Chicago area native Colin Egglesfield runs for a cause

Posted by Molly Each on 05 Oct 2012

The movie and television star comes home to tackle the Chicago Marathon

Google the name “Colin Egglesfield” and along with his IMDB page, US Weekly articles and interview clips from talk shows you’ll also find fan sites, photo galleries and Egglesfield’s own social media pages, all with comments from fans offering everything from marriage proposals to a leg massage after he runs the Chicago Marathon.

“It’s flattering,” laughs Egglesfield. “But it can sometimes get crazy when people are describing our honeymoon in detail. But I just try to keep my head down and let my work speak for itself.”

You could say his humility and work ethic are a result of his Illinois upbringing: Egglesfield grew up in Crete, a small suburb 35 minutes south of Chicago. He now resides in Los Angeles, but returns home this month to run the marathon. Though this will be his fifth time tackling the daunting 26.2 mile race, this year’s stint stands out from the rest: He’s running with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training to raise money for cancer research.

“A family member of mine was diagnosed with lymphoma, and the treatment they’re getting wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the work that Team in Training does,” he says. “I want to support them.”

Egglesfield’s path to stardom is like a plot from a movie. He took time off to travel after graduating from the University of Iowa in 1996. But unlike other post-collegiate globe-trotters, he wound up connecting with a modeling agency and suddenly he was walking runways in Milan and Paris for the likes of Versace and Calvin Klein. Tempted by acting, he took classes and fell in love, despite a natural shyness. “I felt like it was a way to be creative and express who I am,” he says.

Since making the leap to acting he’s worked in everything from action-adventure flicks to roles on “All My Children” and the new “Melrose Place.” But it was his role in the 2011 movie “Something Borrowed” that caught the eyes — and hearts — of moviegoers. As Dex, he was trapped in a love triangle between Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, and his character didn’t always make the right decisions. “It was tricky to show his struggle in a way where people could identify with it rather than just writing him off as a jerk. But that’s what I like about acting.”

Egglesfield with Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson in “Something Borrowed”

Egglesfield currently does double-duty on TV as Angie Harmon’s younger brother on “Rizzoli and Isles” and Jennifer Love Hewitt’s brother-in-law on “The Client List.” He’s also starring alongside Andy Garcia, Juliette Lewis and Camilla Belle in the upcoming independent movie “Open Road.” But while his work schedule is packed these days, it didn’t begin that way. “There were days when I was on the last $10 in my account and I was freaking out about paying rent or buying groceries. Then you book a commercial, and you’re good for another three months. I’ve almost quit this business three or four times,” he says, adding that his family never let him.

So now that he’s made it, he’s brought them along for the ride. His mom, dad, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, sister-in-law and brother-in-law came out to Hollywood for the “Something Borrowed” premiere, walking alongside Egglesfield on the red carpet, and he brings them to visit his sets when they’re in town.

Egglesfield and his family at the “Something Borrowed” premiere

As for his relationship status? “I’ve been struggling so long with my career that I haven’t been in a position to invite a woman into my life. It would have been like, hey, come live with me and my two roommates and let’s make ramen noodles tonight,” he says. “But I’m finally in a position in my life where I can take a woman out on a real date. So I’m dating right now, and it’s good.”

His star may be on the rise, but amid the cameras, red carpets and marriage proposals, Egglesfield is holding tight to his Midwestern roots. “As exciting as it can be out here, I consider myself blessed and fortunate to come from where I come from. There’s a high value on principles, and that’s something I’ll always take with me.”

A look at Egglesfield’s race-day plan
Before: After carbo-loading the night before with spaghetti Bolognese and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream (“The best thing about running is that you can eat a lot and still feel OK,” he says), he’ll power up the morning of the race with a bagel with peanut butter, a banana and a power bar.

Egglesfield carbo-loads with chocolate chip cookie dough.

During: Egglesfield packs his pockets with gels and salt capsules (which replenish the sodium, potassium and magnesium that are sweat out while running) to keep him fueled to the last excruciating mile. During the race, he stays fired up with play lists and podcasts of club and house music, but it’s the crowd that really gives him much-needed bursts of energy. “The excitement and support and everyone cheering — it really keeps you going.”

After: First, he’ll hit the post-race party area for water, Gatorade, energy bars and other immediate sustenance. Then after a quick nap, he’ll dig into a cheeseburger and a few beers while watching the Bears battle the Jacksonville Jaguars (3:05 p.m. on Fox). Then it’s an all-out celebration at Stanley’s Kitchen and Tap, Egglesfield’s favorite local watering hole, for live-band karaoke.