By Amy Miranda, Allyson Frisina and Tamara Brown. Kidsday Staff Reporters

We interviewed 12-year-old David Gallagher, who stars as Simon Camden in the Warner Brothers Network TV show, "7th Heaven." He also played the son of John Travolta and Kirstie Alley in the movie "Look Who's Talking Now." Before moving to California he attended Holy Trinity School in College Point, Queens.

Q. When did you find out you could act?
A. When I was 18 months old, my mom answered an ad in the newspaper. I got that part. The person there recommended that I get a manager. From there I just keep going. When I was 4, I did a Tyson food commercial. It was so funny. I had to eat a burger. After the first take they asked that I spit it out. I didn't want to, I wanted to eat it. They made my mom tell me that I couldn't eat it because they intended to make me do the scene at least 20 times. I still remember that.

Q. How did you get the part of Simon?
A. They have an open audition and every kid in the business turns out for it. For the second call they narrow it down. I meet producer Aaron Spelling and a few of the cast directors. The third call is the final call. There were three other boys.

Q. Is Simon anything like you in real life?
A. Simon is very single-minded and relentless. If he wants something and his parents won't get it for him, he will get it for himself. I will go a long way before I give up on something.

Q. Are you happy about the plot of the show?
A. I am very happy about the plot of the show. A lot of shows like "Home Improvement" are there just to make you laugh, and I do watch that show. But "7th Heaven" is actually there for a purpose. The story line is about family values and what a family should be like.

Q. Do you enjoy reading, writing or acting?
A. I love to read novels. I recently have read "Jurassic Park" and "Secret Garden." As for writing it depends on what I am writing. If I am writing my own creative writing stores, I like it.

Q. Do you have a favorite author?
A. I love R.L. Stine. He is a great author; he keeps his stories alive; every chapter ends with a surprise. I read his "Fear Street" and "Goosebumps series." I was going to write a creative story and send it to Scholastic.

Q. Who do you look up to as an acting role model?
A. Clint Eastwood. He writes, directs, produces and stars in them, too. I want to do that, too.

Q. Is it hard to learn lines?
A. No, we don't learn the whole episode at once. If that was the case, it would be hard. One scene is 4 1/2 pages, and we learn scenes, one at the time.

Q. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
A. Australia. I really would like to learn more about animals, and animals in Australia are very interesting. Q. Do you have a pet in real life?
A. Yes, I have lots of pets. I have a rottweiler named Nomad, a turtle named Freddie, a fish named Redrum - it's for murder spelled backwards because he killed all of the other fish in the tank - two cats, named Mouser Mandy.

Q. Do you play a musical instrument?
A. I started to learn the recorder, but now I am picking up the acoustic guitar.

Q. What are your hobbies?
A. I collect things. I love my action figures toy collection. I have all of the Ninja turtles and almost all of the Batman collection.

Q. Who do you hang out with on the set?
A. We have a basketball court on the set. Barry Watson (Matt) and I play basketball sometimes.

Q. What do you do with all your money?
A. I have a seven year contact and I get paid by the episode. The money I earn goes into a trust, and I can't get it until I am 18.

Write to him c/o WB TV Network, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91522.

Attention Kidsday readers ages 16 and younger! You can win a "7th Heaven" T-shirt (size adult large) autographed by David Gallagher! To enter send your name, age,address and phone nuber to: David Gallagher Contest, Kidsday, Newsday, 235 PinelawnRd., Melville, N.Y. 11747-4250. One winner will be randomly selected on April 15, 1997.

Copyright 1997, Newsday Inc.

Amy Miranda, Allyson Frisina, Tamara Brown, KIDSDAY / TALKING WITH David Gallagher., Newsday, 03-30-1997, pp 01.

Site Last Updated Monday, 30-Jun-2008 21:54:03 CDT
Page Layout and Design ©1996-2006 Astralight Productions
All Photos, Videos, and Sound Clips TM & C)1996-2005 Warner Bros.
Provided for Entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.
This site is no way affiliated with the WB Network and/or Aaron Spelling or North Shore Productions
Comments to info@7thheavenhaven.com