The world knows him as

BROCKTON (2003-03-25) The world knows him as "Joe Millionaire," but the star of the hit Fox TV show yearns to be called by his given name.

"Do people call Clint Eastwood ´Dirty Harry?´" Evan Marriott said Monday before making an appearance at the new Filene´s at the Westgate Mall.

"One of the down sides of the show is never being referred to as Evan," he said. "That´s my name. That´s going to stay my name."

The Hollywood hunk came to town to help open the 46th Filene´s department store during a charity benefit day. He said the man millions of viewers saw on the show who duped 20 bachelorettes into thinking he was stinking rich but was really a blue-collar costruction worker, is the real deal.

The estimated 150 people who turned out to see him did not seem to care what he calls himself as long as they got to drink in his tall, tanned physique.

"Take it off!" yelled Kristen Froit of Brockton as Marriott came onto the stage in the junior´s department, dressed in a tan suit and white shirt, and sporting a 5 o´clock shadow and a fat silver Celtic cross around his neck, to the delight of cheering fans who stretched a line clear to the shoe department.

Two detail police officers kept the crowd in check.

"You don´t know how much I rushed from work," said an excited Cherie Gray, of Brockton who described herself as "over 25."

"I wanted to come because I thought he was so handsome," Gray said.

After each TV episode, Gray said she would discuss the details with her mother and sister. She liked the way he presented himself.

"I know that was his true personality. He was just a doll all the way around," Gray said.

Francesco Davoli of Taunton brought his wife, Terese, his mother, Francesca, and sons Tony, 14, and Gianfranco, 16, to see Marriott. They had all watched the program together and liked it.

"It was something totally new," Francesco Davoli said.

The appearance by Marriott was part of a charity day that will benefit more than 60 local organizations. The store sold at least 8,300 tickets, raising $41,500, said Filene´s employee Robin Reibel.

The $5 tickets bought the chance for store opening previews, specials and prizes.

LifeTEEN at Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton took top honors by selling 1,223 tickets. The Charity Guild Inc. of Brockton placed second by selling 516, and Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles of Bridgewater placed third, selling 419 tickets.

Filene´s will reward the charity that sells the most tickets with a $3,000 bonus check, $2,000 for the second highest and $1,000 for the third.

For Marriott, starring in the TV show has brought it own rewards as well. It has been a financial boon, but celebrity has also had its price.

"I´m a normal individual, but they treat me as their next-door neighbor or buddy," Marriott said of strangers and fans. "It can make for uncomfortable situations."

He discussed his life while eating from an array of brownies, chocolate chip cookies and chips with salsa prior to his appearance, politely offering the food to others.

The show has also given him a voice to speak out on causes that concern him. The war with Iraq is one, but he declined to elaborate on his views.

The show where he picked Zora Andrich as his mate has ended, as has their dating relationship. However, they remain friends, he said.

During a question-and-answer session with the crowd he claimed that nothing happened between him and Sarah on an episode where they were in the bushes. He sold himself to the crowd as a guy who watches football and is "into power tools."

He also told a mother whose sons are at the Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia that the school is like the one featured in the film "Dead Poets Society," and confessed to getting in trouble many times for running across town to the girls´ school.

Since the end of the series, he has been making guest appearances around the country. The trip to Brockton came after stops in Washington, D.C., and Hartford, Conn.

Marriott, raised in Virginia with a sister, said his parents brought him up with a set of strict morals. His future plans include using some of his earnings to start a construction company with a friend.

Sheila Dupuy, 17, of Brockton went to see Marriott with her mother, Jocelyn, 48, and grandmother, Gislene, 65.

"I just wanted to see him up close. See what everybody´s talking about," Sheila Dupuy said.

William Badgett, 18, of Brockton said he had a bone to pick with the star.

"I´m very upset with him because he didn´t pick the girl I wanted him to pick on the show," Badgett said.

He had hoped Marriott would choose Melissa, because Badgett thought they had better chemistry.

Meghan Phillips, 18, of East Bridgewater bought a bottle of perfume in order to get the chance to rub elbows with the heartthrob.

"I´m a big fan," she said while waiting in line.

The woman ahead of her, Chrisa Mavrikos, showed up at the mall at 6 a.m. to score a ticket. Her horoscope also told her to make a public appearance.

Taken by Marriott´s looks, she hoped something was written in the stars for them.

"I just think he´s sweet and beautiful and single. And so am I," Mavrikos said.