He's no longer a lawyer, but he might play one on TV
Disgraced attorney Gassaway trying to make it as an actor.
Disgraced attorney Gassaway trying to make it as an actor

By Jay F. Marks

Published: July 6, 2008

Mike Gassaway is no stranger to an audience. But after years of pleading his cases to judges and juries across Oklahoma, Gassaway is starting over as an actor in Texas.

Gassaway, who lost his license to practice law last month, has been going to auditions for commercials and other roles around Austin, but he hasn't gotten many jobs, his agent told The Oklahoman.

Acclaim Talent has high hopes for Gassaway, who agent Lupe Valdez said has a "great commercial look.”

"We're pretty excited about him,” Valdez said.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court stripped Gassaway of his law license June 17 after finding he had violated the rules of professional conduct at least six times since 2002.

The normally talkative Gassaway did not return calls from The Oklahoman after the court's ruling.

He declined an interview request Wednesday through attorney Billy Bock, who said Gassaway has been keeping busy since he was disbarred.

"He's landing on is feet and pursuing all of his opportunities,” Bock said. "He's got several opportunities out there. Certainly acting is one of them.”

Gassaway has some experience in that arena already.

He appeared on the NBC football drama "Friday Night Lights” last fall in a nonspeaking part as a college football official.

His resume on Acclaim's Web site lists several movie roles, including a part in "W,” Oliver Stone's upcoming biopic about President Bush. Gassaway will play Scooter Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.

Gassaway's resume also includes small parts in two Chuck Norris movies, 1977's "Breaker! Breaker!” and 1978's "Good Guys Wear Black.”

His agent said Gassaway's former career as an attorney shows he is disciplined.

"That's a really helpful quality in an actor,” Valdez said.

He said Gassaway is a natural for CEO-type roles in commercials and movies.

"He has a perfect look for that,” he said.

Not everything on Gassaway's resume signals success, though. He lists a class with longtime Oklahoma City acting instructor Michelle DeLong on his resume, but she said she has never trained him.

DeLong said she usually remembers her students, and she only knows Gassaway from his news clippings.

Gassaway's agent declined to comment on the listing.

He said he did not have contact with any Oklahoma-based acting coaches.

DeLong said Gassaway may have put her name on his resume in an attempt to capitalize on her reputation.

She said Gassaway's own reputation in Oklahoma City hasn't helped him as an actor.

He recently was cast as a featured extra in a local commercial, but he was sent away after the director realized who he was, DeLong said.

Chris Freihofer of Norman, the other trainer listed on the resume, did not return messages left by The Oklahoman.