The New X Man by Stephen Rebello Robert Patrick first riveted moviegoers as the ruthless shape-shifter who takes down the big guy in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. But so convincing was he as everybody's favorite new villain that he got stuck playing crackpots and shitheels in movies as bad as Double Dragon and Striptease. With a wife and two children to take care of, he didn't have the option of waiting for the right break. "My attitude was, no matter how low-budget the movie, I will improve myself, and Hollywood will not get rid of me," he says. Now, after staging an impressive return to form in three episodes of "The Sopranos" last season, his perseverance is paying off. Next month, he has All the Pretty Horses arriving on the big screen, and, in the spring, the much-delayed Texas Rangers will follow. Patrick's also in two other films due out this spring: Eye See You, a thriller starring Sylvester Stallone and Tom Berenger, and Robert Rodriguez's family oriented adventure film Spy Kids, with Antonio Banderas. But the most important news in his career is that he beat out Bruce Campbell and Lou Diamond Phillips to become Gillian Anderson's new costar on "The X-Files." He describes his character, FBI agent John Doggett, as "a patient, street-smart, absolutely centered guy with a powerful work ethic who kicks ass when the need arises--a real Steve McQueenesque romantic lead." Which begs the question: How does he hope to compete with Anderson's powerful screen chemistry opposite David Duchovny, who will be a less than full-time but continuing presence in the series? "I'm not worried because I felt chemistry with her the minute we started working together," says Patrick. "Besides, my character is so different from Duchovny's, it's making her character react differently." With his career stock higher than it's ever been, Patrick is understandably inclined to just enjoy the ride. "Acting is the only thing I have to offer," he claims, "so a day doesn't go by when I don't stop and appreciate this."