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Days of our Lives Patrick Muldoon back in the saddle as Austin again
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This was an auspicious moment for me -- my very first interview with Days of our Lives Patrick Muldoon, the actor who originated the role of Austin Reed. We had met previously, on the set of Days at the launch of the new Horton Town Square back in August, but we only spoke a few moments. I do have a video of that and I'll get that online soon, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the first thing I had to explain to Muldoon was my way of working. I type tres fast. I hate transcribing interviews. So rather than tape-recording them, and having to transcribe them at a later date, I type right into the computer as we are chatting.

He got the deal right away.

"So, I should give you sound bites instead of pontification," he giggled. Sounded good to me.

First thing I had to know. What had he been up to since leaving DOOL last time?

"It was 16 years of essentially of an artistic journey for me. I've had girlfriends in France and England. I've kind of followed my heart."

He also starred in a number of feature films – too numerous to mention, many made-for-tv movies like Turbulent Skies, Point of Entry, Ice Spiders and others.

"A lot of movies," Muldoon shared. "Some good, most forgettable. Been in a band, The Sleeping Masses, and really developed my songwriting and that's (a testament to) the big loves in my life, so I became a song writer. I jumped on the other side of the desk and learned movie producing at Eclectic Pictures. It's been kind of a Jackson Pollack painting. I've followed my heart and thrown everything at the wall and seen what sticks."

All that soul searching and finding his way has led him straight to Salem once again and he couldn't be more delighted.

"Now I come back and I am at NBC every day and it makes me very happy," he said. "The first thing I didn't' realize coming back -- that has kind of crept in -- was that when Austin was originated, there was kind of a marriage between the writers writing the fictional story and you as the actor. (The writers) watch what you bring to the story. I didn't realize how subconsciously you don't forget anything emotionally. So I have a scene with Carrie or Sami or Salem in general. It hasn't diminished at all. It's been baking for the last 16 years. I realized that I have an emotional attachment to Austin -- a stronger attachment than to any other character in my career."

Muldoon revealed that he was 23-25 years old when he originated the role of Austin. "When you are young (you are) very open. All of that has grown now that I've come back into Salem," he said. "That's a weird experience to have happen as an actor. I am in a rare circumstance. To leave someplace for 16 years and show up again and it is still really, really alive. You can go home again – even if it's a fictitious home of Salem. Also emotionally, there was much of that character that was me at that time in my life."

Muldoon went on to say that Austin's roots are the closest thing to him as a person. "It's like playing me in this fictitious place called Salem," he said. "That's great. I am loving it. That's the big surprise of going back that I didn't expect."

What would Muldoon like to see happen with Austin this go round?

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