{ "vars" : { "gtag_id": "UA-1995064-10", "config" : { "UA-1995064-10": { "groups": "default" } } } }

David Walton of ‘About a Boy’: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

  • 0 Shares

http://www.nbc.com/about-a-boy/video/the-start-of-a-beautiful-friendship/2747081

After the Olympics, About a Boy premieres on NBC. Based on the Nick Hornby novel and movie of the same name, the series tells the story of a womanizing bachelor who becomes the unlikely friend of an 11-year-old boy who moves in next door. Here’s all you need to know about the 35-year-old Boston native who has the starring role in the new show.

1. He’s Reprising Hugh Grant’s Role

Walton is taking on the role of Will, whom Hugh Grant played in the 2002 movie.

Nicholas Hoult, now Jennifer Lawrence’s boyfriend, played the boy in the movie version.

In the new show, Walton stars alongside Minnie Driver and Benjamin Stockham, who play the mother and son who move in next door to the single Will.

The new TV show has famous names behind it.
John Favreau of Iron Man serves as the show’s director. Parenthood’s writer, Jason Katims, penned the script. It will air in the 9-9:30 p.m. Tuesday time slot.

2. His Wife Is an Actress

(Getty)

Venezuelan-born Majandra Delfino is Walton’s wife. She is known for her role on Roswell. The pair married in March of 2011.
The actress has been cast in Friends with Better Lives, which premieres on March 31st.
Her fellow cast members include Kevin Connolly, Brooklyn Decker, and James Van Der Beek.

3. He Has 2 Small Children

Walton has a 1-year-old daughter, Cecilia, and a son, Louis, who is 3 months old.

4. Five of His Recent Shows Have Been Canceled

About a Boy is Walton’s sixth NBC series since his show Heist began in March of 2006. The average time his shows lasted was a mere eight episodes.

He told Cleveland.com,

How short lived are we talking? Heist got iced after just five episodes. For those of you keeping score at home, it was followed in quick succession by Quarterlife, 100 Questions, Perfect Couples and Bent.

He told the Hollywood Reporter about Bent and Perfect Couples.

I felt like those were both good shows that were carried to the two-yard line and then they were fumbled.

Walton has high hopes for this new series. He told Cleveland.com,

This felt different from the beginning. It felt different from any other show I’ve been on. This isn’t a high-concept thing. This is a very simple story about the unlikely friendship that develops between a man-child and a little boy. But the execution — the details and the little moments — are what make it stand out. We’re essentially unwittingly becoming a family, and we don’t even know it.

5. He & the ‘Boy’ Are Like Brothers


The relationship he has with 11-year-old Stockham transcends off screen.

He told Cleveland.com:

Benjamin isn’t a kid. He’s a 70-year-old trapped in an 11-year-old’s body. He’s smarter and more mature than anyone else on the set, but he’s not allowed to swear, because his mom is right there. He says ‘fudge’ a lot. We have a similar relationship off screen. He’s an only child, so we tease each other lovingly a lot and I’m like the older brother.

Stockham returned the sentiment. He told HollywoodLife about the adults he works with:

Minnie’s really nice. We have a lot of our scenes together, but I’m also really looking forward to working with David [who plays Will.] We had a lot of fun in the pilot, so I think the rest of the season is going to be like that.

0 Comments

Now Test Your Knowledge

Read more

More Entertainment News

Meet David Walton. The 35-year-old Boston native plays Will in the About a Boy series that is premiering after the Olympics on NBC.