After performing in several historical films, North Tonawanda resident Guy Gane III has his first starring role, playing John Wilkes Booth in “The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.”

The show will air on public television at 9 p.m. Monday and is the most recent acting feather in Gane’s cap. He’s been acting since 1999, when he was asked to come down to Virginia to take part in a movie called “Wicked Spring.” He made some really good friends in the historical film production business who gave him opportunities to participate in the majority of productions filmed. He’s been working steadily since 2005.

He wanted to play Booth in this movie, both for the money and the chance to join the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Gane auditioned to play Booth in “The Hunt for Lincoln’s Assassin,” but lost out on the part that time around. This time he had a leg — or a hoof — up.

“My father used to take me horseback riding a lot growing up, so I actually had an advantage over the other actors,” Gane said.

Booth is very much the central character in this show, and it’s Gane’s first time playing a central character despite having several speaking roles. To prepare, he read many books on Booth and came to understand that he was an egomaniac and a bigot.

“He came from a very different time and was an obsessive maniac. It was difficult for me to grasp this because I am very much the opposite,” Gane said. “I have always been a Lincoln lover and I believe in the goodness of mankind. Booth didn’t.”

This was the first movie where the film company paid all Gane’s expenses. He once drove all the way to Virginia for a 10 minute audition, but the price of fuel would have made something like that impossible this past summer, Gane said.

“Gas was at $4 and I drive a Cadillac,” Gane said. “It wasn't feasible to drive on my own expense because the pay I received wasn't enough to make the trip worth it. Luckily, they came through for me.”

When he’s not acting, Gane does school programs on the Civil War with a close friend, David Ahrens.

“I have been trying to get back into the school programs because that is where I feel the most comfortable,” Gane said. “I have all this knowledge about the Civil War and I love sharing it. My friend Dave and I offer a unique twist to what usually is a boring program.”

But he works consistently enough in movies that he’s employed from one day to several weeks. The work is fun, but it does make things difficult on the personal front, he said.

“The winter has been the only time I can actually spend time with my family and friends, so it makes it difficult to maintain a love life,” Gane said.

Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.