Barry Watson Feels Like He's in '7th Heaven'

[Brett Ferino]

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - After a brief appearance in the April 21 episode of "7th Heaven," in which Lucy Camden (Beverley Mitchell) got married, former series regular Barry Watson returns to The WB drama on Monday, May 12, at 8 p.m. ET, for "Life and Death, Part One," the opening installment of a two-part season finale.

As the Rev. Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) heads to New York in an attempt to reconcile his assistant pastor (Jeremy London) with his dying father (Dan Lauria), eldest son Matt (Watson) suspects that he and his wife (guest star Sara Danielle Madison) might be having a baby.

These appearances mark Watson's return to acting since successfully battling Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer.

"Feeling good," Watson says, during a break from filming on the wedding episode. "The word is really good. I'm doing good, and I plan to keep it that way."

Asked how his illness may have changed his outlook on life, Watson says, "I don't know if it can make me a better person. I think it can only open up your eyes more to life and just enjoying everything, every little moment."

"I'm not concerned about career and work so much anymore. I'm more concerned with my health and my personal life, and the family, friends, people I have around me. Work was always the main priority, and it's very much secondary now."

But this doesn't mean he's turned his back on acting. "I'd like to do some more film work," Watson says. "I don't know if I want to jump right back into TV. I want to see what's out there, see that's right. It doesn't have to be a main character, anything like that. It could be a secondary character, just something good."

"I don't know if I want to be the star of anything, because you work so hard."

During his illness, "7th Heaven" executive producer Brenda Hampton offered Watson the opportunity to work off-camera on the show, as a writer. His first episode aired last November.

"I was really happy," he says about seeing it on the air. "It was hard for me because of everything I was going through at the time, but I was happy with it. It made me feel good that I was able to accomplish that during a hard time."

"I do [want to do more writing], but right now, I'm trying to concentrate on the acting again, getting better at that. But I was really happy to have a chance to do that. It was something I never actually thought so much about doing before."

"I think it's only going to make me a better actor, in every way."

Also helping Watson during his recovery was his beloved motorcycle. "Oh, my Harley. I love that bike. When I was sick and everything, there would be certain days when I would have enough energy, and I'd say, 'I want to go ride my bike.' As soon as I got on my bike, all of a sudden everything's fine for an hour while I'm riding it. It was just a great feeling."

Watson lost his trademark shaggy hair during his chemotherapy treatments. It has since grown back somewhat, but there were some odd moments. "A couple of months ago, before my hair even got this length, I was in a pet store, and I used my credit card. On the back of my credit card, it says, 'See photo ID.'"

"I gave it to the clerk, and she's like, 'Why do you have Barry Watson's driver's license?' I go, 'That's me.' She said, 'No, it's not.' Then she goes on to tell me she liked my hair longer. I could never go to the grocery store before, but now I can just go and dance in the aisles. People just look over, 'Who's that weird guy, dancing in the aisles?'"

Further proof that Watson has a good sense of humor about his troubles is the latest addition to his household -- a dog he named Hodgkins. "I the day I found out I didn't have cancer anymore, I got this dog. My family was like, 'You can't name him that.' Everybody else was like, 'That's so great.'"

"He's the good Hodgkins. He's a little miniature dachshund, so I have an extra-large dog, a medium dog and now a little dog."

[-*Leah*-]

Well, I am glad that he's doing better!