Actor and re-enactor

OGDENSBURG — Mark T. Valley is used to assuming different identities while starring in "Human Target" on the Fox network.

"If you're a corporate manager whose disgruntled employee has gone violently off the deep end, Christopher Chance (Mr. Valley's character) is your new auditor," Fox says. "If you're the president of a bank who's been tipped off to a potential heist, Chance is your unassuming bank teller."

And if you're a re-enactor who plans to be in Ogdensburg this summer at Fort La Presentation during Founder's Day celebrations, Mr. Valley is your new comrade in arms or mock "human target," depending on which side you'll be taking.

Mr. Valley announced last month, with a hint of glee, on NBC's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" that he plans to be in Ogdensburg this summer to take part in the250th French and Indian War anniversary events July 16 through 18 at Lighthouse Point.

"I just find it all rather fascinating," Mr. Valley said from his home in Los Angeles on April 3, a few days after returning from New York City, where he was promoting "Human Target." One of the outlets where he promoted the show was Mr. Fallon's program, where Mr. Valley gave a brief lesson on the history of Ogdensburg and mentioned the War of 1812 Battle of Ogdensburg.

"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with this battle," Mr. Fallon told Mr. Valley, as audience members joined his laughter.

Mr. Valley then summarized the battle for Mr. Fallon's national audience. On Feb. 22, 1813, the British surprised American troops headed by Benjamin Forsyth by charging across the icy St. Lawrence River from Prescott, Ontario, to take Fort La Presentation and the village.

"They took my city in about six hours, decided they didn't want to be there and turned around and they left," Mr. Valley told Mr. Fallon, who later was also the recipient of a "fake fighting lesson" from Mr. Valley.

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Mr. Valley, born Dec. 24, 1964, is a 1983 graduate of Ogdensburg Free Academy and the son of Martha Valley of Ogdensburg and Michael Valley of Potsdam. He's also a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served in West Germany, and also Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. The acting bug bit Mr. Valley after he left the service and moved to New York City.

He said he admires the resiliency of his hometown and it's something that's rubbed off on him.

"That can't help but have some influence my character and possibly my work," he said.

Besides having the lead role in "Human Target," Mr. Valley's has played John Scott in several episodes of "Fringe" in 2008-09; Brad Chase in "Boston Legal" from 2004-07; Richard Lockhart on "ER" from 2000-03, and Jack Deveraux on "Days of Our Lives from 1994-97." You can even hear his voice as the Cyclops in 2007's "Shrek the Third."

In 2008, Mr. Valley married his "Fringe" co-star Anna Torv. He has a 22-year-old daughter from a previous marriage; she lives in Minnesota.

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The action-drama "Human Target" debuted in January. It's based on the D.C. Comics graphic novel and comics. Mr. Valley plays a private contractor/security expert hired to protect people when a threat can't be solved through normal means. It airs at 8 p.m. on Fox, before "American Idol." Its season finale is Wednesday and Fox hasn't said whether it will renew the show.

A review in the Hollywood Reporter noted that a healthy sense of disbelief is necessary when watching the show. "At the same time, writer/executive producer Jonathan E. Steinberg and executive producer/director Simon West compensate by injecting enough action and suspense to make watching a genuine thrill ride," reviewer Barry Garron wrote. "Valley brings a cool confidence to the part and a willingness to throw himself into as many physical fights as the story requires."

Mr. Valley said he thinks there's a simple reason why the show has been well received: "It's not something that's been done on TV in a while," he said.

He said the show mixes elements of films like "Raiders of the Lost Arc" and TV shows like "Magnum P.I."

"You then add a little dash of humor and that's what we're looking at," he said.

He noted the show is attracting a young audience.

"Little kids are now coming up to me," he said. "It's kind of fun that kids are watching it."

Mr. Valley isn't thinking about leaving the small screen for the big screen. Although he has had film roles — including 1998's "The Siege" with Denzel Washington and in several independent movies — he says, "One of the things about being in a successful TV show is that you are locked in. People leave you alone."

He said if he decides to do movie projects he would have to say, "OK, I'm just going to stop doing TV."

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Mr. Valley said despite his globe-hopping action antics in the show, with settings ranging from the jungles of South America to a monastery in Quebec, the series is filmed in one location: Vancouver, British Columbia.

"It's got a nice variety of geography and cultural settlements," said Mr. Valley.

He said he enjoys the teamwork of filming the series, and his basketball-playing days in Ogdensburg are coming in handy.

"It's similar to playing a sport," he said. "The timing of working as a team is critical. It's like a basketball team. You have to be where the action is."

His military experience is also being put to good use. It originally helped him open some doors in the acting world.

"It was definitely a conversation starter," he said.

He stays in touch with some friends who were in the military with him and he asks them technical questions related to "Human Target."

"I ask, 'How is this really done?'" he said.

There is also a more casual and practical matter of military life he still enjoys.

"I still wear cargo pants," he said. "Once you go with six pockets, you can't go back."

Of course, unless you go way back, to the days of Fort La Presentation.