Young actor feels good about his role in hit ‘Superbad’

A year ago, Las Vegan Casey Margolis auditioned for the TV series "The Office." Not only did he land a part in an episode of the show, he earned his first acting role in a feature film.

Casey, 11, met the casting director for the comedy film "Superbad" while trying out for the popular NBC show in California. Casey had already auditioned for a part in the movie but "didn't get a callback." The chance encounter gave him another shot to audition for "Superbad" a week later.

"They wanted me to do improv," Casey says of the second audition, which took place at Sony Pictures in California. He met with actor Seth Rogen, director Greg Mottola, co-writer Evan Goldberg and producer Judd Apatow. The film was written by childhood friends Goldberg and Rogen.

Casey found himself ad-libbing with Rogen.

"He kept looking at me like he was trying to size me up," Casey recalls.

Casey learned he had gotten the part a few days later when he arrived home to see congratulatory balloons from his family, including his parents Mark and Sheryl.

"It was really surprising," he says.

Even more surprising to Casey is that "Superbad" earned more than $30 million its opening weekend.

"At first I thought this wouldn't be a big movie," says Casey of the film that follows friends Seth and Evan at the end of high school. "Then I started seeing billboards all over."

"I had no idea it would be this big and open number one," he adds.

In "Superbad," Casey is seen playing the younger version of Seth in flashbacks that center on his character's distinctive talent for drawing.

Casey, who has three brothers and one sister, saw the film opening weekend in California with 17 members of his family.

"They definitely enjoyed it," Casey says with a laugh.

Casey, who would love to star in a comedy with Jim Carrey, spent 10 days on set filming the "Superbad" role.

"I thought it was great and I hope the rest of the movies are just like 'Superbad,' " Casey says. "The best part is I got to do what I'm passionate about and got paid for it."

Casey, who previously attended Iverson Elementary School, will now be home-schooled.

In September, Casey will begin filming his next movie, "Opposite Day," about "kids wishing they could switch with the adults to do a better job."

"I'm looking forward to anything I can get my hands on," says Casey, who recently auditioned for a part on "Ugly Betty" and will be on the "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!" on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in October.

In other youth news:

* Three young men from the Las Vegas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America have recently become Eagle Scouts:

Jonathan Clark, 15, is the son of David and Barbara Clark. He is a member of Troop No. 133

Cody Dallas Getz, 16, is the son of Toni Cowgill and Guy Getz. He is a member of Troop No. 167.

Baraka Kaseko, 17, is the son of Mohamed and Maria Kaseko. He is a member of Troop No. 321.

If you know of a worthy candidate for this column, mail information to Youth Spotlight, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070, or send faxes to 383-4676.