Surprising Selfless Reason Why Ian Ziering Did 'Sharknado'

(Photo Credit: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Ian Ziering had no idea his summer Syfy movie "Sharknado" would be a huge hit, but admits "I had to do it."

Ziering, 49, didn't know this little independent movie - about a tornado filled with sharks that has Los Angeles residents running for their lives - could be the movie of the summer. Even though he thought the film's script had holes in it, his wife Erin wasn't going to let him pass on the opportunity.

"I was really apprehensive, but as an actor I get my insurance from the Screen Actor's Guild by union, and you have to make so much every year to get that type 1 insurance," he told ABC News. "Halfway through the script, I said to my wife, 'Honey, I don't know about this.' She didn't miss a beat, she said, 'Look, you're going to have two babies [by] this spring, you need to go to work."

Read: 'Sharknado' Huge Hit, Will return Next Thursday on Syfy

The former "Beverly Hills 90210? star said he realized, "'Wow, I am going to have to take one for the team' and I probably would have passed on it. But now it's not just me, I'm providing for a wife and two kids."

He finished the script though and thought there was potential.

"I continued reading the script and saw I got to chainsaw my way out of the belly of a shark and said, 'Hey this may not be so bad,'" he added. "I have so much fun doing what I'm doing, I forget sometimes, I do this for a living."

Ziering spoke to ABC News as part of being named the inaugural " Daddy of the Year" for Daddy Scrubs.

Ziering said the creator of Daddy Scrubs wanted to create a larger footprint for fathers with the baby space and thought the actor would be a great representation of the brand.

Related: 'Sharknado 2' In The Works, Syfy Confirms

Ziering - who has two daughters, 2-year-old Mia and 6-month-old Penna - said he tries to be one of the most involved and connected fathers around. His family lives in Los Angeles and when he travels, he always makes sure to set aside time for his girls.

"I'm in New York right now, but my [older] daughter is in California, I use my cell phone to not only speak to her but to see her," he said. "We Google hangouts, we Skype … I can take pictures throughout my day and send little messages to be served with breakfast, a picture of dad eating breakfast where ever I am."

He added that he's very proud of the honor "Daddy of the Year," but so much credit is due to his wife, whom he married in 2010.

"I got to really hand it to my wife, she's the one getting up most nights," he gushed. "The lion's share of the workload goes to my wife."

Ziering said being a father is "the best role I've ever played."

Speaking of roles, will he do "Sharknado 2??

"We're in talks right now for the second one. I hope we are able to come to terms, it would be a lot of fun," he said of the sequel, anticipated for next summer. "As of now, I don't think they have a script. I know they want to shoot it in Manhattan."