Casper Van Dien: the Bug-squashing, Jungle-swinging, Headless-Horseman-fighting hero we never knew we needed (interview: video).

Ladies and gentlemen, grab your blasters and prepare for a wild ride through the cosmos with the man, the myth, the legend: Casper Van Dien. Best known for his iconic role as Johnny Rico in the 1997 sci-fi action extravaganza “Starship Troopers,” Van Dien is the kind of actor who can take on intergalactic bugs and still look like he just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Born in the Pensacola suburb of Milton, Florida, Casper Van Dien grew up surrounded by a rich military tradition. With a Navy Commander father and a Marine grandfather, it’s no wonder he took to playing heroic roles like a duck to water. But instead of following in their footsteps, Van Dien ventured into the glamorous world of acting, where he could wield laser guns instead of real ones.

After a stint in various TV series and soap operas, Van Dien hit the big time with “Starship Troopers.” As Johnny Rico, he led a squad of elite soldiers against a swarm of giant alien bugs. The film became a cult classic, and Van Dien’s boyish good looks and action hero chops made him a favourite among sci-fi fans. He even reprised his role in the 2008 sequel, “Starship Troopers 3: Marauder,” because once you’ve squashed bugs on such a scale, there’s no going back to normal life.

But our hero didn’t stop there. He went from battling bugs to swinging through jungles as Tarzan in “Tarzan and the Lost City.” He then took on the role of Brom Van Brunt in Tim Burton’s eerie “Sleepy Hollow,” where he traded his laser rifle for a musket. Whether it’s alien insects, jungle adventures, or headless horsemen, Van Dien has proven he can tackle any supernatural or sci-fi challenge thrown his way.

In 2000, he added another feather to his cap with a role in the skydiving action film “Cutaway.” And let’s not forget his foray into the world of video games with a part in “Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom,” because even virtual galaxies need saving.

Fast forward to 2022, and Van Dien was back in the sci-fi saddle with “Salvage Marines,” playing Samuel Hyst in a gritty adaptation of the Necrospace book series. He also flexed his producer muscles, showing he’s just as capable behind the scenes as he is on screen. In an interview, Van Dien delightfully compared his role to his beloved Johnny Rico, proving that you can take the man out of the bug war, but you can’t take the bug war out of the man.

Off-screen, Van Dien’s life has been just as eventful. From a marriage to Carrie Mitchum, granddaughter of the legendary Robert Mitchum, to tying the knot with actress Catherine Oxenberg at Graceland (yes, that Graceland), his personal life has had its fair share of Hollywood glamour. They even starred in a reality series, “I Married a Princess,” because who wouldn’t want to peek into the life of a man who’s fought both extraterrestrials and the pitfalls of reality TV?

So, if you’re ever in need of a hero who can juggle sci-fi, fantasy, and horror with a cheeky grin and a dash of charm, look no further than Casper Van Dien. Whether he’s in the stars or on Earth, he’s the swashbuckling, bug-squashing, horseman-fighting star we didn’t know we needed but are so glad we have.