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Tampa teen lands small role in the new Baywatch movie

Hopes it could launch a long career
Posted at 6:23 PM, May 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-25 09:07:01-04

By all accounts, L.J. Ruth is a typical 13-year-old.

"I like class parties, I have friends, I go biking around my neighborhood and I'm taking my finals today," said L.J.

And while he goes to school, most of his studying is done in the back seat of his mom's SUV, it's been that way for 10 years.

"He auditions all the time for all kinds of movie,' said C.C. Ruth.

C.C. even quit her job to help her son pursue his dream. And last year the mother -son team received the call they had waited for.

"It's an amazing experience," L.J.'s mom said through tears.

A chance for L.J. not only to be in a major motion picture

"It is everywhere. It is in 27 countries, all over the united states. That is alot of people," said L.J.

It is also an opportunity to share the screen with his long time idol Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the movie Baywatch, based on the old television series.

"I worked with him for three weeks and he was like a really good friend almost," said L.J.

In the movie Johnson is also his savior. L.J. falls in with Johnson jumping in right after pulling him out. L.J. even made t-shirts in honor of his role as "pier boy."

"It is a small role in the film but it's huge for L.J. This is by far the biggest film he has ever done," said C.C.

L.J's family hopes this could be the chance he needs to launch a long career. The 7th grader hopes so too but he's keeping his options wide open.

"I could do anything. I like politics. I would like to be a judge and solve problems that would be a good thing the world needs that," said L.J.

And L.J said if he can make a difference, he's good.

He hopes people will follow him on social media: