Actor on HBO’s ‘Love & Death’ shocked he grew up near where gruesome Texas murder occurred

Texas-native and actor Drew Waters was shocked to find out he lived one town over from where Candace “Candy” Montgomery was accused of killing a friend with an ax in 1980.

“Man, this is a true story in Wylie, Texas. I remember hearing buzz about this while living in Sachse,” Waters told the Star-Telegram thinkingvwhen he first got the offer. “So I dove right in, I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe the story once I got into it. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? This is true?’”

Growing up in Orange, the Texan went into the Navy after high school and was discovered by a modeling scout. After appearing in modeling campaigns for the likes of Ralp Lauren and Versace, Waters decided to pursue an acting career.

With nearly 20 years of acting experience under his belt, Waters has appeared in such television shows as “True Detective,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “The Resident” and “Friday Night Lights.” Other projects include “The Hit List,” “Parkland” and “The Desperate Riders”.

Now, Waters will soon be seen on the small screen in HBO Max’s adaption of the Candy Montgomery case in the series “Love & Death.” Waters is set to portray Jerry McMahan, one of the people who found Betty Gore’s body after the gruesome murder.

The Star-Telegram caught up with the Texas actor ahead of the first episode of “Love & Death”, which premieres on Thursday. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Star-Telegram: Let’s start with your proximity to the Candy Montgomery story. You grew up in Orange, Texas and then after your service in the Navy you moved to Sachse, which is right next to Wylie. What was you knowledge of the Montgomery story before being cast in the show?

Drew Waters: Well, I didn’t know anything about it until actually the show. Well, I take that back. Wylie is right next to Sachse, this small little community. In 1998, I got out of the military and built a house in Sachse. We would go to Wylie and have breakfast three times a week. You’d have these locals [who] every once in awhile would say, “Hey remember when that happened? That was crazy”. I never thought anything about it.

S-T: Right, I mean its such an incredible true crime story. An axe murder is not something you expect from a Texas town.

DW: Here’s another crazy part of it though. Candy, the actual true person, moved to Georgia. She lived maybe 20 miles from where I live now. I’m going, “Wait, what?” [laughs].

S-T: Wow, I didn’t know where she was.

DW: I don’t know where she lives now, but when we were shooting “Love & Death,” she was in Georgia and a counselor.

S-T: In the show you’re playing Jerry McMahan, one of the people who found Betty Gore’s body in the house. What was it like being on set during this intense part of the story?

DW: I mean, Jesse Plemons, we did a lot together on “Friday Night Lights”. To get back to working with him and Brad Leland as well, but to work with Elizabeth Olsen, she is just one of the best I’ve been around. She is so prepared, so well-tempered, and comes in with incredible energy. It’s addicting. Being able to work with Jesse again was awesome, but working with Elizabeth for the first time was amazing.

My character Jerry, they’re neighbors and grew up with Jesse’s character, Alan Gore. He gives me a call and he can’t get a hold of his wife and kids. He wants us to go check on her and so we go over and start looking and find her. From there, of course, there’s police reports and interviews, going through the courtroom and just hashing it out. Shockingly, we learn so much going through it as well.

S-T: What’s your overall thoughts on being part of this show with Elizabeth and Jesse, and this big true crime project?

DW: I mean, I’m very lucky and blessed to be honest with you. HBO Max has done such an incredible job putting together the cast and Lesli [Linka Glatter] our director, she ran that set with soft hands but allowed us to grow and build and collaborate more. She always had an open door, really loved working for her. I think for me the excitements of what we do in this industry is getting together with talented people in this cast and crew and making something special. I think that’s what HBO allowed us to do here. It’s a story that’s been told a few times, but from my perspective, this one goes into more in-depth details. You surround yourself into that feeling of shock and horror and getting caught up into something where you can have empathy as well.

S-T: You’ve been in “Friday Night Lights” and the “Parkland” movie from 2013, plus “Love & Death.” These are all Texas-set shows and you being from Texas yourself, are these roles you want to be a part of?

DW: I love Texas, I’m always gonna be a Texas boy. It’s what I know, it’s in my blood and I call it home still. I love anything that gives me the opportunity to travel [and see] different cultures and have new experiences and meet new people. I mean my family’s there, my kids are there, my daughter is graduating from Texas A&M. It’s a beautiful thing to get back and spend time and get grounded again. I still want to come back and do a western in Texas. I’ve done multiple in Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico. I want to come back and do one in Texas.

S-T: Speaking of that, you led “The Desperate Riders” movie last year and the western genre is kind of in boom right now ever since “Yellowstone” came out. If you had the opportunity to play in the “Yellowstone” sandbox, is that something you would want to do?

DW: Oh, absolutely. I’ve read for that thing multiple times. Anything that can help me get on that show, I’m up for. I am driven [laughs]. I’ve rodeoed for about five years growing up, I’ve broke horses starting at 12 [years old]. I joined the military when I was 19 and worked on an equestrian ranch. I love horses, they’re my spirit animal. I mean I’m no stranger to hard work and putting in the work.

S-T: I mean, hey, it seems like you’ve been training your whole life to be on “Yellowstone”.

DW: Oh my god, come on Taylor! [Laughs] Put me on it!

S-T: It seems “Yellowstone” kicked off a revival here, do you think we’re ready for a new wave of westerns?

DW: Oh, absolutely. I think you’ve seen a new wave of westerns. You mentioned “The Desperate Riders,” Lionsgate took it theatrically. Trace Adkins had “Monarch.” You’re seeing more of a southern movement in different genres, which is a beautiful thing. I’m gearing up this fall to do a western in Arizona. One of my favorite westerns is “Unforgiven,” I love Clint Eastwood westerns. I think they capture all the different characters and it has humor, romance, drama, shock value, all the stuff. We just need to be mindful of how we portray the south. In different countries, they’ll take that as the truth and portray us that way. We just need to be mindful of that.

S-T: You’re not only a actor, but director as well with “New Life” in 2016. I’m curious if you like being an actor or director more, or do you just see yourself as a filmmaker?

DW: We opened up our production company [Argentum Entertainment] in 2014, just because we had an opportunity and necessity to wanting to do more in this industry. I love acting, I think it’s an incredible way to create, develop, release and move people. You can somewhat hide behind a character and allow yourself to express things that you normally wouldn’t in your normal life. Creating something that moves somebody in the way that you try to love them and seeing that happen is a beautiful thing. But I think directing is the best of both worlds.

Seeing the words come to life within a character that you helped create. Then being able to collaborate with such talent in front and behind the camera to create the atmosphere, the environment, the feeling. Then have the actors on and actually perform and build off of that is such a high. That’s why I say its the best of both worlds, because I’m a collaborator, creative and working with actors and different ideas and thoughts. But I’m also a collaborator on the backside, working with gripping, electric, camera department.

S-T: Last question for you. How often do you come back to Fort Worth and what are some go-to spots when you’re in town?

DW: It’s always a good stop at the stockyards. What’s that barbecue place? I’m drawing a blank. That and there’s an old Mexican restaurant that’s been there.

S-T: The Original?

DW: Yes, The Original. I mean every chance I get, I head over that way. My daughter is getting married in July, so I’m coming back for that. Can’t miss that, I would get in trouble [laughs]. My girls are both graduating and heading off to new adventures, one going to college, one getting out of college. So I’ll be in Texas quite a bit over the next few months.

HBO Max’s “Love & Death” premieres on Thursday.