For some, stardom is literally in the stars, but for actor James Preston Rogers it is a reality that seems to have been destined by the very stars most others dream upon.

In the modern fast-paced world we live in today the notion of an actor being “discovered” is often considered something of the past, but it is in fact, the very way that James got his start. Jump forward a decade to today and it seems that the James discovery was one of great value for many as this talented actor has become a highly sought after actor in Hollywood and abroad. With leading roles in the films Outlander, A Beginner’s Guide to Endings, You Might as Well Live, Jesse Stone: Sea Change and Defendor, James has proven time and time again that he has what it takes to succeed in the cut-throat world of today’s entertainment industry.

When he was in high school, James Preston Rogers acted in plays, but never considered “going big” until he got a phone call from an agent one day asking him to star in a nationally syndicated commercial for “Mr. Big” candy bars. Surprised, as he did not have an agent or even a headshot at the time, he agreed to take the role.

Since this serendipitous beginning, James has proven his worth and gone on to excel in far greater roles. His first major role outside of theatre productions and the Mr. Big commercial came in the six-part mini-series Jesse Stone: Sea Change where he acted alongside Golden Globe winner Tom Selleck.

“I played Terry Genest,” said James Preston Rogers, “a hired gun sent to kill Jesse Stone… That day was an emotional day for me on so many levels. Not only was it one of my first acting jobs, being shown across North America on CBS, but I was acting with Tom Selleck, Magnum PI, one of my childhood heroes.”

The show received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards including a Primetime Emmy, Satellite Award, Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award and an American Society of Cinematographers Award.

There is another, more heartrending side to James Preston Rogers’ career, however. When he was a young adult, James lost his mother. “ I mean, she was so proud of me when I was a skinny zitty teenager with nothing to show for it” he said, speaking of his mother. “Now I am a man in my chosen profession, acting with some of the greats and also her favorites.”

It is astounding to see how many of her favorites James has had the chance to work with, too. Almost astounding enough to make one wonder if James Preston Rogers’ mother might very well know how well her son is doing after all.

“Tom Selleck was one of my mother’s favorite actors,” James explained. And this was just the beginning of James’s work with his mother’s favorites actors. After his first major acting role in the Jesse Stone: Sea Change series alongside Selleck, James snagged a role in the science fiction film Outlander. In this critically acclaimed feature, he played the Viking Bjorn alongside another one of his mother’s favorite actors, Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman.

After Outlander, James played the pivotal role of a slow-witted biker named Bob in the film Defendor, starring two-time Oscar nominated actor Woody Harrelson. “He was another one of my mother’s favorites actors,” Rogers remarked. Defendor received an award at the Whistler Film Festival, the Claude Jutra Award at the Genie Awards and was nominated for a Directors Guild of Canada Award.

One day, after the release of the Jesse Stone: Sea Change series, James and his father were watching an interview with Tom Selleck on the Regis and Kelly Show. “[Tom Selleck] decided to use our clip to promote the series and spent a few minutes talking about me, ending with ‘James you owe me’,” recalled Rogers. The actor described the look on his father’s face as “one of the changing of the guards.”

“It was a very humbling moment, one I wish I wish I could have shared with my mother,” explained Rogers.

With the groundbreaking career James Preston Rogers has had thus far, one might be led to believe that his mother may still be cheering him on from somewhere, a guardian angel who is undoubtedly incredibly proud of her son.

If you want to check out more of James Preston Rogers work head on over to his IMDb page http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2286416/