Young actor making strides in Hollywood

Henderson resident Sean Patrick Flaherty was 9 when he told his mom, Sharry, that he wanted to be an actor. They went right to work, signing him up for acting classes and private lessons. Now 11, Sean is a veteran of three movies, including the newly released "Daddy Day Camp," starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

A sequel to the 2003 movie "Daddy Day Care," the film follows two dads who take over Camp Driftwood, a summer day camp, to save it from foreclosure. The movie opened Aug. 8.

It "was so great" to be a part of the film, Sean says. "It was just an amazing experience."

In the movie, Sean's character, "Bobby J," attends Camp Canola, the rival day camp across the lake from Camp Driftwood.

"I'm the mean kid," says Sean. "It was fun to play the mean kid. You get to get away with it. My parents wouldn't let me be mean at home."

During filming, Sean enjoyed waking up every morning and going to the set "to have another actor tell me what to do."

"Daddy Day Camp" was directed by actor Fred Savage, who played Kevin Arnold on the TV series "The Wonder Years."

Sean, who normally enjoys spending time with his friends and playing video games, spent time with the other actors and extras while on the set during filming.

"I made a couple (of) new friends," says Sean, who will attend Lake Mead Christian Academy this fall.

For Sean, the best part of making movies is getting "to do what I like the most."

Sean's interest in acting began from watching TV.

"I would always watch TV on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon and I would say how I would want to be in the show," says Sean. "And now, I get to."

His first jobs were voice-overs for Infinity Broadcasting, his mom, Sharry, says.

"They loved him," she adds.

Since then, Sean has done voice-overs for television and radio spots, which have aired locally, nationally and internationally.

"He did some for Campbell's soup, ESPN, AOL and Herbal Life," Sharry says.

He then moved into films, with roles in "The Grand," starring Ray Romano and Cheryl Hines, and "Spanking Lessons," which won the 2007 CineVegas Nevada Short Film Jury Prize.

Sean's enthusiasm for acting was evident right from the beginning with his acting classes.

"He didn't want to miss a class, he was so excited about it," Sharry says. Both Sharry and his dad, Kevin, plan on supporting Sean in his acting career as long as he is interested in the profession.

Sharry notes that Sean enjoys acting so much that even when he is passed over for a role, he does not get discouraged.

"It's OK if he didn't get a part," Sharry says. "He believes something else is waiting around the corner for him."

Now that "Daddy Day Camp" has been released, Sean has been busy auditioning for new jobs and taking part in the recent taping of "The Larry the Cable Guy Christmas Spectacular" at the Palms. The special is scheduled to air on VH1 this fall.

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.