Shane McDermott turned 42 this year. He has two sons and sells real estate.

But 25 years ago, he was a briefly a California dreamboat.

He was surfer Mitchell Goosen.

McDermott was 16 when landed the lead role in America's seminal rollerblading movie. A movie that captured the hearts of so many kids growing up in Cincinnati at the time: "Airborne."

More:'Airborne' is the best movie from Cincinnati that you've never seen

But even after all these years, the character remains a part of his life in Texas.

“I learn a lot from Mitchell Goosen all the time,especially now that I have kids,” McDermott said. "He was a pretty good guy. He was very tolerant. I think his philosophy on life was really good.”

In the 1993 movie filmed in Cincinnati, Mitchell was notable for his spiraling speeches about the meaning of life.

There are some similarities between McDermott and his character, as well. Both found themselves shipped off to Cincinnati on short notice.

In "Airborne," Mitchell's parents sent him to live with an aunt while they studied wombats in Australia for six months. Mitchell is now waveless, but he uses his rollerblading skills to turn the school bullies into his allies.

McDermott was essentially a child actor living in New York City back in the early 1990s doing commercials and other small roles. During the summers, he would rollerblade around the city to auditions.

Yes, Shane McDermott, the star of one of the only rollerblading movies ever made actually rollerbladed.

When the casting call for "Airborne" was made, he was fresh off a series called "Swans Crossing," a teen soap opera of sorts, in which he played Garrett.

Garrett had a bitter relationship with the mayor's daughter, Sydney Orion Rutledge. Sydney was played by a then 15-year-old, Sarah Michelle Geller.

McDermott said his agent videotaped his initial audition for "Airborne." While reading some of the lines, he messed them up and just laughed it off. His agent kept that grin in the tape, and McDermott was later told that attitude contributed to him getting the role.

Director Rob Bowman later flew to New York from Los Angeles to meet McDermott in person. In a moment that seems straight out of a different movie script, the pair rollerbladed together around the streets of New York City for several hours talking after the final audition.

Soon after, McDermott was flown to Cincinnati, just like his character Mitchell. There was even snow on the ground when he landed (just like when Mitchell gets his surfboard off the airplane).

“It was wall-to-wall work,” McDermott said, but added, "it was truly an amazing experience.”

He acted with Seth Green, who played his misfit cousin Wiley, and Jack Black, a bully-turned-friend named Augie.

Two scenes have stuck with him. First, the scene in which Seth Green tries on a number of different outfits before a double date. The sequence ends with Mitchell getting philosophical about Popeye, one of many similar soliloquies.

The other scene? That was filmed on the riverfront in Kentucky at night.

“The city had lit up the lights of Downtown for us to shoot so that it looks beautiful in the background. I remember being so impressed by that," McDermott said. "Cincinnati was committed to making this film great. Every time I see that scene, it’s a great memory.”

McDermott said people still approach him about "Airborne." He said it has a bit of a cult following.

“I really connect with a lot of the people who come up and talk about how Mitchell Goosen's influenced them," McDermott said. "Maybe it was a little bit through skating, but I actually I think it was that laid-back attitude.

"Good things come to those who are good. Sometimes you find yourself in difficult situations and you just have to power through it and stay positive. Mitchell Goosen was one of the most positive, and being positive is catching.”

In a few months, it was over.

The film opened in September 1993, the end of a summer that saw "Jurassic Park," "Free Willy" and "Hocus Pocus" in theaters. It grossed about $2.9 million, little more than it's estimated budget, according to the Internet Movie Database.

McDermott would go on to act in the soap opera "All My Children" for five episodes in 1995 and 1996. He continued to pursue acting into his early 20s but was then drawn to art and painting.

“You have to be passionate about what you do," McDermott said. "I’d been acting for so long, and art kind of snuck up.”

McDermott is living in Galveston, Texas, and selling a real estate in the region. He doesn't try to hide either part of his life.

"I am a painter. I am an artist. I like to say that," he said laughing, "but when you start having kids and you have a family, there are certain responsibilities that you take on."

When McDermott talks about his time filming "Airborne," there isn't a hint of regret or longing for what could have been.

He still loves the movie and can't wait until his kids are old enough to go see it. They're both toddlers.

He really hopes he can show it to them in a theater.

When asked about watching some of his co-stars who are still starring in movie theaters, his response is so positive it could be straight out of Mitchell Goosen's mouth.

“You follow your own path. Ultimately, what’s important is what makes you happy,” he said. “I was so lucky. When I watch them or see them on TV, it’s a very good feeling. I'm lucky enough to have had a very interesting life."

Now, a quarter century after "Airborne" opened on the big screen, McDermott is taking his boys to swim classes, and he does more jogging than rollerblading.

And what would Mitchell Goosen be up to at 42?

McDermott had an idea.

“Maybe he would be an artist is Texas selling real estate. I would hope," he joked. "I would hope that in my life I’ve been lucky enough to channel Mitchell Goosen.”