October 8, 2001

Famed Hacker to Guest Star on 'Alias'

LOS ANGELES - Kevin Mitnick, a computer hacker who was once among the FBI's most wanted, will guest-star as a computer expert on an upcoming episode of ABC's spy drama "Alias."

The twist, though, is that his character is working for the government. He'll play a CIA agent who works with double agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) and her CIA handler, Vaughn (Michael Vartan) to help bring down the renegade SD-6.

"It's really ironic playing a CIA agent ... especially after being targeted by so many federal agencies," Mitnick says.

Mitnick served about five years in prison for a number of computer fraud crimes, including stealing proprietary software for cell-phone systems. He was released in January 2000.

One of the conditions of his parole is that he not be allowed to touch a computer; "Alias" producers had to assure Mitnick's parole officer that he was using only props in filming the episode.

"If someone else had cast him on another show, I would have been jealous," says "Alias" creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams. "I've always been a fan of Kevin's renegade spirit and sense of genius and curiosity."

The episode, titled "Doppelganger," will air at 9 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 28 on ABC.

Thanks to vaughnetc.!

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