Los Al junior likes time away from set.

By Earl Williams
Staff writer

Clayton Snyder's parents' Seal Beach home is like an exclusive island retreat. There are palm trees galore, a 150 species to be exact, as well as numerous small wooden Tiki sculptures throughout the house and garden. The most noticeable tree is a mahogany floor lamp in the living room, not too far from this copper fountain that sounds like a creek of water that flows from this small hut on to lily pads.
This is where Snyder can unwind with his mother's 11-year-old talking Catalina McCaw perched atop of a huge bird cage. Not too far away, Snyder often breaks out his guitar to play Christian alternative rock music when he's inspired or to simply entertain one or two close friends when he is not playing water polo for Los Alamitos High, a team that will host Tustin in the first round of the CIF-SS Div. I playoffs today.

This is where adoring fans aren't around to ask him for his autograph or to take photographs. "I still go out and do what everyone else does," Snyder said, "(But) I can't go to big public places without having to sign a few autographs. It's really weird."

For three years, Snyder played the character Ethan Craft on the popular Disney produced television show "Lizzie McGuire," played by Hilary Duff. He describes the character as a dumb jock that all the chicks wanted, a role he certainly doesn't play in life. The junior has a 3.67 GPA, and takes AP Spanish. "You can't be in this business if you aren't a good student," said Glenda, Snyder's mother.

People still ask him stupid questions, they say. "I rather be known as a guy who played water polo than the guy on 'Lizzie McGuire," ' Snyder said. "I feel I'd get more respect. I get the dumbest questions. 'Are you really that dumb?" 'Did you ever learn how to do fractions?" And they are sincere when they ask it. It's kind of sad sometimes."

In Rome three years ago, Snyder vowed to never let his movie career interfere with water polo. His freshman season, he was expected to start on varsity for the Griffins. But he instead elected to shoot the "Lizzie McGuire' movie in Europe. He spent a good deal of his time tracking the team over the Internet and calling friends. The team lost to Servite in the CIF-SS finals. "I might have made the difference. But I'll never know," Snyder said. "A lot of people had high expectations for me. It was kind of a disappointment when I said I was leaving. I still wonder today if the movie was worth doing."

For now, Clayton has chosen water polo over the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. He has done some promotional work for the movie industry and has been flown to Chicago, Colorado, Texas and other cities to raise funds for many causes. He hasn't went to casting calls.

"It wasn't that hard to leave (acting)," Snyder said. "A lot of people work for 10 years hoping to get that commercial spot. And I know that not a lot of 14-and 15-year-old kids get to go to Europe and film a movie that's going to be shown at theaters. (But) I don't have a passion for it like other people."

In two seasons of water polo, the 17-year-old 2-meter offensive player has gradually made a name for himself. In the summer, he tried out along with hundreds of players across the nation for the U.S. Men's Youth National Age Group Team and was among the top 40 players before being cut. UCLA, Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara are interested in him.

This year, the 2003 All-CIF-SS Division II selection has scored 64 goals to help lead the Griffins (21-6, 5-0) to the Sunset League title. He scored four goals against top-ranked Wilson (Division I) in the teams' second meeting, five against El Toro, four against Esperanza and three against Newport Harbor, also top-ranked teams in Division I and II. "I think he's definitely a top player in Division II," Wilson coach Tony Martinho said. "He's tough, strong. He always finishes plays. He always plays well against us."

Snyder is elated that he hasn't heard fellow students shout, "Oh, my God! There's Ethan' in a while. "People from school have finally gotten over it," said Snyder, who began playing water polo and acting in elementary school and continued both activities in middle school and community theater, playing the roles from Bugsy Malone to Tom Sawyer to the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.

Girls from other schools show up to see the character, Ethan Craft. For a while, one fan got out of hand. Last year, Snyder finally got rid of a girl used to show up at his games and charity events and in front of his home. She even got a hold of their phone number and had someone call him to meet her outside. Glenda finally confronted her, telling her the stalking had to stop. "It went on for a few years," Snyder said. "She went to all my games. But when she began standing in front of my house, it was awkward." Glenda said: "We had to ban her from Snyder's fan Web site. She was very upset about it. She wrote to his manager. She (later) apologized." She hasn't made contact with him since.

Today, Snyder, who now has a girlfriend, prefers to remain low key. He doesn't really like to stand out from his teammates. He has made enough money to drive expensive sport cars and to purchase other high-ticket products, but he doesn't. "He's humble," said his father, Steve. "He thinks of others before he thinks of himself. He doesn't take himself too seriously. He just likes being one of the guys. He doesn't like special treatment. I think it's his nature to be that way. "The money that he has made in acting, we are saving for when the time comes for him to buy a home," Steve continued. "(Right now), he wants to buy a new bass guitar. He still thinks it's ridiculous that he gets residual checks in the mail for not doing anything."

His mother wants him to pursue his acting career. "The opportunity may not be there when he is ready to act again," Glenda said. "I think it's worth exploring because he does enjoy it. He is so at home doing it." He nails his lines on the first take, she said.

"I know I have their support no matter what I do," Snyder said.

NOTES FROM THE WEBMASTER:

We'd like to point out that "McCaw" is really "macaw". And "Christian Alternative Rock" would be more like "Satanic Death Pop and/or Alternative Hardcore Country". Actually we don't know what we play, call it whatever you want. Otherwise, good article!