Dishing With Dylan - The WLS Interview, Part Two

In Part One of our interview, Emmy nominated actor Dylan Patton shared memories of starting on DAYS, adjusting to workload, and lessons learned from his TV mom Alison Sweeney.  In the second part below, he discusses being fired from DAYS, and then getting nominated for an Emmy!

We Love Soaps: Fast forwarding to the event where we met, it was the first time fans had flooded you with that level of attention.  What was that like?
Dylan Patton: I don’t even know how to explain it.  It was overwhelming.  That’s part of the whole experience, I guess.  I’m comfortable with it, but it’s easy for people to make you feel uncomfortable.

We Love Soaps: How did that happen?
Dylan Patton: [Pause] Fans can be really aggressive.  Forward.  Because they see you everyday on their TV, they feel they know you.  But you don’t know any of them.  It’s a little nerve-wracking.  But it’s cool at the same time, all these people are coming out to see you.  So you can look at it from both angles. 

We Love Soaps: Coming up ahead, there are some very exciting events.  Congratulations on your Emmy nomination!  What scenes did you submit for that?
Dylan Patton: I did the scene where I’m in the hospital after my baby sister Grace died.  My grandma Kate walks in, sees me standing there where Grace had died in the hospital.  She comes in, sees me standing there, and I just break down.  You had never seen Will cry before that.  He’s sad about the whole thing, but there he snaps.  The other one I sent was Will on the pier.  I’m in an argument with Rafe, and I kind of say something mean to him, tear up, and walk away. 

We Love Soaps: With all that powerful work one has to wonder why they let you go.  In your mind, why did they let you go?
Dylan Patton: I honestly don’t know.  At first I was in shock.  It took awhile to wear off.  At first I thought whatever, I wasn’t too worried about it.  Then after a week I thought, “This is weird.”  I thought it was going to be okay, and I was going to get on something else.  But nothing happened. 

We Love Soaps: Looking back on it, did you have any warning that you were going to be fired?
Dylan Patton: No, not at all. 

We Love Soaps: Did they ever give you a reason?
Dylan Patton: No. 

We Love Soaps: So now having an Emmy nomination, do you feel vindicated?
Dylan Patton: A little bit.  How could it not be? I’m just wondering if NBC is kicking themselves.  I’m not sure. 

We Love Soaps: And another exciting event coming up for you is turning 18! What does that mean to you?
Dylan Patton: One, I can go skydiving.  I’m not sure if it’s at 18, but maybe I can go on a cruise.  I’ll be an adult.

We Love Soaps: I think work wise this opens up opportunities for you.
Dylan Patton: Before I could work adult hours, but now legally they can do riskier scenes.

We Love Soaps: Right.  The next time you’re in a hot tub with Donna Mills it will go further.
Dylan Patton: That will probably be the case. 

We Love Soaps: Is there anyone special you are involved with?
Dylan Patton: Oh yeah.  I have a girlfriend I’ve had for awhile now.  Nine months now.  I’m taking her to Las Vegas with me for the Emmys.   We’re going to get all dressed up, and look nice.  We’re going to be spending the next month getting ready for this whole thing. 

We Love Soaps: What do you want to have happen in your future?
Dylan Patton: If I win the Emmy that would be amazing. And then hopefully someone will come to their senses and hire me [laughs]. 

We Love Soaps: Do you ever think about other kinds of work, or is acting just it?
Dylan Patton: Acting has always been there, it’s what everything has revolved around.  But there are other things I would love to do.  I’m into snow boarding, dirt biking.  If I could have a house somewhere where I could snowboard, that would be great. 

We Love Soaps: Do want to go to college?
Dylan Patton: Definitely.  If I wanted to do something really difficult, I would go to a Junior College, do well there, and then go to a four-year college. 

We Love Soaps: If you could go back to the beginning of your acting career and give yourself one piece of advice, what would that be?
Dylan Patton: Know your lines!

We Love Soaps: Given that you have seen some career highs and lows in recent months,  is there anything you would have done differently?
Dylan Patton: No. I would have done everything the same.   

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist seeing individuals and couples in New York City at Mental Health Counseling & Marriage And Family Therapy Of New York.   He is also the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve.