School Spirits’ Josh Zuckerman Once Played Young Dr. Evil And The Casting Was Spot On

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Written By Kristen Maldonado

We know him as the suspicious Mr. Martin from School Spirits, but, almost 25 years ago, Josh Zuckerman played a young version of one of pop culture's most iconic villains: Dr. Evil. Even now viewers are impressed by just how spot on all the casting choices were for these characters in the flashback sequences to their school days. During the press junket for School Spirits season 3, Pop Culture Planet’s Kristen Maldonado spoke with Zuckerman about taking on the role for Austin Powers In Goldmember.

“It was a real honor,” Zuckerman reflected. “I was a fan of the first two movies, so it was a real thrill. I remember there was a lot of auditions to get that role.”

“There's so many stories to tell from there, but one of the funniest things is the reason I even got an audition to play young Dr. Evil,” he laughed. “I had done an episode of West Wing and [Jeannie McCarthy] was watching West Wing and I guess she saw my profile. She said she was doing something else, but she happened to look at the TV. She saw my profile and thought, ‘Oh, Dr. Evil,’ of which I still to this day take offense at. But it got me the audition and maybe was probably part of how I got the role."

Meanwhile on School Spirits, Zuckerman’s character Mr. Martin is at the center of something sinister happening at Split River High. “I can tell you that everything that came before is very important. Even things you might not think are that important, little details, they all come out to play in the third season and in a really satisfying way,” he explained. “As much as I think a lot of people said that in the second season, the show broke open the world a little bit more with the scars and understanding what those meant, it's broken open even more in a way that feels earned. It feels like a natural progression.”

Viewers can watch Zuckerman in new episodes of School Spirits season 3 steaming on Paramount+, or revisit his early performance as young Dr. Evil in Austin Powers In Goldmember on Prime Video.

Kristen Maldonado

Kristen Maldonado is an entertainment journalist, critic, and on-camera host. She is the founder of the outlet Pop Culture Planet and hosts its inclusion-focused video podcast of the same name. You can find her binge-watching your next favorite TV show, interviewing talent, and championing representation in all forms. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, a member of the Critics Choice Association, Latino Entertainment Journalists Association, and the Television Academy, and a 2x Shorty Award winner. She's also been featured on New York Live, NY1, The List TV, Den of Geek, Good Morning America, Insider, MTV, and Glamour.

http://www.youtube.com/kaymaldo
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