What Makes Vinnie Happy

Bop Feb 1997

Pop quiz! What does it take to make a 17-year-old movie star happy? A new
stereo system, a closet full of designer clothes or weekends of wild
parties? If that star is Vinnie Kartheiser, the answer is none of the
above. All this modest Minnesota actor needs to be happy are the simple
things in life, such as quality time with his friends and family.As far as
Vinnie's concerned, it's also fine to sit and share a few moments of silent
companionship, as Vinnie often does with his mother. "I'm with my mom so
much that it's like if we go out to eat somewhere, we probably say ten
sentences to each other," he says. "We're like an old couple. There's
nothing that we have to say. It's okay to sit there and just be."That's not
to say that Vinnie spends all of his time just sitting around. He takes
fencing lessons and often joins his family for hiking and mountain climbing
expeditions. And, on cold winter days when going out is simply out of the
question, Vinnie's perfectly happy with low-key activities like doing
crossword puzzles and playing games, such as Monopoly, with his older
brother and sisters ( Nathan, Colette, Andrea, Theresa and Elise ). What
Vinnie likes most about these games isn't the competition, but the cozy
company of his family. "My family, they're my best friends," he
says.Although Vinnie treasures the time he spends with his family and
friends, he admits that sometimes he's happiest hanging out by himself.
That doesn't mean lounging on his bed and staring at his bedroom walls.
When Vinnie's alone, he's most likely listening to his extensive music
collection or reading books about philosophy, history and, most recently,
art. "Art is a beautiful thing to learn about," Vinnie says. "You learn
about Greek sculptures and Roman weaponry, which is so beautiful--the
shields and swords and everything."Regardless of the fact that not many
other 17-year-olds have starred on the big screen, Vinnie says, "I think
that what I am is just a normal 17-year-old." Then again, not many big
screen actors can say they're perfectly happy with the simple things in
life. And that, of course, is what makes Vinnie so special.