Hockey Player Shoots for His Hollywood Goal

As any casting director will attest, the acting bug is indiscriminate. Case in point: New Jersey Devil rookie Mike Jefferson and his dream of portraying a teenage Austin Powers.

Early Saturday morning, the 20-year-old Toronto-born hockey player was among 500 actors and aspiring actors crowding the lobby of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for the open casting call for “Austin Powers in Goldmember” due out next summer.

The script depicts Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, Number Two and Basil as high school seniors. So for the last two months, New Line Cinema’s casting folks have been scouting the U.S., Canada and England for young men who resemble Mike Myers, Rob Lowe and Michael York--the actors who originated the characters in the first two movies. Shooting starts next month.

In his tight black T-shirt, his hair slicked back, Jefferson stood apart from the crowd of velvet suits, Edwardian lace cuffs and awkward Cockney accents. (Also milling in the lobby: Catholic priests in town for an annual conference.)

Nearby, professional Powers impersonator Jon Michael Jacobs, 23, wiped his brow and waited for word on his audition. Dressed in full Carnaby Street regalia, including the bad teeth, Jacobs tried to keep his spirits up. He said he’d been up all night preparing head shots and a resume, then left his San Diego home at dawn to drive to Hollywood. “When they didn’t know what to say or how to react,” he said of the casting people, “I think that was a compliment.”

Jefferson, better looking than the average hockey player, seemed a better candidate for Lowe’s Number Two than the rump-shaking Brit. “I’m willing to do anything,” Jefferson said. “That’s the way I am on the ice and that’s the way I am off the ice. Whatever it takes.”

Jefferson said his teammates didn’t even know he was going out for the part. A month ago, he got checked during a game against the New York Rangers and has been recovering from an abdominal injury. Doctors ordered him to rest for two months, so Jefferson took the opportunity to pursue his dream to act.

On Saturday afternoon, he was asked back for a second audition. “If I get the part,” he vowed, “they have my full-time commitment toward any role they want me to play.”

‘KISS and Makeup’

KISS’ lead demon Gene Simmons has written his life story. “KISS and Makeup” isn’t due out from Random House until Dec. 11, but the 52-year-old rock star gave us an earful Saturday. He claims he has never been intoxicated, doesn’t believe in marriage, cherishes merchandising and loves to brag about his long tongue and his 4,600 sexual liaisons. “I took photos,” he said. “I’d be happy to show them to you.”

The Israeli-born rocker also had some strong words for the Taliban, most of which we cannot print here. “They cover up women when all we want to do is uncover them. They got it all backwards.” He does however agree with the Bush Administration’s war tactics. “I think America is finally doing business the Israeli way.... You lob a grenade at us, we send our tanks across your border.”

Back in the Saddle

Garth Brooks told the world last year he was going to hang up his spurs and ride off into the music industry sunset to spend time with his family. That didn’t last long.

Brooks, who has sold more albums than any other solo artist in history, will be back Nov. 13 with a new disc called “Scarecrow” (named after the “Wizard of Oz” character who was in search of a brain). The music has been kept under wraps. But last Friday, a small group of friends and associates got a sneak listen at the landmark Capitol Records tower in Hollywood. Jay Leno, music producer Don Was and many of Brooks’ longtime employees were among those invited to the cowboy singer’s preview. According to our source, the music is a return to Brooks’ country roots.

Sightings:

George Clooney enjoying the attention of two exotic dancers at the 4 Play in Westwood recently.... Spotted at the L.A. Opera’s “La Traviata” last Thursday: Robert Graham, Anjelica Huston and Gil Garcetti....Beck and Minnie Driver, separately, taking in the Strokes show at the Palace in Hollywood.