To watch Sam Behrens play Gregory on SUNSET BEACH, you'd think the guy didn’t know how to tell a joke - unless it was at someone else's expense. Meet Behrens in person, however, and you quickly realize he's an even finer actor than you thought. The man is that different from his nasty alter ego.

"Sam is very funny," declares co-star Lesley-Anne Down (Olivia), who should know. "I like to have fun wherever I'm working," acknowledges Behrens. Compensation for being such a soap creep? "Maybe," he replies with a grin.

Although Behrens has a bit of a cold when he sits down to lunch at the Bistro Garden in Studio City, CA, he still manages to crack jokes - often at his own expense. "I'm having such a great time on the show," he exclaims with a sniffle. "It's a constant challenge. I'm working a lot more with Lesley-Anne, and that's good."

So much for the rumored strained relationship between the two stars, who played husband and wife when BEACH premiered. "We had a little bit of protective distance [at first]," he admits. "I think we got over that and we get along just fine. I like Lesley's sense of humor and professionalism. She has a history and brings all that to her work."

Down returns the compliment. "I love working with Sam," she gushes. "I think he is wonderful and really holds the show together. Sam always delivers something interesting as far as his performance is concerned."

Behrens also enjoys sharing screen time with his current on-screen spouse, Sarah Buxton (Annie). "Sarah's a hoot," he laughs. "I think she doesn't give herself enough credit for the actress that she is - or even the actress that she could be."

And how about Behrens’ real-life wife, Shari Belafonte? "She watches the show every day. Shari, of course, thinks I'm the best part of the show, and I think she's right," the actor quips. "Sometimes she'll be on the phone with her sister, screaming across the room. Her sister will say "How could you be married to that?"

Not to worry. If her hubby behaves like Gregory, Shari's prepared. "She kick boxes and I'm afraid of her," he laughs. "Unfortunately, she thinks she can take me; that's not good." Behrens's sport is golf, but he hasn't been on the links very much of late. "I'm busy with the show," he sighs. "This work stuff gets in the way of my social life."

Behrens quickly adds that the "work stuff" at BEACH helped him. "It’s been an opportunity to really hone in on what acting is and what it should be," he observes.

In truth, Behrens has had a good idea of what acting is since making his Broadway debut as Vince in the original cast of Grease. Although the native New Yorker doesn't miss Manhattan, he loves the Big Apple. "If I went back, I probably would not miss L.A.," he says. "I have a good time where I am. When I came to L.A., it wasn't about comparing, it was about discovering what L.A. had to offer."

Which turned out to be a lot. In addition to soap stints as KNOTS LANDING's Danny and Jake on GENERAL HOSPITAL, Behrens has also worked in films, such as Alive. He'd like to do theater, and came close when BEACH producers considered doing a live episode. "What we did in preparation was to do two shows as if they were live in sequence," he explains. "It forced everybody to be prepared. They didn't have the backup of another take, so the stakes were a little higher. It was quite amazing."

Behrens isn't nervous about his show's survival. "I tend to take life as it comes," he shrugs. "I would like the show to keep going whether I'm on it or not. I want to see that show be No. 1. I want to see it gain and audience and have reasons to gain audience."

And if BEACH does bite the dust? A pragmatic Behrens responds, "It would force me to get back into the real world of looking for a job." And that's no joke.

Just The Facts