LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Michael Chiklis says his inspirational sports drama The Senior, in theaters Friday, fulfilled a childhood dream of acting in something meaningful. The film tells the true story of Mike Flynt, who resumed college for his senior year at age 59 and played for Sul Ross State University's Division III football team.
In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Chiklis, 62, said he's been looking for material like The Senior. Ever since playing corrupt cop Vic Mackey on the acclaimed FX series The Shield, Chiklis has been cast in dramatic material like the border patrol drama Coyote and legal series Accused.
"I've been craving doing something like this," Chiklis said of The Senior. "This kind of movie is one of the kinds of movies that made me want to become an actor when I was young; the kind of movie that you'd go and see at the theater, wide-eyed as a kid and just go, 'Oh, that's what I want to do.'"
The Senior follows in the tradition of sports movies like Rudy and Invincible, which were also based on true stories. Chiklis hopes Flynt's comeback story also inspires audiences.
"What a wonderful thing to be able to tell people stories and to be able to move them in that way and to make them feel good about their life or inspired to do something with their life," Chiklis said.
