‘Life on Mars’ is good for actor Jason O’Mara

By Terry Morrow | November 8, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — “Life on Mars” star Jason O’Mara’s time has come.

After either playing short-term roles in prime-time shows or being the lead in series with no future, O’Mara has landed one of the plum parts of the fall: playing time-displaced cop Sam Tyler in ABC’s version of the British hit series.

The show (10 p.m. Thursdays) comes with its own set of expectations. The British series was a hit globally and made actor John Simm, who played Sam originally, a critical darling.

Anticipation has been high for the American version. So far, positive reviews and a sizable audience have put “Mars” on solid footing.

Still, O’Mara admits he knows he’s stepping into unsteady territory.

“Mars” hasn’t had an easy time making it into ABC’s rotation. Rounds of backstage changes, including reshooting and recasting the first pilot, spurred speculation that “Mars” was in trouble early on.

“I had to roll with the punches,” he says. “Whatever challenges we had, everybody seems to be on the same page now.”

The Dublin, Ireland-born O’Mara has been in the “Mars” orbit for almost two years. He says ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson talked to him about the project during its infancy.

McPherson was familiar with O’Mara’s work after seeing him on ABC’s “In Justice” crime drama, which lasted less than a season.

O’Mara also had recurring roles on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Men in Trees” and “The Closer.”

His first major television role stateside was as 1st Lt. Thomas Meehan in HBO’s “Band of Brothers.”