Not evenThe NotebookstarJames Marsdenthought the 2004 film would go on to be the most iconic romance movie of a generation.
“We had hoped that it was going to be a touching romance movie, but we did not see how iconic of a movie that would become,” Marsden, 48, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “No one anticipated that. And I feel really proud to be a part of it.”
Fans still come up to the actor to comment on his role as Allie’s jilted fiancé Lon Hammond. “That’s a movie that I still get talked about to this day, when people pass down the street saying, ‘I’m Team Lon,'” Marsden says. “I hear quite a bit.”
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Today Marsden brings the love in a family-friendly film,Sonic the Hedgehog 2, in which he plays the speedy animal’s father figure Tom.
Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America
Raising sons Jack, 21, and William, 9, and daughter Mary, 16, gave him that off-screen parenting experience.
“Each kid is just so different,” Marsden says. “They have their own personalities and you find yourself parenting in slightly different ways for each one — same principles, but each one requires their own specific type of care. There’s no real handbook for how to do it.”
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His oldest son Jack ended up following Marsden into show business and has released his own music.
“He’s trying to figure out where he is in the world,” theDead to Mestarsays. “He’s got that creative gene. He was never that interested in the acting thing. It was always music. You have to allow your kids to blossom at their own pace, in their own time, and along the way provide guardrails to keep them safe place and allow them to make mistakes. That’s how you learn.”
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Now, his youngest child, who Marsden shares with ex-girlfriend Rose Costa, “is obsessed with Sonic,” the four-time Emmy nominee says. “He dresses like him. He wears the red shoes to school. He’s super proud of me. So that has been amazing to share the experience with him.”
Despite Marsden’sSoniccostarJim Carrey saying he plans to step backfrom acting, the Oklahoma native hopes to stick with the franchise. “I’d love to keep doing these,” Marsden says. “It has been a fun ride.”
He feels that way about his nearly 30-year Hollywood career as well.
“I’ve been really fortunate to look back after almost 29 years now and see this really interesting, colorful mosaic of projects that I’ve done over the years,” the father of three says. “I don’t do one specific thing, and that’s exciting to me. If you lead with your heart or what makes you feel passionate about something, you’re lucky.”
Sonic the Hedgehog 2hits theaters Friday.
source: people.com
