Local guy likes role as QVC frontman

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM - Perhaps you could say that Rick Domeier's come a long way since his days playing Tom Sawyer in the 6th grade play at Cathedral High School.

Now, Domeier sells everything from cookware to computers as a program host on QVC.

He and a few of his QVC cronies, along with TaeBo king Billy Blanks and financial guru and author Suze Orman, are going to take their shows to the Mall of America this coming week.

Domeier said he considers it a kind of homecoming, even though he makes it back to his native New Ulm a few times each year.

Shortly after graduation, Domeier left New Ulm to pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor. After a short time at St. Cloud State University, he packed up and left Minnesota for California in 1980.

"Even in high school, acting is something I wanted to do, so I headed to California and dove in head-first," said Domeier from his home near Philadelphia.

Once in L.A., he continued studying acting and tending bar and was a member of a few different theatre companies before he landed bit parts in movies like 'Teen Wolf', 'Die Hard 2' and 'Girl, Interrupted' and a supporting role as Ed Getley in director Sam Raimi's cult horror comedy 'Evil Dead II'. Domeier was also the subject of a '48 Hours' segment about struggling actors in Hollywood.

Domeier's also had roles in television shows like 'St. Elsewhere,' 'Dream On', 'The Young and The Restless' and 'Likely Suspects.' His most recent television appearance was as Dr. Bob Robbins on the CBS primetime drama 'Hack', which was shot near Philadelphia.

"I think it's great," said father Lester Domeier of his son's acting career. "What he got, he did on his own."

For the last 10 years, Rick Domeier has made his living as a program host for QVC, one of two heavyweight cable home shopping channels. The transition from television and movies came after an agent for the West Chester, Pa., network saw Domeier's audition for a part on 'The Young and The Restless'. The role was one Domeier originally turned down.

"I was an actor, a dramatic actor," he said, until an agent offered him the opportunity to be himself and then took him for a drive and showed him Alex Trebeck's house. Domeier was cast in a pilot episode for QVC.

"...And the rest is home shopping history," he said.

Domeier joined QVC as a program host in 1995. He regularly co-hosts 'Home Projects With Rick And Dan' as well as other shows about fitness, computers, jewelry and cookware. He will be hosting QVC shows live from the Mall of America on July 5-6 and is scheduled for meet-and-greets at the QVC store on both of those days.

The reason behind the appearance, according to QVC representative Jason Arbacheski, is that the Mall of America is the largest tourist attraction in the United States. He said QVC chose to open a store in the mall "so skeptics could see, touch and feel" the things the channel sells. He said the channel planned its live broadcasts for the week after the 4th of July because the Mall of America typically sees its highest crowd numbers.

Domeier said working on QVC has given him the opportunity to rub elbows with Joan Rivers, David Crosby and Jessica Simpson. He says he's "very, very happy" with QVC because it's taken him to places like Switzerland and China and allowed him to meet people he'd never thought he'd meet.

Still, the 1979 Cathedral graduate tries to make it back home a couple times a year. Domeier said he plans to attend his 25th class reunion this summer.

"There was a time when I was a bottle washer at Dannheim's and I had no objections to it. My folks were totally supportive of me. Really, the ultimate gig is making your vacation your vocation. The only way you're going to be good at anything is to do what you like," Domeier said.