The Double Life of Christian Slater
How the star of NBC's new drama "My Own Worst Enemy" went from Hollywood hero to real-life bad boy and back again

During August's summer games, when NBC cut away from Beijing, the next thing millions of American sports fans often saw was Christian Slater blowing up a building. The trailer for My Own Worst Enemy, featuring his first-ever lead role on a television series, played off the drama that had already been drummed up by the swim meets. "I have to tip my hat to Michael Phelps for keeping the Olympics exciting," says Slater. "I'm going to send him a nice fruit basket."

Premiering October 13th, My Own Worst Enemy follows Edward Albright (Slater), a trained killer working for secret agent Mavis Heller (Alfre Woodard), at a shadowy bureau called Janus. Every time Edward's wet work is done, Janus digitally deactivates his memory and uploads his alternate personality: Henry Spivey, oblivious suburban husband and father of two. Only now there's a glitch. Some very angry Russians have traced Edward back to his decoy life. As Edward warns Henry in a secret computer message, "Now for the fun part."

Almost 20 years after his breakthrough role as J.D., the sensitive psycho-rebel who tried to neutralize his high school with a suicide bomb in Heathers, Slater may have found his next perfect part. Or rather, parts. "I've always loved Jekyll-and-Hyde-type stories," he says. "I definitely relate these characters to the dark and light sides of my own personality."

Photo: Drinkwater/NBC