeling in the past, so his mother, Debbie Brueggemann, e-mailed his senior picture to modeling agencies. Two agencies called them within two hours.

Brueggemann went to New York City and landed modeling jobs that included Maurice's, Cosmopolitan, The Buckle and Abercrombie & Fitch. He liked modeling, but he wanted to give acting a try. He bombed his first audition, so he took his first acting lesson "and fell in love." Brueggemann moved west after his agent recommended a manager in Hollywood. "In my first year of acting, I did four commercials, three movies and now CSI: NY ... I've always had a baby face and it's always sucked," he said. "Now that I'm in Hollywood, it's great because I'm playing 16-year-olds."

After landing roles in commercials and independent movies, as well as a being an extra in a few television shows, Brueggemann appeared in "Admissions" as a prom king accused of murder. "I was definitely excited. I was getting the monkey off my back after being so close in so many other projects. (The others) didn't want to take a chance on me, and now someone did," he explained. His goal in Hollywood is simple: "I'm not planning on changing the world or becoming a huge success. But as long as I'm happy, I'll stay out here."

The original article is from News Leader.

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