Squalicum High graduate to make his network TV debut in Friday’s ‘Hawaii Five-0’
Squalicum High graduate Denny McAuliffe said he really didn’t have much time to process the news when his agent called and told him that he’d be making his network TV debut.
“It was like a two-day turnaround,” McAuliffe told The Bellingham Herald. “I learned that they were looking for somebody, auditioned and then they called my agent later that night.”
Before McAuliffe knew it, he was booked on a plane and on his way to Hawaii for two weeks in late January to shoot an episode of CBS crime drama “Hawaii Five-0.” The episode “Nalowale i ke ‘ehu o he kai” (Lost in the Sea Sprays) debuts at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 on Channel 7.
In Friday’s episode, McAuliffe plays the role of “Lewis” as the Five-0 team investigates a murder on a cargo ship where pirates boarded the ship while impersonating the U.S. Coast Guard.
“I play a key character in finding out the missing key to how everything comes together,” McAuliffe said. “There are a lot of secrets and misleading information that in the end up finishing with my character revealing the true plot.”
Though this is his first time on a network TV series, McAuliffe’s role as “Lewis” Friday is not his first — his IMDb page lists his previous credits as 2019 Sci-Fi movie “Portal Runner,” 2018 TV comedy movie “Staties” and 2019 HBO drama “Euphoria.” McAuliffe said he also has a role in “God Save the Queens,” a feature film expected to be released later this year.
Though traveling to Hawaii for two weeks to shoot Friday’s episode was enjoyable, McAuliffe said he made the most of his opportunity to work alongside series regulars, such as Alex O’Lougling (Steve McGarrett) and Scott Caan (Danny “Danno” Williams).
“Everyone was super welcoming,” McAuliffe said of the experience. “You never know what to expect, especially showing up as a day player, and you worry about being isolated, but everyone really reached out and made sure I was comfortable.”
McAuliffe said he’s not planning anything big for Friday’s airing — possibly just inviting a few friends over to watch it.
“I really don’t know what to expect about the whole experience,” McAuliffe said. “It was pretty cool to get to shoot in Hawaii, and I know it’s pretty exciting for my parents.”
McAuliffe’s parents still live in Bellingham, where his father, Joe is an English teacher and the varsity boys’ soccer coach at Squalicum, and McAuliffe said he tries to make it back from the Los Angeles area for major holidays and birthdays.
McAuliffe was a member of the Storm’s Class of 2016, though he ended up graduating in 2015 and began studying theater at Loyola Marymount University, before leaving to begin his acting career.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
