Rick Schroder Gives Props To Tim McGraw

Rick Schroder, who became a household name in the '80s on the hit TV show 'Silver Spoons,' has been making a new name for himself as a director. And he has one of country music's superstars, Tim McGraw, to thank.

Schroder was casting for his directorial debut in the boxing film, 'Black Cloud,' back in 2004, and needed someone to play the sheriff of a small town. McGraw just happened to be in town for a concert when Schroder was looking for actors.

"I tracked him down at the show. I went backstage and gave him a script. He said, 'Let me get back to you, I'll read it'" Schroder told Country Weekly. "He called me back two days later. He said, 'I like it, I love it, I'm in it.'"

Schroder, who spent many years in front of the camera in various TV and movie roles, including three years as Detective Danny Sorenson on 'NYPD Blue,' was always a fan of country music.

"I was 20 years old when I got into country music. That was back when Tim first broke on the scene. I loved that song 'Don't Take the Girl,'" Schroder explained.

So it's no surprise that while Schroder helped McGraw start a new career path as a film star, McGraw was also instrumental in helping Schroder parlay his love of country music into a new career, as well, directing country music videos.

"Working with Tim was a really good experience. He was fun. He would make time for his fans and take pictures. He was a total professional and a really talented actor," Schroder recalls. Fueled by that relationship, Schroder found himself working with two other music legends, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, directing their CMA and ACM-winning video, 'Whiskey Lullaby'. In addition, Schroder was awarded the Director of the Year award by CMT, an honor all the more rewarding since it was his first country music video.

"It was gratifying to be involved with something that touched and changed people's lives", he says. And clearly, it set him on a successful and promising career path. Schroder directed 'Live Forever' for Billy Joe Shaver's duet in 2005 with Big and Rich. He's also signed on to work with country music legend Kris Kristofferson, directing him in a movie Schroder wrote about rodeo work, called 'Wild Flowers,' that he hopes to convince Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood to star in.