Joe Manganiello : Pittsburgh Tribune

Images of Hans Solo, blasting his way out of trouble, flicker on the screen. Bela Lugosi's Dracula floats across a desolate landscape. As a child, Joe Manganiello watched superheroes, monsters and villains. He immersed himself in worlds where anything could happen — and often did. He pored over comic books and got lost in sci-fi movies.

As much as the Mt. Lebanon native loved action heroes and monsters, he didn't think about acting until high school. Until then he was a jock, playing football, basketball and volleyball.

Luckily for Joe — and his fans, a friend asked him to help with a film for chemistry class. Much to his coaches' dismay, he soon quit the teams at Mt. Lebanon High School and landed the lead role of Jud Fry in the school's production of "Oklahoma."

"Everyone said I made this huge mistake," Joe recalls. "Somewhere deep down inside my gut I knew this was something I should do."

His instinct was right.

In his latest role in "True Blood," Joe plays Alcide Herveaux, a noble werewolf introduced in the most recent season of the vampire drama, putting him in the middle of a popular and established HBO series.

The special effects, talented co-stars and fan base of "True Blood" lift the production far beyond Joe's first appearance on film, when he and a friend used cameras and teleprompters from Mt. Lebanon High's television studio.

But even then, Joe delivered a performance beyond expectations. He played a mafia don in what was supposed to be a three-minute chemistry presentation. Joe and his friend spent their weekends writing and shooting the film, even recording sound effects. The final cut turned into an epic mafia-karate movie, called "Young Dragon."

After graduation, Joe tried out for Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama; he was rejected. After a year of theater at the University of Pittsburgh, Joe tried out again at CMU this time, he was accepted.

Following graduation, he headed to Los Angeles and soon landed a part as Flash Thompson in "Spider Man." He's built a solid career, appearing first in small parts on TV dramas, such as the "CSI" franchise, and later in the recurring roles of Brad on "How I Met Your Mother" and Owen on "One Tree Hill."

Meanwhile, Alan Ball, a producer from the Emmy-award-winning HBO series "Six Feet Under," debuted a new show called "True Blood," based on author Charlaine Harris's "Southern Vampire Mysteries" series.

The first season attracted millions of viewers. When it became clear the show would follow the book series, the show's fans began to blog about possible actors who could play the werewolf Alcide. One name continued to pop up in the blog chatter: Joe Manganiello.

With real-life monsters, action and suspense, Joe already watched "True Blood." But he didn't realize viewers wanted him to play Alcide until a friend e-mailed him a link. He read the books, investigated the part and soon realized why fans suggested him he and Alcide shared similarities. He began pursuing the role.

"In 10 years, I have never fought so hard to get cast as I fought to be Alcide," he says.

The complexity of the character appealed to him. Even though he portrays a werewolf, Joe enjoys how his character grapples with human difficulties and ambiguity.

"This show is so detailed and nuanced all of the characters are so fleshed out. Inhuman characters are so human and it says so much about human emotions."

Joe hopes this exposure will help expand his career. He plans to write, produce and direct and is in negotiations for the rights to one of his favorite comics.

But no matter how far talent, hard work and opportunity take him, he'll always remember his Pittsburgh beginnings.

"My dad wants to put me on the wall of fame at Primanti Bros. That, to me, would be as good as an Oscar," Joe says.

I WILL ALWAYS BLEED BLACK AND GOLD

Alcide Herveaux, Joe Manganiello's character in "True Blood," frequents a place called Lou Pine's, a werewolf bar in Mississippi.

When he was investigating the local watering holes in his new hometown of Los Angeles a few years ago, Joe discovered an even more rabid type of clientele: seriously obsessed Steelers fans.

Finding such intense love for his favorite team inspired Joe to shoot a short documentary about the motley group of fans, titled "Diehardz."

None of those California fans had ever been to Pittsburgh, but Joe visits frequently to see his parents, who still live in Mt. Lebanon. While he's home, there's also a good chance of finding him at one of his favorite local haunts.

"As soon as I get off the plane, I go straight to Primanti Bros. in the Strip," he says.

Joe enjoys art and likes seeing exhibits at the Warhol. He might catch a show at City Theatre and grab a burger at Tessaro's in Bloomfield. He lunches at People's Indian Restaurant in Garfield and works out at the gym with his mom, Susan. (To achieve Alcide's wolfish physique, he works out twice a day.)

His fame and success bring some hometown perks these days. In November, he'll march in the Celebrate the Season Parade, and the Steelers have even invited him to Heinz Field to watch a game an honor that's perfect for a diehard fan like Joe.