Spinner

Rick Springfield Sheds His Clothes for 'Californication'

Singer Rick Springfield has played many different characters in his acting career, including Dr. Noah Drake on the TV soap opera 'General Hospital.' Yet for his latest television role, Springfield portrays someone with whom he can easily identify: himself.

Starting on Oct. 11, Springfield will be making a guest appearance on four episodes of the Showtime comedy 'Californication,' starring David Duchovny. As himself on the show, Springfield plays the client of agent Charlie Runkle, played by Evan Handler.

"They were looking for a musician who's an actor and they liked what I did," Springfield tells Spinner. "They wrote the story around my name and they make references to my past and music. It's a very different character than me -- a twisted warped version of me at my worse."

In a preview clip for the series' third season, which also features guests Kathleen Turner and 'Gossip Girl' star Ed Westwick, Springfield is wearing nothing but underwear in one scene. When it came to doing something like that, he says he didn't have any trepidation. "I knew what the show was about," he says, "and the scenes that I read to get the part was certainly as full-on as anything I do on the show. I have no issues about being naked in a show. I think being naked just makes it funnier."

The new acting role doesn't stop there for Springfield. Earlier this year, he released an album of children's lullabies entitled 'My Precious Little One' and he has played some live dates across the country. In November, he will be holding his second annual 'Rick Springfield and Friends Cruise' with special musical guest Richard Marx. During the cruise from Miami to Mexico, Springfield will be performing his 1981 breakthrough album 'Working Class Dog' in its entirety for the very first time.

"It was a great time," he recalls about the record, which contains his signature hit 'Jessie's Girl.' "It was the end of disco and people wanted to hear the guitar and short tight pop songs again. To a degree it was influenced by punk that was coming out of England. That's what I did with that album."

As previously reported in Entertainment Weekly, Springfield is also penning his memoir, which he is pitching to publishers. "I didn't think I would be able to remember anything," he says. "But once you hit on a period in your life and you start writing about it, it's amazing what you remember. I had a varied life and have been involved in a lot of things -- some of which could have put me in prison -- but luckily it didn't."

This past August, the rocker reached a personal milestone when he turned 60. He keeps up with current music whether it's Beirut, Queens of the Stone Age ("I'm a big Josh Homme fan," he says), or Tool. Springfield is also writing new material for his next record to be released sometime in 2010. "I'm still hungry," he says. "I'm as hungry today as I was when I first left high school. The desire is still there. The fact that I love doing it is the key for me."

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jb

What a serious loser. He's playing himself in some ill-advised stint on Californication? In the episode I just finished watching, Springfield, playing himself mind you, was screwing one woman while another young woman may be dying on the ground from a serious drug abuse. This after he'd just bashed he head into a table and bragged about how he likes to "rough them up"? WTF? He's acting, as himself, like a disgusting pig. Hmmmm, should I get his new children's lulluby album? What could he possibly be thinking?

November 16 2009 at 1:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lana

Hi- I THINK RICK IS VERY TALENTED AND HOT.HE ALWAYS REFERS TO HIS KIDS AND FAMILY WHICH I THINK IS GREAT.BEING A SINGLE MOM AND MY SON NOT HAVING A STEADY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DAD,WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND HOW IT KEEPS IT ALL TOGETHER FOR HIM-IN MY EYES MAKES HIM A GOOD MAN.I'M SURE HE HAS ALOT OF TEMPTATIONS,WHO WOULDN'T LOOKING LIKE THAT.I'M JUST IN AWE EVERYTIME I SEE HIS FACE-BUT HE HAS A JOB TO DO AND BEING SO ALIVE AT THE AGE OF 60 SAYS ALOT FOR HIM.ALL THE BEST RICK AND HOPEFULLY I'LL GET TO MEET U ONE DAY-KEEP ON ROCKING-NEWFOUNDLAND WOULD LOVE TO SEE U AGAIN.

October 26 2009 at 7:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
markyswife

Well I think that what Chubby is saying is total crap! and the other guy on here commmenting about the cruise should put his attitude where the sun dont shine. Rick Rocks! period! and for being 60 or any age hes energetic and very personable, I cant believe that he has sooo much energy to do a big show and meet and greets afterward! absolutely amazing. I wish i could go on the cruise, im saving my money for next years...

October 18 2009 at 8:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mommyof3qts

Rick is the best. He is an extremely talented musician, lyricist and actor, but a lot of people still only think of him as a "pretty boy" which is dead wrong. Obviously, being 60 years old and looking a lot younger has a lot to say about the way he thinks about life-he has a youthful spirit. He is very appreciative of his fans, which is rare these days. His shows are very high energy and extremely humerous at times. He rocks and sounds great in person and I would recommend his show to anyone. I hope he keeps on doing what makes him happy and of course, I don't mind because it makes me and millions of other fans happy too.

October 17 2009 at 8:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michelle Carson

I've seen Rick Springfield in concert twice in the last 2 years and his shows ROCK (even my husband agreed)...his recent music (last 5-6 years) is his best yet. Thought he was great in Californication last Sunday -- very funny. AND he's HOT!!!!

October 14 2009 at 9:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kathryn

Many different sides and colors of people on this panel! I am very new at this! I am also 60+ and look and feel great! Not only for my age! Rick is relatively new for me! I never followed anyone before this!

I am an accomplished singer/entertainer also! The industry is tough and very demanding! What Rick maintains is his solid balance of his mind, spirit, body and soul! All as one! Keeping him agile and on target for what's to come his way! I hope there will be a cruise next year! I missed this one! I have sailed and performed on this very ship back in 2002! May he keep rocking and plugging away for many years to come! I am true supporter for him! I am Scottish-American who appreciates, quality, decency and sensual greatness!

October 14 2009 at 1:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kat

Amen Terribyte - my feelings exactly. Rick Rocks @ 60(and is fine too)!

October 13 2009 at 3:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
spitfire815

At any age Rick Springfield looks good. I remember him from General Hospital & he looks the same to me....GOOD:-)

October 12 2009 at 10:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Terribyte

The cruise company does not "hire" him. He hired them! It's his cruise that he and his people put together, it sells out and it's lots of fun. He works his ass off (a very fine ass, I might add) for four days of jam packed concerts, Q&A's, acoustic sets and meeting & greeting his many fans. And yeah, he DOES look damn fine at 60 - 30 year old guys WISH they looked as good as he does. He still tours all year long and his shows are more energetic & entertaining that most of the new acts I see these days (and I see a lot of 'em.) He still writes, releases new projects and constantly comes up with great ideas to keep his career strong and his fans happy. And among his 17 top hits and countless other recordings, he wrote a song that will forever go down in history as one of the most memorable, relatable and finest pop songs of all time. So...y'know...I'm just sayin'.

October 12 2009 at 9:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ringo

Will they be showing his pee-pee? I`ll bet it`s all shriveled up.

October 12 2009 at 8:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Ringo's comment
Leenie

Yeah Chubby. Is that your name or your physique? You wish you looked like Rick Springfield. Do you look like Danny Devito, as I am so sure you do? I am betting you are refering to YOUR own anatomy in that nasty potshot. Or should we ask your significant other?

October 12 2009 at 8:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ringo

Leenie the weenie!....lmao!

October 12 2009 at 4:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply