Look Out De Niro

You saw it here first. He may not be Charles Dowdy III, but pretty damn close.

Meet Chuck. He was sitting at home, minding his own business when destiny called.

"Charles Dowdy the third?"

"No, just Chuck Dowdy, straight up."

"You'll do. Want to be an extra in a movie?"

"Do I? Where do I sign up?"

My friend was sure it was a scam, but her husband, driven by a Hollywood dream went downtown and sure enough, it was true. Her man will be featured in a movie called Love 'n' Dancing (http://www.lovendancing.com/), about a West Coast swing dancing champ who's deaf.

At first, he was just an extra, but the director, being no dummy, recognized Chuck's range, and soon upgraded him to "stand-in." He was immediately ostracized by the other jealous extras, but paying them no heed, he held fast to his art.

No love for the haters, people.

When you see Love and Dancing, (which I know you now will), look for Chuck. He's the "business man" sitting directly in front of the window reading a paper (from 2006) and drinking iced tea (which is fake and unfortunately not very tasty). Chuck even took it upon himself to do some improvising, looking at people who walked into the restaurant, pretending to answer his cell phone, etc.

Chuck's wife is sorry she ever doubted him.

As her friend, and someone who knows Chuck personally, I'm taking it upon myself to start his first fan club.

Who's in?