Mental illness is one of the most frightening things that can happen to a human being. It’s like fighting an invisible war. Not imaginary — invisible. It’s there, but no one can see it, but the person fighting it feels every inch of it. And hopefully, others will believe it exists. When our organs have something wrong with them, like our hearts, livers or bones, there is a pretty tangible effect for those around us to witness. But we can, for the most part, still function. When the organ afflicted is the brain, however, the organ running the show, deciding how we act, react, communicate, socialize, etc., it’s just…different. There are no open wounds, bruises, swelling, anything other people can see. How do they know it’s not fake?

And what if you’re an actor for a living?

I’ve been a fan of Eric Millegan since early 2008, when I started watching the Fox show Bones. He played my favorite character, the unintentionally hilarious Asperger’s case Zack Addy. Ironically, while he was shooting the seasons that made me a fan of the show, Eric Millegan, while playing a wholly unemotional character, was going through emotional hell. Recently, he posted on his YouTube channel that he had been living with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder and was ready to talk about it. Creative types are, by nature, excellent storytellers, so here, in his own words, is Eric Millegan’s story:

There were times when I was going through hell inside, but people on the outside didn’t necessarily notice. [So], I was able to press forward. I remember at the up-fronts for Bones the very first season, I was going through a nasty episode. With me, everything gets very, very quick in my chest, everything really hurts, and everything’s really fast, and I was on the verge of tears, and I even had to excuse myself so I could leave and cry my eyes out. And I remember Emily [Deschanel] and I were in a limo together and I said, “I’m really going through a tough time right now,” and she was like, “I can’t tell at all.” And in a way, it was a nice breakthrough for me, like “I can just keep trying to do things even though I feel a certain way.” Read the rest of this entry »

Eric will be guest starring for Tommy Femia at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC on Monday at 6:30pm.

Blockbuster Video, on Graham Road in Cuyahoga Falls, will have a special reception Sept. 3 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for TV and Broadway stage personality Eric Millegan.

Millegan is best known as the genius forensic anthropologist Dr. Zack Addy in FOX’s hit detective drama “Bones.”

Millegan also worked on the NBC hit “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and Sidney Lumet’s A&E courtroom drama “100 Centre Street.” He also starred in the independent film “On_Line” and the suspense thriller, “The Phobic.”

Before making his break in LA, Millegan spent 10 years in theater. He starred as Harold opposite Estelle Parsons in the world premiere of “Harold & Maude: The Musical.” His New York theater credits include Broadway’s revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the Encores presentations of “Hair” and the New York premiere of “Dead Man Walking.” He has also played a variety of roles Off-Broadway and in regional and repertory theater groups across the country.

Millegan has also produced a Cabaret Show performing in L.A., D.C. and New York City. Millegan is currently working on several stage and screen projects while residing in Manhattan.

The store is at 86 Graham Road. For details, contact Blockbuster at 330-928-7799. [SOURCE]