The Son Shines In 'Miami'

One of CSI: Miami's newest cast members did his homework.

When Evan Ellingson joined the cast of Miami as Horatio's teenage son Kyle Harmon, he wasn't up to date with the show. "I had watched the original CSI and a little bit of Miami in the first season but after that, not so much," he explained to the Official CSI Magazine. "When I got the role, I started buying all the DVDs and catching up."

"They initially told me I was guaranteed 10 episodes," Ellingson said. Luckily, his character stuck around, and the actor has been called back to take part in more episodes. "They actually don't tell me until a couple of days before I start filming if I am in the episode or not," he explained. "When I come into work, I am just as surprised as everyone else."

Ellingson remembers sitting down with David Caruso (Horatio Caine) to have a chat and develop a connection with the man who would be playing his father. "I can't exactly remember what we talked about but we shared some of the same things going on in our lives," he said. "David understands me and I understand him. David always comes on with such a positive attitude and makes me feel open to do whatever I want. He is very cool and brings a good energy to the set."

The 20-year-old actor also spoke about the reason for Kyle's bad behavior. "What made him so mad in the beginning was he never knew who his mother or father were," Ellingson explained. "Kyle was a foster kid so he was confused. He was twisted into doing something that he didn't want to do. Being in the mind frame Kyle was, it was something anyone could do."

Kyle's past influenced his bond with his father. "The fact that nobody has ever really fought for me has kept the Kyle and Horatio relationship interesting," he said, adding that Kyle "never had parents so to have Horatio stand up for me and fight to get me out of jail, that alone made our bond really strong."

Caruso and Ellingson's former 24 costar Kiefer Sutherland gave the young man important career advice. "Basically, they told me when you come to work, you are there to do what you have to do. You are not there to impress anyone. It is all about staying focused," Ellingson said. "A lot of people get caught up in the fame. Too much talent these days is going to waste. It is too bad because you think people would learn by now."

The original interview can be found in Issue 5 of the Official CSI Magazine, which is in stores now.

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