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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- A Heartland native talks to KTVO about his acting career.

Chris McGahan was born and raised in Kirksville until he was 12 years old.

During his time in Kirksville, he attended Washington Elementary and Mary Immaculate Catholic School until the seventh grade. His mom, Margie McGahan, worked at Truman State University. His aunt, Sharon McGahan, still lives in town and tries to visit often.

McGahan said ever since he was a child he knew he wanted to be an actor.

He studied theater at the University of Northern Iowa and then got his Masters at the University of Hawaii.

While at the University of Hawaii, he got a small role in the popular ABC series "LOST." He was in two episodes of season six titled "The Candidate" and "Happily Ever After" in which he throws a switch and electrocutes then killing well know character, Simmons.

McGahan said he's learned a lot about himself through the acting industry.

"You have to learn a lot about yourself. You learn a lot about your strengths and weaknesses. It gives you so many experiences. It teaches you how to speak easily and confidently in front of people. It teaches you how to be skilled when things are not going right and how to recover quickly," McGahan said.

McGahan has also played small roles in "The River," "Hawaii 5-0," and in the major motion picture "Battleship."

He says overcoming adversity has helped him get to where he is today.

"Every time I went to an audition, nine times out of ten, people would say no. You have to find that strength within yourself to pick yourself up and keep going. It's not easy. But if you need it to fulfill you, that need is going to help keep you going," McGahan said.