You couldn’t help but notice the commercial. There he was: a shirtless construction worker who was the object of lust of women (and some men) in that infamous Diet Coke ad. That spot set off a nationwide craze for him and a debate about the objectification of men—something women had been going through for quite some time, to say the least.

Now, almost a decade later, Lucky Vanous (and, yes, that’s his actual name) is still going strong. For example, he’s been in TV series such as 18 Wheels of Justice and Pacific Palisades. As you will see, he’s still involved in Hollywood dealings and still loves to work out but is hoping to, um, sink his teeth into something different.

Windy City Times: How intense was the spotlight after that Diet Coke commercial aired?

Lucky Vanous: It was a pretty much a massive explosion. I was studying history and political science at Fordham University at the time and was totally unprepared for the spotlight.

WCT: So what’s on your plate now?

LV: I’m developing a project called I.C.E. [Interstate Criminal Enforcement], an action-adventure show based on reality. It’s a small group of special-operations patrolmen based in Las Vegas. I’m also opening up a business.

WCT: What type?

LV: The name is going to be Horn Dogs.

WCT: Pardon me?

LV: It’s Horn Dogs. It’s an organic hot dog stand. (Laughs) That’s right, my friend.

WCT: You gotta love that name. Who came up with that?

LV: I did, of course. But let me tell you about it. It will be unlike any other hot dog place. Everything will be homemade with natural, organic ingredients, including buns, ice cream, garlic fries, sundaes with Belgian hot fudge …

WCT: OK, you have to remember that this is a health and fitness article …

LV: Well, hold on. In health and fitness, realize that even when you go off [your healthy routine], you should choose wisely. No one is going to strictly eat non-fat foods. I’m strict 90 percent of the time, but the other 10 percent involves wise choices. If you’re going to go off, wouldn’t you rather have something natural and organic?

If you knew what was in hot dogs, you wouldn’t eat them. I can assure that the hot dogs at Horn Dogs will not have snouts and [other animal parts]. We’re going to be the home of the cleanie weenie. (Laughs) The size is nice, too. There are too many skinny weenies out there.

WCT: OK, there were about eight sexual innuendoes there …

LV: That’s part of the fun with Horn Dogs. We have horn dogs, Horn Dog corn dogs (a spicy hot dog), the Lucky dog, polish sausage and other items in a fun menu. The first one will be in L.A.

WCT: Speaking of cities, what do you think of Chicago?

LV: I love Chicago even though I haven’t been there in a long time. Just about everyone I know who’s been to Chicago loves it. The only things they may not like are the long winters. WCT: What was it like being on the set of Will & Grace? [Note: Vanous guest-starred on the show in 1999 as a paramedic.]

LV: Honestly, the people were very, very kind. The majority of actors are not usually very kind to their fellow actors. That was a very friendly and professional set. They take their craft seriously. There’s a reason why their show’s a hit. WCT: If you weren’t an actor, what do you think you’d be doing?

LV: I would be a businessman of some sort, probably in real estate.

WCT: You were a member of the Black Berets, an Army antiterrorism group. How intense was the training?

LV: The fitness routine was extremely intense. One word that would epitomize it would be endurance.

From 4:30 a.m., you were on the go. You had two designated fitness training periods, in the morning and in the mid-afternoon. You might go for a five-mile run and come back and do push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups for another hour. In the afternoon, we went out in the field and did survival training like swim with our gear on. We also had runway runs. We’d take sandbags, about 25 pounds each, in each hand and run for a mile or two. Then there would be more calisthenics. In addition, we were in the classroom the rest of the time.

WCT: What’s your current exercise regimen?

LV: I weight-train five days a week. I also do yoga twice a week, spin three days a week, and I hike one day a week. I sometimes spin for 2-1/2 hours straight; it’s a great workout.

WCT: I know that you’re just a shade over 21 years old …

LV: Oh my God. I’m actually 42!

WCT: How much harder do you find it to keep in shape now?

LV: When it comes to exercising and putting your nose to the grindstone, age is pretty much irrelevant. But do I notice a difference between what I can eat now and what I could eat 20 years ago? Of course. If you’re consistent [about your routine], you won’t have that much of a problem.

I still have a ravenous appetite. I’m on the go constantly, but if I eat cleanly I can eat more.

WCT: I just regret that I won’t be able to taste a horn dog.

LV: No, you too will taste a horn dog, my friend!

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If you want to view Lucky and even leave a message for him, visit his web site at www.luckyvanous.net.

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I’m at westelm406@yahoo.com.