BP native stars in first ever mystery on Disney Channel

Josh Braaten continues his acting career by starring in an upcoming first of its kind for Disney Channel.
The Blooming Prairie native will star as Ben Campbell in a new time-travel mystery series, “Secrets of Sulphur Springs.” The series, which is geared toward kids and families, premieres Friday, Jan. 15 with a special one-hour uninterrupted programming event at 7 p.m. on the Disney Channel.
New episodes of the series will air Fridays from 7-7:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 22.
Set in the fictional Louisiana town of Sulphur Springs, the series follows 12-year-old Griffin Campbell whose world has been upended by his father, Ben. Ben has moved the family from Chicago to take ownership of an abandoned hotel property, the Tremont. The family moves into the Tremont in hopes of restoring it to the lively vacation destination it once was.
On the first day at his new school, Griffin hears rumors that the hotel is haunted by the ghost of Savannah, a girl who disappeared decades ago. He soon meets and befriends Harper, a thrill-seeking classmate, and soon they discover a secret portal that allows them to travel back in time and uncover clues about the town mystery.
People will want to watch all 11 episodes of the series, said Braaten, who graduated from Blooming Prairie in 1995, during an interview with the Times last week. “They are awesome cliffhanger episodes.”
“It’s such a well-written, well-produced and a really grounded series.”
The new, mystery series made Braaten think about all the cool mystery shows like “Back to the Future” that he watched as a child while growing up outside of Blooming Prairie during the 1980s. “I have so many cool memories of watching those shows,” he said.
As the lead actor in the new series, Braaten said he is excited to be a part of something where more is unraveled during each episode. He said a “secret or two” will be revealed about him as the father in the series.
“It’s a family mystery show,” Braaten said. “People of all ages will find it entertaining and mildly spooky. It makes you feel like a kid on Halloween.”
A large part of the series was filmed in an “awesome old house next to a swamp outside New Orleans,” said Braaten, adding that the filming reminded him of his childhood back home. “I feel like I’m 12-years-old and getting ready to fish at the Cedar River,” he said.
Braaten said the series is “a return to programming for the entire family.” He said there is a little something for everybody in the series.
After graduating from Winona State University with a degree in theatre, Braaten went to the Chicago area for one year. He soon got hooked up with someone from Hollywood and has since enjoyed a 20-year career acting in movies and TV shows.
He is perhaps best known for his lead role in the sci-fi period drama “Horizon” and his recurring role on FX’s “American Horror Story.”
“I went from nobody to being on TV. It was a whirlwind,” Braaten said, adding he has been in nearly 50 shows during his career.
He said he remembers his first acting role during the Great Pumpkin play in elementary school in Blooming Prairie. He eventually went on to star in the lead role during his senior year in the musical Tintypes under the direction of Frank Vorlicek.
Braaten said he was a “shy but artistic kid” in school and he credits Vorlicek and others for getting him out of his comfort zone during high school. “For whatever reason he saw something in me,” Braaten said of Vorlicek. “He had such an artistic approach to everything he did.”
Asked when he fell in love with acting, Braaten shared about how he watched Batman on TV with his grandpa. “I remember telling my grandpa that I want to be him (referencing the guy in the suit),” he said. His grandpa replied, “Oh, you want to be an actor.” Braaten admits he didn’t think it would be a realistic career path at the time.
“I have been lucky enough to find what I’m good at,” Braaten said. “It’s a gift I have been given. It’s important that I work hard at it and do my best to share it with people.”
Braaten added he has come to terms with the realization that no doesn’t really mean no. It just means he may not be able to do something at that moment, referencing the more than 1,500 auditions he has done for parts during his career.
He said the most fun gig he’s had so far in his career was American Horror Story, a 1970s spoof about a semi-pro basketball team. “I got to relive my Blooming Prairie High School glory days of basketball with short shorts and big hair,” Braaten said.