Ryan Kwanten, who plays hunk Jason Stackhouse on "True Blood," is no stranger to blood and bites. After all, he's been bitten by bloodsuckers too many times to count on HBO's hit vampire drama.
But he's also a shark-attack survivor, a fact he brings up in his episode of Esquire Network's new show, "The Getaway," which follows various celebrities as they explore different cities. Kwanten's episode focuses on Los Angeles.
In a clip that the network is sharing exclusively with TODAY, the Australian actor explains that because of his run-in with a shark as a child, he has great respect for lifeguards. But the experience hasn't made him shy away from surfing.
In fact, Kwanten revealed in the video that he competes in Surf Life Saving, a competitive sport derived from some of the training lifeguards go through.
"I started competing in Surf Life Saving at the ripe old age of 5 back in Australia, which happens to be where the sport was invented in 1907," Kwanten said before hitting the waters of Hermosa Beach to train with local lifeguards.
The "True Blood" star's episode of "The Getaway" — a series produced by Anthony Bourdain — will also follow the actor to different neighborhoods for some of his favorite eats and watering holes, as well as outdoorsy areas for exercise.
"The Getaway" airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Esquire Network.