By William Loeffler

Published: Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 9:30 p.m.
Updated: Friday, November 23, 2012

Actor Ron Marnich was a stand-in for Robert Downey Jr. in “Wonder Boys,” the film adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel that was shot here. Marnich of McKees Rocks also appeared in the low-budget drama “Pain Within,” in which he plays an adult who was abused as a child.

Marnich has his biggest role to date as a young Jimmy Beaumont in “Since I Don't Have You,” which has its Pittsburgh premiere next month.

The film was written and co-directed by Gavin Rapp of Aspinwall. Rapp's mother, Janet Vogel, sang with Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners. Their 1958 hit, “Since I Don't Have You,” charted nationally and brought the group instant fame. Rapp was 13 when his mother committed suicide.

The film is a retelling of Vogel's life, seen through the eyes of her young son. It will have a limited public screening Oct. 25 at SouthSide Works. Tickets can be purchased at wintermorningpictures.com.

The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:

Gary Oldman, because I like the way he delves into a role.

Pick one:

A. Go Gos

B. Goo-Goo Dolls

C. Lady Gaga

D. Yo Gabba Gabba

A: Love the Go Gos

The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:

My blue Garelli Moped

I never travel without my:

Garmin

The superpower I wish I had in real life and why:

Speed travel at the click of my fingers ... because I don't like waiting to get somewhere.

App I wish I could invent:

A protective force field/shield

Favorite brunch food:

Eggs Benedict

My favorite reality show:

I'm not into anybody else's reality.

TV marathon I could watch all day and why:

“Seinfield,” because they are so funny and cleverly written

Pick one:

A. Pirates

B. Penguins

C. Steelers

D. Other

E. I hate sports

B: Penguins. Love the sport

My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:

Mario Lemieux

The oldest thing in my refrigerator is:

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Favorite lunchtime spot:

Mario's in Beaver

Top thing on my “Bucket List”:

Go snow skiing out West

In five years, I'd like to:

Be the new host of “Wheel of Fortune”

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh is:

How beautiful it looks at night

I'm deathly afraid of:

Snakes

Three people I'd love to have dinner with:

Jesus, Ronald Reagan, Mother Teresa

My favorite sandwich, plus fixings:

Rowdy's Buffalo Chicken

One word my mother would use to describe me:

Active

When I was 10, I wanted to be:

A pro baseball player

If I was auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be:

“Hallelujah”

The first band I saw in concert (when and where):

The Commodores, with Luther Vandross as opening act, at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh

The best concert I've ever seen:

Neil Diamond

Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:

Mt. Washington

Favorite guilty pleasure:

Bryer's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream

Saturday mornings, you'll find me:

If I'm lucky, sleeping in — then, making my famous omelets

Best new gadget I've tried recently:

My iPod Nano

In high school, I was:

A pretty darn good baseball player

The most famous person I ever became friends with:

Robert Downey Jr., but only for a brief time while on the set of “Wonder Boys”

My most treasured fashion accessory is:

My wedding ring

What you'll always find in my glove compartment:

A pocket knife and flashlight

If I wasn't an actor, I'd be:

A pilot

The last book I read:

“The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn

My favorite Pittsburgh pizza:

Pascarellis in McKees Rocks

Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:

“The Terminator”

My childhood nickname was:

Ronski

The movie that always makes me cry:

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles”

My favorite “bad” movie is:

“Dumb and Dumber”

My first job:

Paperboy

My worst job:

Dishwasher

My favorite cable channel:

History

The song that always gets me out on the dance floor:

“OMG” by Usher

Life would be better without:

People being able to harm each other

People would be surprised to know that I:

Have a degree in guidance counseling, but never used it

My most embarrassing junk food:

HoHo's

1. Steelers notebook: Gilbert hopes to stay on left side of O-line
2. Pirates beat Cubs, 4-2, to finish homestand with sweep
3. Penguins notebook: Bylsma likes response to adversity
4. Pens will unveil even bigger TV screen for fans in Game 5
5. Whitehall couple sues Pittsburgh zoo over son’s mauling by painted dogs
6. Neal, Iginla get back on track to lead Penguins
7. Steelers veteran outside linebacker Woodley: ‘I’m good to go’
8. Greensburg Salem rides out the storm to defeat West Allegheny
9. Pirates notebook: Melancon relishes rare save opportunity
10. Steelers notebook: Slimmed-down Redman optimistic for 2013
11. NYC man abducted, burned with acid

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