Fans of the Discovery Channel television show Mythbusters will quickly recognize the name Tory Belleci. The TV personality will be appearing at Radford University Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Bondurant Auditorium of Preston Hall.

Belleci, when he has time, enjoys giving talks at colleges across the nation. “People usually ask, ‘Are you going to blow anything up at the talk?” and the answer is, well, no,” Belleci said. “I wish I could, but the venue usually doesn’t have enough insurance. What they can expect is a behind-the-scenes, more personal look at Mythbusters.”

The California native, whose full first name is Salvatore, is known for his enthusiasm, wit, and a skater-boy look and charm—as well as for blowing things up. Belleci, who will be 38 on Oct. 30, and cohorts Kari Byron and Grant Imahara typically act as one team busting myths while the shows original hosts, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage usually work as a second team. All five of the show’s on-air personalities seem to especially love explosions. The thrills don’t come without dangers, though.

“Probably one of the most dangerous experiences I have had on the show was on the Viral Video episode,” Belleci said. “We made an oversized air cannon, filled it with non-dairy coffee creamer, launched it into the air, and set it on fire. Suddenly the wind changed and we had a giant storm of fire raining down on us. It was terrifying.”

But harrowing experiences on Mythbusters haven’t been Belleci’s only roles in the entertainment world. In 1994, after graduating from San Francisco State University’s film school, Belleci started working with Hyneman at a small production company long before Mythbusters was even an idea.

Belleci honed his skills with Hyneman and then started working with Industrial Light & Magic as a model builder, sculptor, and painter. He worked on films such as The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Starship Troopers, Galaxy Quest, T3, The Matrix (II and III), and Van Helsing.

“One of my favorite movies I have worked on, and maybe because it was my first project I worked on at Industrial Light & Magic, was Starship Troopers,” Belleci said of his experience as a model maker in the 1997 film.

Bellici was reunited with Hyneman when he began work on MythBusters in 2003. Belleci began working behind the scenes before moving up to an on-air personality in the third season.

“The great thing about being on Mythbusters is how many doors have opened up since the show,” Belleci explained. “It used to be I would go into a network to pitch an idea and the executives would just look at me with blank faces and I would have explain who I was and what I’ve done. Now I walk in and they already know all about me so it makes pitching much easier.”

Saturday night’s program is sponsored by the RU Campus Activities Board and Black Awareness Programming. Tickets are free and are available in the Bonnie Hurlburt Information office.

And to get to know the Mythbusters star a bit better, we leave you with:

Five Questions With Tory Belleci

New River Voice: If you weren’t on Mythbusters, what would you be doing?

Tory Belleci: I would be directing movies.

NRV: What’s your favorite TV show (other than Mythbusters)?

TB: Curb Your Enthusiasm

NRV: Got any hobbies (other than, like, blowing things up)?

TB: When I have time I love to paint and sculpt.

NRV: What do you hope to be doing at age 50?

TB: I hope to have a family, live in Carmel Valley, and be directing movies.

NRV: If you were on desert island indefinitely and had to choose one of your Mythbusters onscreen mates to be there with you, which one would you choose?!?

TB: Who do you think? Ha Ha!

NRV: Well, Tory, we think Adam, Jamie, and Grant are all smart guys and could probably be very useful on a desert island. But we think you’d choose someone else.

Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice and religiously records Mythbusters on his DVR to watch at his convenience.