Let it be said that the odds of finding offshore oil south of the Toronto Islands is greater than securing an interview with Randy Hughson these days.

It’s not that the actor has a nasty disposition towards media types or even finds himself short on words with respect to his work or theatre in general.

But when you’re one of the city’s hardest working actors, you don’t tend to stay in one place for long.

While audiences in Vancouver, Calgary, and Manitoba are almost as familiar with his work as audiences in Toronto, the city he calls home, you’ll find him playing Nate in Jacob Richmond’s hallucinogenic comedy Small Returns on stage this month at Theatre Passe Muraille.

The character, a beatnik draft dodging Marxist turned debt collector, is misguided, edgy, and endearing—the way only Randy Hughson can personify.

Underneath the haste and ruggedness of the roles he always seems to land in these parts, playgoers are astonished to learn that Randy Hughson, like the rest of us, has been unjustly turfed from the workplace, despises the aging process, and at one point in his life stared death in the face.

What was your nickname in high school?
They would call me ‘Tex.’ As in Houston, Texas. It was because I was Hughson, not Houston. My best friend, Minnie gave it to me.

It went away in university and then I became ‘Hugh.’

Did you play sports as a kid?
I played a lot of hockey, 16 years to be exact. It was hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the summer.

What posters did you have on your bedroom?
I had an Iron Maiden poster.

I also had a poster from the National Arts Centre. It was Peter Schaffer’s Equis. It was one of the first professional theatre shows I ever saw when I was a young kid. I ripped it off the wall of the National Arts Centre and smuggled it back to Kingston.

What was your first concert?
It was Rush at The Memorial Centre in Kingston.

Even though I knew the venue could only hold about 3,000 or less I thought it was the biggest congregation of people that I’ve ever seen in my life. And I remember being overwhelmed by the lights, the sound, the explosions, and everything else.

What did you want to be growing up? I wanted to be a geologist because my cousin was one.

And I was a real rock hound. Everywhere we went, family camping trips, I always had my head in the dirt digging and walking the beach collecting rock and minerals and various things. I use to label them and shelf them behind glass.

I also fancied being a hockey player. And if I couldn’t have been either of those things I would have liked being a musician.

Who were your childhood heroes?
I’d have to say my dad.

He’s always been an inspiration, someone who sticks to their guns and had a strong work ethic.

He was always loyal man. A very generous kind soul.

How old were you when you had your first kiss and what do you remember about it?
I was 8. It was in a field that is now neighbourhood, a block of houses. The field was two blocks of west of our house.

I’ll never forget her name—Eve Fuller.

I remember almost passing out from the head rush of ‘oh my god, that’s what it is.’ So it was a mixture of disappointment and euphoria.

What do you remember about the first time getting drunk?
It was at our family cottage and we snuck out for a bit.

I remember my friend puking over my shoulder. We were drinking Carlsberg—before my years!

Who was the first person you were sexually attracted to?
It was Catwoman from the old Batman TV Series.

I can’t remember her name but I just remember that tight leather suit.

Were your parents strict?
They were strict but never overly so. And always within in reasonable limits, I would say.

What is the best advice your parents ever gave you?
‘Do what you want to do, be happy,’ was my mother’s advice.

What was the first job you ever had?
I was an Usher at a movie theatre in Kingston.

Have you ever been fired from a job?
I got fired as an Usher about 6 months after got it.

The manager who hired me was a real prick. I got fired for the most ridiculous reason but I wasn’t so upset because I stuff he never knew I did I should have been fired for. I let a lot of people in to see Star Wars.

But there were the back two rows; there must have been 30 of them. There had been complaints that these people were drinking beer and rolling the bottles down the aisle of the theatre.

The manager made me go in and get the bottles. I was to explain there was no drinking allowed or they would have to leave. I went in with my flashlight, my Famous Players blue jacket, and bow tie.

These were like hardcore Hell’s Angels biker dudes and I’m 15. I didn’t even get my sentence out before somebody grabbed the flashlight out of my hand, and thrust it back at me.

I came back into the lobby and the manager was standing there with his arms folded. I tried to explain, ‘It’s only me and there are 30 bikers in there…’. He sends me back in and I’m shaking. I told them ‘I’m going to get fired if you don’t give me an empty bottle…’ and he just freaked out at me.

Back into the lobby I went again. The manager forced me to go back a third time. At this point I was grabbed by the scruff of my shirt by one of the bikers who warned me if I came back again I’d end up 6 feet under kind of thing.

So I go back into the lobby and all I see is the manager’s finger pointing at his office door and I knew that was it. I walk into the office and he says, ‘Hand it your bow tie.’ And that was the end of it.

What is the hardest thing about being a man?
It’s getting older. I hate getting older, I want to stay youthful.

As I’m getting older I’ve noticed that things are getting a little creaky and it’s just not as easy to move as it was.

When did you realize that you'd grown up?
I realized that late in life, 25 I’d say. I was doing a play in Saskatoon doing a play there.

After a wild couple of weeks of drinking and partying, it was a Sunday when we had the day off. I remember driving out and looking over the prairies thinking that I could continue this lifestyle or get my sh*t together and start behaving more like a man.

That was a defining moment.

What did you believe in at 18 that you wish you believed in now?
I wish I believed in myself more.

I guess it’s very difficult to know what about who you are and what you want. Time and experience and friends define you. At 18, I was still very much a kid.

I still have a lot of growing up to do and I’m looking forward to it. So it’s the sense of who and what I am and also what I’m not.

What have you done that you will never do again?
I’ll never eat liver.

What’s your idea of a good meal?
It’s the company for me. There’s nothing better than some good friends at the table.

A few nice bottles of red wine. A nice, juicy fillet mignon. Or surf and turf lobster.

What is the scariest thing that ever happened to you?
I’m an avid scuba diver. I was in Mexico diving south of Puerto Viarta with this hotshot guide diver. They take a lot more risk down there that I was accustomed to.

We were down 90 feet along a sea wall. He reached his hand into a 6-inch hole and gestured me to come closer. Then all the sudden, he pulled out quickly and thrust this squid, which wrapped its tentacles around my arm, my mask, and regulator.

I could see he was killing himself with laughter and I was in such in an extreme panic.

And then the squid inked me. I remember being completely disoriented and thinking ‘This is it, I’m done.’ And I could feel myself sinking lower.

And then I felt something grab my shoulder. And this guide had yanked the squid from by body.

But that was when I was the most scared, for sure.

If somebody made a movie about your life, whom would you want to play you?
Sean Penn. I’ve love his work.

I think there’s certain intensity, a full commitment to the work. Of complete and total embodiment of a character in a performance. That’s the way I like to approach my work as well.

I admire people who are fearless in their approach to the work and risk failing. The chance of success is so much better.