Twelve-year-old actor Caden Waidyatilleka has little resemblance to Jorge Garcia, who portrays Hurley on the ABC hit television series "Lost." With his spiky black hair, dark-tanned skin and lean build, the aspiring film star didn't think he stood a chance at landing the gig as young Hurley in a flashback scene.

But tonight, in an episode that is expected to explain Hurley's childhood relationship with his father (played by comedian Cheech Marin), Waidyatilleka will appear in a scene set in a Latino community in South Los Angeles (but actually filmed in Kaimuki).

Waidyatilleka was one of two local boys called back by producers in November for a final audition.

"The other person had the hair, and he was a pretty good actor. I saw him and I thought, 'Not much chance,' " Waidyatilleka said.

Then the phone rang, and Waidyatilleka got to sit in a makeup chair next to actor Daniel Dae Kim, meet Dominic Monaghan and shoot the breeze with Marin in between takes.

But before he could step in front of a camera, he needed to be transformed with spray-painted freckles, dyed eyebrows and a curly wig into a boy resembling the future lottery millionaire Hurley.

Waidyatilleka seemed less fazed by the fact that "Lost" brings in millions of viewers and was more excited that his school buddies would see him on TV.

"I feel like a mini star, kind of," he said. "I can't believe I'm actually going to be on TV."

CADEN WAIDYATILLEKA

Age: 12

Acting experience: "Lost" extra in Season 1 finale, television commercials, "Artful Dodger" in the July production of "Oliver!" at Paliku Theatre

School: Our Redeemer Lutheran School

Favorite "Lost" character: Hurley

Favorite "Lost" actor: Daniel Dae Kim

Best part about filming "Lost": Catching a glimpse of another story line when "we accidentally got on the wrong shuttle and went to a different scene that we didn't know about," he said.

'LOST'

9 tonight, ABC

Tonight's episode: Watch for 12-year-old Caden Waidyatilleka, of Kane'ohe, playing a young Hurley in a flashback scene. Waidyatilleka acts alongside actor and comedian Cheech Marin, as Hurley's dad. According to ABC's Web site, "Hurley's discovery of an old, wrecked car on the island leads him on a mission of hope, not only for himself but for a fellow survivor in need of some faith."

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.