It wasn't until Alfredo Narciso nearly flunked out of UW-Eau Claire that he dedicated himself to acting.

"Ironically, it was part of the reason I was suspended," Narciso, 36, said during a telephone interview from New York. "I was spending more time doing plays and reading them than doing my homework."

Narciso would return to graduate from UW-Eau Claire. He also would fulfill his dream of becoming an actor.

Narciso, who was born to a Brazilian mother and a Philippine father, has performed in many regional and off-Broadway plays. In 2005, he was cast in "A Street Car Named Desire" at the famous Broadway theater Studio 54. He also has appeared in TV series "Ugly Betty," "All My Children" and "Law & Order."

"When I see him on TV or in a play, I still enjoy watching him as much as I enjoyed watching him in his first play more than 25 years ago," said his mother, Christina, of Eau Claire. "At that time I never thought he would become an actor. I feel very proud of him."

After Narciso was suspended academically from UW-Eau Claire, his dad had an anesthesiology conference in New York City. He invited his son to come along.

"I went, and he took me to a couple of shows," Narciso said. "One of which was ‘Oleanna' by David Mamet. We were both astounded by the power of the play and spoke for hours about it afterwards. That was when I realized that theater had the tremendous effect of creating discourse and, eventually, the possibility of change. And that was when I knew that I was going to pursue being an actor."

After that trip Narciso enrolled in summer courses at UW-Eau Claire. He aced his classes and was readmitted. He changed his major from English to theater.

"The following year, I ended up playing the part of the professor in ‘Oleanna' at UW-EC, and my dad was in the audience watching me," said Narciso, who graduated in 1997. "That was a profound moment. My dad had turned my life around through his generosity. He never treated me like a failure when I was suspended. He, instead, quietly encouraged me, and I'll never forget that - quiet encouragement."

When Narciso was 27, his father passed away. While his father was in a coma, Narciso read to him "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway.

"I would read to him because it was like I was talking to him," Narciso said. "He always wanted to retire in the Philippines by the sea. So the book seemed fitting."

Growing up the middle child with two sisters, Narciso was always in character. His mother remembers him emulating Indiana Jones and Han Solo.

"When he played Indiana Jones, he had a bag that he would carry around everywhere he went," Christina said.

Narciso acted in plays at Lowes Creek School, South Middle School and Memorial High School. His first serious role was in 10th grade when he played a Russian spy in "See How They Run."

"When I got my script, the guy who had played it before me had written the words ‘I quit' on it," he said. "I still have it, I guess as a reminder that you can't quit, especially in this business. It is about perseverance."

Narciso is also a musician. He plays the guitar and writes music, some of which has been included in his plays.

As an actor he said he would like to be someone people would recognize but not necessarily know his name.

"I don't want to be like a Tom Cruise," he said. "I want people to recognize my work and yet have my anonymity."

Narciso said he misses cheese curds and Leinenkugel's, and he still follows Packers games. Even though he lives in New York, his heart always will be in Eau Claire, he said.

"I may not seem from Wisconsin, but that's where I'm from," Narciso said. "I miss its people. Eau Claire is a beautiful city. It's so clean and fresh, and although my work is here in New York, I miss Eau Claire terribly. My soul is deeply rooted in Eau Claire."