Action Hero

Former Mason wrestler wins reality TV series

By Carlton White

It's not a road often traveled, but apparently you can go from being a wrestler, a boxer, and an actor to being the “Next Action Star” of your own made-for-TV movie.

In July 2004, former Mason wrestler Timothy Sean Carrigan, BA Communication '97, took that road, winning the NBC reality television series Next Action Star. Carrigan beat out thousands of hopefuls in nationwide auditions to make the final cut of 14 competitors, who were seen pitted against each other in a weekly series of stunt action scenes. The reward for the winning man and winning woman contestants was a starring role in a television movie, Bet Your Life. The movie, which also doubled as the series finale on August 4, featured Carrigan as a former pro football quarterback turned Vegas limo driver with the female Next Action Star winner as a bounty hunter pursuing him.

Carrigan, a transfer from Manhattan College, wrestled for George Mason in 1995–96 and 1996–97, competing for current Patriot wrestling head coach Brian Shaffer. As a junior, he contended in the 167-pound weight class, earning a second-place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships. Carrigan was a tricaptain during his senior season and posted a 23-13 overall mark, wrestling at 177 pounds. His overall record in two years with the Patriots was 38-27.

Carrigan is also an accomplished boxer, having won several Golden Gloves and amateur boxing titles.