Wil Wheaton's Comeback Begins With A 'Compulsion'

See Also: 'Compulsion' Episode Guide

Wil Wheaton's experience on the set of CSI was so fascinating, the actor could barely concentrate.

"It was unbelievably difficult for me the first two days I was working on the show to be very present," the actor told the New York Times. "They'd say 'Cut!' and I'd say, 'I can't wait to write about this!' " Wheaton will guest star on tonight's CSI episode, "Compulsion", as Walter, a homeless addict who is suspected of murder. Hardly the part for a novice; luckily, the actor isn't a Hollywood freshman.

Wil Wheaton started acting at a young age, appearing most notably in the movie Stand By Me and the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which he quit after five years. "My biggest regret was that because I was a teenager, I wasn't fully able to appreciate it," he said of his experience on the show. After years in Hollywood's peripheral vision, the actor decided it was time for a comeback. He created an online blog, where he writes about all his experiences, and continued to struggle to get back in the Hollywood game. Then came CSI.

"I can't believe how lucky I am!" the actor wrote in his blog when his agent told him he'd be appearing on the show. Wheaton originally auditioned for a smaller role, the part of a hotel clerk, but the producers quickly realized his potential and offered him a larger, more complex role; on top of being an addict, Walter also has to deal with the incessant voices in his head. "He really dug his teeth into it," said "Compulsion" director, Duane Clark, "and on his own came up with a backstory of who Walter was. He really filled out what could have been a caricature."

"Compulsion" airs tonight at 9/8c. To read the full article, which includes more information on Wheaton's projects, visit the New York Times. Wheaton's blog can be accessed through Wil Wheaton.net.

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