When I auditioned for 'Animal House,' I had only done some plays at a local dinner theater in Virginia.

I finally admitted that obesity and diabetes were part of a life-threatening legacy - and I had to deal with that reality or die.

Like most severely overweight people, I had to hit a rock-hard bottom before I'd take responsibility for the consequences of neglecting my own health.

I didn't get a Bachelor's degree - I got a Bachelor's of Fine Arts, which means I didn't have to take humanities, math, and stuff like that. I think I had to take Art History, which I failed a few times.

We got some devastating reviews on Animal House at the start.

You can eat a lot more vegetables than you can cotton candy. Bring on the veggies. Stay away from the fluffy carbs.