TORONTO — Actor Damon Runyan admits he wasn’t always sure it was a great idea to take the lead role in Gangland Undercover, a new fact-based series debuting March 2 on History.
It’s the story of Charles Falco, the only man to have successfully infiltrated three of the world’s biggest and most dangerous biker gangs — the Vagos, Mongols and Outlaws. He is credited with enabling authorities to make 62 arrests for serious crimes, including murder.
“I called my agent and asked what type of protection we are going to have shooting this show,” Runyan told Global News.
Runyan isn’t as worried now. “I mean, we don’t really look alike. It is a good thing… especially for me.”
The Canadian actor has appeared in a long list of made-in-Toronto shows, including Lost Girl and Covert Affairs, and is familiar to at least one demographic as Coach Carson on Degrassi.
Runyan said there are specific challenges to playing a real person.
“You have to honour the life that they lived,” he explained, “and finding the mannerisms and the psychological structure of the character is important, as opposed to playing a fictional character where you can bring whatever fantasy you want to it.
“It’s a little more research and the tricky thing is finding yourself as that person. I find it harder.”
Also starring in Gangland Undercover is veteran Toronto actor Paulino Nunes, whose character Schizo is an amalgam of people Falco encountered.
Nunes said at some filming locations the actors were cautioned not to wear their gang vests “because we used the name Vagos.”
While working in the Phoenix area, the production was guarded by members of a real motorcycle club.
Added Runyan: “That was the joke on set. It said at the top of the call sheet every day ‘Absolutely no social media. Absolutely no photographs.’ We’re like, ‘what about the guns and knives?'”
Both Runyan and Nunes said making Gangland Undercover opened their eyes about motorcycle gangs.
“The day-to-day is not about being bad. They carry that persona but these guys all have day jobs,” explained Runyan.
“And they don’t think of themselves as being bad,” Nunes added. “They don’t think of themselves as doing bad things. They do what is necessary. They don’t go out of their way to go beat on people in the street.
Runyan agreed. “They take issues with things that matter to them. I respect that, in the sense that in our day to day lives we don’t really stand up for much. We let other people stand up for us. These guys actually stand up for what they believe in, whether it’s good or bad.”
BELOW: Watch Damon Runyan and Paulino Nunes on Global’s The Morning Show
Both stars said the gangs are true brotherhoods.
“There’s a structure to it, there’s a line of respect and you sort of know your place and you can work your way up through that structure,” said Runyan. “It’s all based on hanging out together and these guys hang out 24/7. That’s not something that you see often.”
Nunes said an analogous bonding of actors happened during the five-month shoot.
“That was really great and it absolutely translates on screen when you see the relationships,” he explained. “They’re not bound just by what was written but they’re also enhanced by personal relationships that we had and there’s all kind of subtleties and nuances and things that developed.”
Nunes said he also developed profound respect for Falco.
“When he’s trying to get into the gang as a prospect he’s basically an indentured servant on call 24/7 and he will go for 30-40 hours without sleeping,” he said.
“He’s got to work on his own job, make a living and be available for these guys. And sometimes what they make him do is physically and emotionally exhausting. The endurance that he had to have just to survive that amount of time and to not only survive that situation but also to still be on your toes enough that you don’t slip up or give it away.”
Runyan said the threat of violence is omnipresent in a gang but Falco quickly became known for being able to knock a guy out with a single punch.
“That’s how he got his street cred in the gang.”
BELOW: Watch Damon Runyan and Paulino Nunes on Global Toronto’s News at Noon
Runyan and Nunes believe Gangland Undercover will appeal to fans of buzz shows like Sons of Anarchy and Breaking Bad.
“The show stands on its own. It’s six episodes and you could binge watch it from 7 pm to midnight and you go on the journey,” Runyan said.
“There’s this underlying suspense that strings all the episodes together,” Nunes added. “He’s on a mission. You’ve got that Donnie Brasco kind of underlying thing. Is he going to get found out? How does he avoid getting found out? What does he have to do to maintain his cred?”
Runyan hopes viewers will feel they are on the same journey as Falco.
“It’s got a huge appeal to anyone who wants to live on the edge a little bit.”
Gangland Undercover premieres March 2 on History, part of Shaw Media, the parent company of Global News.
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