Christian Campbell first melted hearts as Gabriel, the impossibly shy, criminally cute, musical-theater scribe in Trick, 1999's modern gay classic about two boys and a very, very long night in New York City.

The charming film struck a swooning chord with audiences and now sits on DVD shelves in every good gay boy's home.

“Over the years, to have people approach me continually and say, ‘Thank you so much for this movie." So many men, it's their first-date film. They all have a first-date story. That's lovely. That's nice. I feel good about that,” Campbell says, on the phone from Washington, D.C. He was there to spend time with family, who were visiting from Canada.

That breakout role remains Campbell 's most memorable to date, and has opened doors for him throughout his career. It also featured comic turns from Clinton Leupp (Miss Coco Peru) and Steve Hayes (Perry); a sexy big-screen debut from actor John Paul Pitoc as surprisingly soulful go-go dancer Mark; and 90210 princess Tori Spelling in an alternately hilarious, annoying and endearing turn as hyperactive fag-hag Katherine.

At the time of filming, however, Campbell had no idea of the modest film's eventual impact on moviegoers.

“When I took the project, first of all, I was happy to have a job,” Campbell says with a laugh. “I felt I was making just a movie that was a little indie flick. It had a lot of heart, but I didn't think it was going to go anywhere, frankly. They shot in New York for a tiny budget and on the fly."

“I felt we made a good film, but … I thought it would just maybe hit a few film festivals and be very isolated within the gay community. I didn't realize it was going to have the broad acceptance that it did, especially being on Blockbuster shelves. That amazes me.”

Most recently, Campbell was a featured player on The Book of Daniel, NBC's controversial family drama that was abruptly cancelled after four episodes, thanks to incessant protesting from the American Family Association. Campbell portrayed Peter, the gay, Republican golden child of the Webster clan.

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