Sharknado star Ian Ziering admits only making 2013 movie to 'qualify for SAG healthcare'
Sharknado star Ian Ziering said he only signed on to make the cult movie because he needed to qualify for SAG healthcare. His agent promised the film would "disappear".
Trailer for Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills season 12
Sharknado actor Ian Ziering had an important reason for taking the now cult film.
The former Beverly Hills, 90210 star told the Daily Mail that he only starred in the movie because he needed to make enough money to afford SAG healthcare.
The celebrity plays the former surfer and shark hunter, Fin Shepard, in the six-part comedy horror movies.
However, he admitted he initially only agreed to take on the role after his agent promised him that no one was "going to see it."
At Comic Con in San Diego, Ziering told the Daily Mail that he did Sharknado "begrudgingly" and "didn't really care" about the franchise.
Speaking about the franchise's first film, which was released in 2013, Ziering said: "This was supposed to go right to DVD and disappear. That's what my agent said, 'Don't worry about it. No one's going to see it.' And I'm like, 'Oh, alright.'"
He added: "It was all about making the nut for healthcare that's provided by my union and that movie did that.
"So, I did it begrudgingly, but as with everything, they hired me as an actor. I show up, I do my work. I do the best that I can, and I had a lot of fun, that's for sure."
Don't miss...
All famous stars mentioned in Kevin Spacey trial including weird Judi Dench gift [REPORT]
Matilda child star claims she's NEVER made enough money for healthcare [LATEST]
Colin Farrell sparks thirsting fan frenzy as he joins SAG-AFTRA strike [INSIGHT]
Ziering also admitted that he assumed nobody would ever see the movie.
So, he was extremely surprised when the movie became cultural phenomenon that allowed for multiple sequels and an enormous fan base.
The actor continued: "I did not have a lot of confidence. Actually, I didn't really care. I didn't think anyone was going to see this movie. So, I had fun with it, and it turned into Sharknado one two, three, four, five, six."
He called Sharknado's legacy "the best, worst movie people ever saw."
He added: "There is certainly a fan base. We stopped making them because interest had weighed, production costs had gone up and it just wasn't cost-effective.
"But everything old is new again. We are talking about the 10-year anniversary and next year we'll talk about the 10-year anniversary of Sharknado 2, right?"
However, Ziering is currently striking with his fellow members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
