SCENE· Heading into the Silvercup Studios in Astoria to tape an episode of the new NBC series "Kidnapped," Delroy Lindo says seeing the New York City skyline energizes him. . .. _ "It's fantastic!" says Lindo, who plays dence in committing to 'Kidnapped/bllt FBI agent Latimer King in the serial· it certainly made the idea ofworking 'q~ ized drama beginning Wednesday at 10 the project that much richer." ; ';; p.m.</p><p> One week from retirement , King is Lindo is looking forward to fleshing: : drawn into a complex kidnapping plot out details of Agent King as the season involVing the wealthy and powerful Cain progresses, rather than knowing exactly, family (headed by Timothy Hutton and where his character is headed, as wh\!n Dana Delany). he does movies and theater.. : .. "I feel really good about being back in ''Was I intrigued by that process or; .</p><p> New York and working.</p><p> I don't feel good challenge? I actually didn't think of it;i : about being away from my family," says in those terms," says Lindo. "But tqat's Lindo, who lives with his wife and son absolutely the case.</p><p> And to be hon- outside San Francisco. est, I'm still figuring out how to work "My little boy just started kindergar· on this.</p><p> There are lots of things I don't ten, and I just went back to California know about Latimer King." . this weekend so I could be there for his Lindo has directed plays· and has first couple days.</p><p> So it's not good being optioned the book "Dam.aged Goods" to away, especially at this point in his life. develop into a movie.</p><p> He also stars in the But it feels really good to be in the city." film ''Wondrous Oblivion." a British film Many New Yorkers remember about Jamaican immigrants in the Lindo, 53, from the theater he U.K that opened July 21 in the did here in the late '70s and United States. early '80s.</p><p> He scored .. 'Wondrous Oblivion' major triumphs in Athol was special for me.</p><p> I want· Fugard's "Master Har· ed to do it very much for old and the Boys" and Au· my mother and those of m)' gust Wilson's "Joe Turner's mother's generation who Come and Gone" (which caught all kinds of hell in got him a Tony nomination) England," says Lindo, whose before moving on to film. mother was Jamaican and He also had memorable turns in worked as a nurse and raised Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" and "Crook· Lindo on her own.</p><p> She died in 1996.</p><p> Iyn," the comedy caper "Get Shorty" and Partly as an homage to his son, Lindo the drama "The Cider House Rules." His -who was born in England and raised. rare appearances on TV include his de· there and in Toronto before studying at piction of baseball player Satchel Paige the American Conservatory Theater in in 1996's "Soul of the Game," and the re-San Francisco -worked over the last cent Emmy winner "Lackawanna Blues." few years to earn his bachelor' s degree Committing to a series is a new chal- at San Francisco State University while lenge for him.</p><p> But seeing the cast fill up juggling the responsibilities of his career with talented actors like Hutton, Delany, and family.</p><p> Tony winner Audra McDonald and his ''I'm hugely proud of that achieve· old friend Mykelti Williamson made the ment," says Lindo. "Over the years I leap easier, he says. thought it would be nice to finish and "The show has a lot of really strong actually get the piece of paper. people, and that's very exciting," says "Becoming a parent inlIuenced my Lindo, who admits he has never watched decision.</p><p> When I speak about the much TV (His own list of Must·See TV importance of education to my son includes stuff like 1978's "I, Claudius.") when he is growing up, I guess I wanted "I wouldn't say that gave me more confi· to be as legitimate as 1 could be." • MARtHA SWoP~
