Fil-Am actor Michael Copon takes the Hollywood Splash

International model and former Blue Power Ranger Michael Copon takes theHollywood splash as one of the cast members of WB's hit series One TreeHill. TELEVISION and mainstream audiences have been noticing the tall, nicely framed face and athletic good looks of Fil-Am star Michael Copon, the Dean Cain look-a-like who plays Felix on WB's hit series One TreeHill (Tuesdays at 8 pm).



Born on November 13, 1982, Michael Sowell Copon was raised by a German mother (Monica Zelasko) and Filipino father, Berlin Copon (now remarried to a Filipina).

Yeah, I was born in Virginia, you know, my old Filipino grandfather was inthe Navy, he said with a grin during this conversation during the Reeboks's The Vault party on Melrose Ave. My [Filipina] step-mom would always tell me, You should go there in the Philippines, and you'll be a star in a second! She said I could land a lucrative showbiz career inManila.

I've learned a lot about Manila so much through her and I'm just so excitedto go next year: nice beaches, pretty girls, and I heard houses there arealso cheaper. I want to visit my relatives, too, the six-foot-tall hunkcontinued. (Latest news: Michael Copon is contemplating to visit sooner, probably next month).

Growing up, his dad taught him the Filipino values and culture. Myfavorite food is the classic pansit, chicken adobo (I'm not a pork fan), lumpia, and sinigang! I was overweight and fleshy when I was a kid, eatingall this rice, you know what I mean But now, I try to stay away from it.The worst thing my dad made me try is the bagoong and dinuguan. Filipinosare nasty! My dad eats fish heads, and showed me how to suck fish eyeballsand he made me do it, Michael said, laughing and making wry face. My auntowns a Filipino restaurant down in Orange County and I've been there manytimes. I always hang out with my Filipino friends and cousins in San Diego.

Michael moved to Los Angeles from his hometown in Cheasepeake, VA when hewas 17. A local photographer spotted him and alerted LA Models Agency tohis husky looks. Copon has since then worked for top vendors andcommercials such as Pacsun, Skechers, and Old Navy, to name a few. He did alittle bit of stand-up comedy back home, making friends and old peoplelaugh, doing jokes and impersonations. He had always been a life of theparty in his hometown.

His acting career started in 2001 when he was cast as Lucas Kendall, the Blue Time Force Ranger, in the highly rated children's television series Power Rangers on Fox Kids Network, before graduating from Deep Creek HighSchool in his hometown in Virginia.

As a defense football player during mid-school, Michael revealed he waskind of heavier, but playing basketball and doing other athletic routineskept him fit and energetic. He feeds his mind by reading a lot of books.

After a modeling gig in Hongkong, he passed an audition to join the cast of One Tree Hill, playing a hunky new dude on the block who has a seriousaffection for danger.

Besides getting so busy with his schedules with acting and modeling, Michael plans to pursue his singing career. In his spare time, he puts hispassion in playing instruments, as well as writing and recording songs. Among the cast of OTH, he usually hangs out with Daniella Alonso who plays his sister. Asked what's going to happen with his character in OTHnext season, he answered, We're still negotiating about it. They'll be surprised!