The film and television star made his first appearance on a New York stage at a Matthew Shepard Foundation benefit reading of The Laramie Project Dec. 1 at The Town Hall — where he reprised the role he played in the HBO Films version of the work.

"For the last couple of years, I have been actively looking and occasionally pursuing [an official New York stage debut]," the actor told Playbill.com prior to the benefit reading. "I got a little spoiled, I'll be perfectly honest. My experience in the West End was so good and it was in such a good play with such a good actor that I think I was a little precious when I came back at first. It's going to be tough — it's going to be hard for anything to match that experience, but I'm desperate to work on the stage here."

As for the production in which he made his stage debut, he is uncertain the work will transfer to Broadway. "There was talk at one point of bringing it over. Patrick has been working all year for the Royal Shakespeare Company. So, he's been off the theatre market for the last year. I don't know if they are going to revive talks of bringing it over."

Jackson sees the delay as a blessing in disguise: "I have a funny feeling it would be wiser for me, as an actor, and for my ego in general to start Off-Broadway and then maybe move my way in the direction of Broadway if it happens. I jumped into the deep end in the West End, and I think maybe I would take a soft landing into New York if I could."

Audiences may remember Jackson from his turns in "The Mighty Ducks" films and his television stint as Pacey on "Dawson's Creek." Other credits include "Scream 2," "The Safety of Objects," "Cruel Intentions," "Urban Legend" and more recently in "Aurora Borealis," "Americano," "Bobby" and (in voice on) "Racing Stripes." Next up for the star: "I just finished a movie called 'The Battle in Seattle,' which is about the World Trade Organization protest in '99. So that's the next thing that will come on screen."