"I like being able to use my imagination," he said.
"I like drawing myself into other characters. Those characters are real people and I like to explore different ways of life. My life is one set way, but there are so many other ways of life that I can explore."
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"(My parents) knew I was going to (move to L.A.), they just didn't know when," he said.
Before Roehrs moved to west Hollywood he attended East Central College in Union, where he participated in theater, children's theater and optimist speaking.
"I left (East Central) before I graduated," Roehrs said. "I couldn't stand it anymore. I knew what I wanted and I knew where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do and it wasn't there.
"It was like the old dog on a bone analogy. I was the dog and I'm on a leash tied to a post and someone throws a bone to me that's sitting three feet away and I just can't reach it. I was going crazy. It was like, 'just let me go.'"
In the four years since Roehrs cut that leash, he has done a lot.
"One of my neighbors at the apartment complex when I first got here was a model and she brought me to her agency."
Roehrs has now modeled for Howe, Ray Ban, Michael Kors, Joe's Jeans and others. He also has been in BPM and 944 magazines, done runway modeling and played the role of the boyfriend in Katharine McPhee's music video "Over It."
Last year he was in a Honda commercial. Roehrs also had a non-speaking role at the beginning of "Pineapple Express."
After being in L.A. for about six months he was on the set of "Big Love" when he met Bill Paxton.
"He told me to introduce myself to Vincent Chase," Roehrs said. "(Paxton) said (Chase) had a place in Hollywood and to look him up, so I did. I looked him up and went to see him and he had me do a cold reading. I didn't really know what a cold reading was, but I had an idea. I had no film training. I had been theatrically trained."
Chase, who Roehrs fondly refers to as "family away from family," became his acting coach. He has previously worked with Paxton, Michael Bean, Mark Wahlberg and Shia LaBeouf.
"He's (Chase) is 80 years old," Roehrs said. "I always call him Yoda and I'm his Luke Skywalker except I don't carry him on my back. I tried that once and it didn't work."
After being in the L.A. area for almost four years, Roehrs first feature film, "Beyond the Farthest Star," is tentatively scheduled to be released this upcoming October.
"(Making the movie) was a great learning experience," he said. "I had a great time. It was one of those things where it totally solidified my want and desire for acting. It made me realize that this is where I'm supposed to be."
Roehrs auditioned three times for the role and felt honored that he had been selected for the part.
"I was flattered that they asked me to be in their movie," he said.
Roehrs filmed in Texas and said the movie is about life, love and hope.
"This prodigy preacher moves to a small town called Leonard, Texas," he said. "I don't know what the population was (in Leonard) but it wasn't a lot. There was one hotel with 17 rooms so naturally (the cast and crew) used every one of them. We were like fish out of water but it was great.
"Anyway, big problems follow (the preacher) to the small town and his past isn't pretty. He has a troubled daughter and there's a colorful group of characters that surround this family.
"I play Kyle Tucker. Kyle is on the other side of the tracks. He's a little off-beat. His dad wasn't the kindest to him. The only real family he has is his best friend Stephen.
"Stephen is the troubled girl's boyfriend and my character feels as though she's coming between me and my best friend. My character feels threatened by that. Stephen was like family up until then and my character decides to take matters into his own hands.
"He's basically the villain, but I don't see him as the villain. He's just troubled. He's not that bad."
Roehrs said the experience of being on set was one of a kind.
"You never forget your first. Your first love . . . anything. Well, I will never forget it. It was my first," he said. "I learned a lot in a short period of time."
When asked what he plans to do next Roehrs jokingly replied, "retire," but then said, "No, I'm planning on finding the next thing. I audition three or four times a week. I just had an audition for a Mountain Dew commercial."
Roehrs feels very fortunate he's been given the opportunities he's had.
"I'm very blessed I've made it this far," he said. "My goal is to be an established actor with wonderful parts that I've played that will make people think and feel . . . I want to take them out of the norm.
"If I've done that then I'll feel like I've accomplished a lot . . . My goal is to do what I love and do it for the people who watch it."
Roehrs' advice to anyone looking to pursue acting is to be flexible.
"You have to be able to roll with the punches, go with the roll," he said. It's a different way of life out here (in L.A.). Every day is something different. It's like an adventure. (Acting) is not certain. You don't know when your next meal or next paycheck is going to be, (but) my advice is to always follow your heart and your dreams . . . Do what you want to do."
