Flueger family excited about new series

The Flueger family will be gathered 'round the television set Sunday night for the opening episode of "Scoundrels" just as they have gathered to watch Patrick John Flueger - he goes by all three names nowadays - in his previous appearances on television and in movies over the past nine years.

The Red Wing native took on the dual roles of twin brothers Logan and Cal in "Scoundrels," which will air at 8 p.m. Sundays at ABC-TV during the summer months.

"He's excited about it," said his mother, Kim Flueger. "It's been a real challenge for him" to play two completely different people, she said. And, said his father, KC Flueger, neither one of them is anything like his own personality.

Still, his mother said, "He is having fun. He said he really enjoyed the cast."

Among those cast members is Virginia Madsen - playing his screen mother - who was nominated for a supporting actress Oscar for her appearance in "Sideways."

Watching their son on screen isn't always easy, though. Kim Flueger said.

This past holiday season he played a prisoner of war in MGM's "Brothers," which starred Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal.

"It was a pivotal role in the movie," she said, explaining that his character was beaten to death.

"It was hard to watch," she said, especially knowing that there really are people who struggle to cope with what happened to them during the war.

Flueger has a new movie coming out as well. He recently wrapped shooting on "Mother's Day," a remake of Charlie Kaufman's 1980 horror film. Flueger has the lead role of Izaak "Ike" Koffin, who is determined at any cost to please his mother, played by Rebecca DeMornay.

The Red Wing actor received his big break in 2001 when he auditioned for the feature film "The Princess Diaries" and was cast by Garry Marshall as Jeremiah, a fun-loving, card-trick master who charmed the lead character's best friend.

Other motion picture appearances have include Lionsgate Film's "Kill Theory," seen at the Cannes Film Market in 2008; "The Job," an independent film with Ron Perlman that was well received at the San Diego Film Festival; and "The World's Fastest Indian," starring Anthony Hopkins, in which Flueger portrayed a soldier on a two-week leave from the Vietnam War.

Television credits include Flueger as Sean Farrell in the USA Network original series "The 4400," which aired for three seasons, plus he appears with David Strathairn in "Paradise" for Showtime.

His TV credits also include guest starring roles on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Grounded for Life," "Judging Amy," "CSI: Miami," "Boston Public," "JAG" and "It's All Relative."

An accomplished musician, he writes music and plays guitar, and he was the lead singer for the band Sleeper 7.

Family members have their favorites, of course.

"I think when he was on 'Law & Order,' I really liked the part he played. He was really believable," Kim Flueger said.

"The World's Fastest Indian" was KC Flueger's favorite among his son's films. "It was a good movie," he said.

That movie probably was his son's favorite as well: Working with Hopkins made it an experience he'll not forget.

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