Since 1996 – Los Angeles
When I arrived in LA in 1996, thanks to Sarah Finn, who casts the Marvel movies (I’m available, Sarah! I could be Scientist #5 or Prof. Rodchenko), I did a read-through of Paulie: a Parrot’s Tale. Cold readings are one of my strengths, and the director asked if I’d like a small role. Yes! I am credited as Graduate Student #1 (I’m #1!). But I had just met my (future) wife in an interview lunch at Ca’ Del Sole in Universal City (Universal paid the tab). Ellen and I got married and I felt that depending on acting would be irresponsible since I now had two stepkids and a mortgage. So I leveraged my fancy Columbia Physics B.A. and became a technical writer. I’m in my 14th year at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, doing my bit for the Space Program.
But I could never get far away from the stage. I took the Upright Citizen’s Brigade improv classes (Yes, AND!), all four levels, twice! I helmed EST/LA’s playwright’s group and acted in readings, including the very funny We Used to Be Fun by Carole Real. Just before the pandemic, I did a play by Nick Ullet, How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall, in which I played a butler. I sang in An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer at Caltech.
Then, COVID… I was working at KSC in Cape Canaveral, Florida on the Perseverance rover project (my signature is on the rover), right when the pandemic hit – masks, toilet paper shortages, angry Floridians… I came home on the NASA jet (ask me to tell you about it) and a year in isolation passed. And I really wanted to act again.
I remembered that Risa Bramon, the GOAT casting director (and EST member), had an acting studio, the BGB Studio. I took her 8-week Advanced Master Class. It was great, so I signed up for Syd Walsh’s ongoing on-camera scene study class, which is where I practice weekly.
I’m not represented but I am in AEA and SAG/AFTRA, so I go on Equity Principal Auditions and I submit myself through Actor’s Access, Backstage, and Casting Network.
I have just shot a short film called The Art Thieves by the very talented Nosayaba Annmarie, directed by Gracie Giffune. I think it will be great! Will post clips when I have some.