James Marsden shares a look at his mullet hair days from high school on Today show

James Marsden dropped by the Today show to talk about his new tearjerker The Best Of Me.

The hunky 41-year-old actor also brought a picture from his high school yearbook that caused a wave of excitement too.

To James’ half-hearted dismay, the photo of his younger self appeared on screen, grinning ever so confidently and sporting the haircut so cherished back in the ’80s and so maligned now – the mullet.

James seemed ready for the good-natured ribbing that followed, even when host Matt Lauer loudly asked, ‘Is that a mullet?’

‘I don’t know what that is. It looks like a rodent is hiding behind me… attached to my neck,’ James joked, adding: ‘That was 1989.’

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as this was Throwback Thursday.

‘Take me back to your high school,’ Matt began, to which James jokingly replied, ‘No.’

James explained that he had to convince producers of another movie that he was right for the role – that of a guy who was most popular in high school – by showing them a picture from his own high school days.

The movie was the comedy D-Train, which follows ‘the head of a high school reunion committee (who) travels to Los Angeles to track down the most popular guy from his graduating class and convince him to go to the reunion,’ according to IMDB.com.

The mullet may have been James’ golden ticket because he got the part in the movie, which also stars Jack Black and is scheduled for release later this year.

James was eager to chat about the romantic drama The Best Of Me co-starring Michelle Monaghan and based on the weepy novel by Nicholas Sparks.

Regarding his character, James told Matt: ‘He comes from a tough upbringing. He had an abusive father. He’s an introvert and he meets this young woman who’s like a beacon of light for him. It’s the first time in his life when he’s experienced real love and so

The Best Of Me – which hits US theatres on Friday – takes moviegoers back and forth 20 years ago to the present in the lives of two star-crossed lovers, Dawson and Amanda.

‘In his case, this was the one for him and 20 years later she’s moved on with her life and he’s definitely trying to get her back, James told Matt.

Another actor, Luke Bracey, plays the younger Dawson in high school and actress Liana Liberato plays the younger Amanda.

Source: Daily Mail