Robert Maschio Goes From Syosset to 'Scrubs'

Dreams do come true. Just ask actor and Syosset's own Robert Maschio of the hit TV show Scrubs.

Says Maschio, "I turned a one-line part into nine seasons on the show."

Scrubs was canceled by NBC in May, ending Maschio's run as "The Todd." Now his days are filled with auditions (competing with the likes of Superman's Dean Cain and 90210's Jason Priestly), pitching a show to the Travel Channel titled Surfing With Rob Maschio, building a home in Malibu with his girlfriend, filming bonus scenes for Scrubs on DVD and working on a script with his cousin, writer Michael Pascucci.

"It's set in Syosset at the Beverage Barn on Jericho Turnpike," he says.

For the 43-year old Maschio, his local roots still run deep.

"My parents still live in Syosset. I go there twice a year – once during the holidays and once during the summer," Maschio says. "My mom Patricia has been on the Board of Education for 18 years. My parents were very involved in education. I am one of four boys. Syosset was a very nice place to grow up. I have a lot of good memories of playing sports there."

During his time at Columbia University, Maschio discovered his passion for acting.

"I had a friend who was an actor and he said to me one day, 'You're really funny.' I had never thought about becoming an actor," he remembers. "Then he told me about this acting class, it had 22 women and two guys. I knew right then and there, I wanted to become an actor."

He attributes meeting Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence on the set of Spin City with the opportunity to audition for Scrubs. "Bill remembered me from Spin City, where I did a couple of guest appearances," Maschio says. "It pays to be nice, work hard and have talent."

Working on the set of Scrubs was the best experience he could ever ask for. "I learned a lot about filming thanks to Scrubs.... Everything good in my life, I attribute to my nine seasons on Scrubs. I loved working with everyone on the set, especially Donald Faison [Turk]. He always had a positive energy. Everybody was very nice."

Being noticed by fans is nice, although who he meets often defines the reaction.

"I get recognized all the time by guys," Maschio says. "The character I played was a guy's guy, so they can relate. I get a lot of high fives everywhere I go from guys. The ladies just want to know about Zach Braff." 

Maschio's dream role would be as a sitcom dad.

"I want to play a dad similar to the one on Modern Family, says Maschio. "I enjoy making people laugh."

For the past five years, Maschio has also participated in the Multiple Sclerosis Bike Team Ride, Pacific Coast Chapter.

"I started when I was on Scrubs," he says. "It's a two-day bike race, 150 miles. We have raised a lot of money with this bike ride. It's very important to me."

Living on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif., things can't get much better.

"I have my dog Ruby here and the weather is perfect," he says. "Life is good."

For more information, visit www.robertmaschio.com.