PHOTOS
Randy Shemanski
When he's not playing David Wallce, the corporate thorn in Michael Scott's side, on
The Office, Andy Buckley is just your Average Joe, working his full-time job at a brokerage firm in Los Angeles.
Buckley will be a part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Scranton, riding in a Dunder Mifflin limo. While he won't be the only big-wig in town - Sen. Hillary Clinton, Gov. Ed Rendell, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, and others can lay claim to that title - Buckley does know how to get his party on. He grew up in the Boston area, after all.
Quick sidebar: Buckley's father, Andy Buckley Sr., went to the University of Pennsylvania with Governor Rendell. Funny how worlds seem to collide like that right here in Scranton.
Following his stint in the parade, Buckley will spend the late afternoon and early evening bar-hopping in Scranton. We're not sure he'll help you wolf down that plate of bangers and mash, but he's sure to liven up the joint wherever he goes.
Buckley took time to talk with us last week to talk about his appearance in the Scranton St. Patrick's Parade this weekend.
Have you ever been in a parade before?
God, I should've thought of funny answers. ... I haven't, but I've got a funny story about my parents.
Let's hear it.
I'm from Boston, (in a thick Boston accent) an Irish Catholic from Boston. They were in the neighboring towns and there's a picture of them when they were each 5 years old and they were in the same parade standing next to each other. They didn't know each other. My father literally married the first girl he ever saw. ... So there you go. There's my parade story.
That's a good story. The prime minister of Ireland is also going to be here, so you're not the only big name in town.
Well now with the way the elections are, probably Hillary and Obama are going to be here, too.
What's it like for you being considered almost like royalty here in Scranton?
Obviously it's a lot of fun, since nowhere else on the planet am I ... I guess I'm treated like royalty by my wife and son.
We hope you're treated like royalty at home!
Yeah, it's great, it's a blast. This is my usual day to day: I'm a guy in an office advising people on how to invest their money, how best to make sure they don't run out of money. It's fun to be like ... I joke that I'm like the keyboard player for The Rolling Stones. I'm not really in the group, but in the group. I get to be backstage.
Have you ever had green beer?
Hey, I'm from Boston, man. I'm a Celtics fan.
So it's nothing new for you.
Although it's been many years, I've lost a bit of my old Boston abilities at the bar. They've gone with my many years out in California. I'm trying to get my tolerance level back up over these couple of weeks. I'm on the two-a-day regimen -- I'm at the bar twice a day.
Are you bringing your family?
Actually, no. They don't know I'm going. No, I'm kidding (laughs). I'm going to claim I'm going down the street for some milk and come back a few days later.
Have you given any thought to what kind of float you want in the parade?
As a guest of the city, I will do as I'm told. Whatever they want me to do, I will do. I'm just happy to be part of the mayor's plan to restore in the pride.