ACTOR WORKS UP A SWEAT PLAYING MEAT LOAF

ACTOR WORKS UP A SWEAT PLAYING MEAT LOAF

LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) -- Not everyone can sing like Meat Loaf, but the actor who plays him in an upcoming TV movie says sweating like the pop star is even more difficult. W. Earl Brown -- who played Cameron Diaz' retarded brother in "There's Something About Mary" -- will portray Meat Loaf in a VH1 biopic airing later this month. Incredibly, he says the hardest part wasn't singing like Meat Loaf -- it was sweating like him. So, before filming concert scenes, Brown did push-ups and shadow boxing to get his juices flowing. It must have worked because Meat Loaf showed up for one scene and muttered, "He's got it down." Even more amazing: During the time that Brown was a make-believe Meat Loaf, the singer temporarily took Brown's place on his softball team. "Meat Loaf: To Hell And Back" will debut July 26 on VH- 1.