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I have been blessed to work with, befriend and converse with several of the actors, filmmakers, and storytellers I have grown up watching and admiring. Not unlike many Vancouver actors, I have been able to work alongside some of the biggest names in the industry and share stories, share fears and dreams, and find the common elements that unite us all. During the 90s, I was doing whatever I could to stay sharp, get better, and remove any ceiling on my potential.
In my earlier years this involved a lot of stage time performing stand Up, Improv, and Sketch comedy.
But I went in every week and worked my set for a free beer and a meal. I would do my set for whomever would listen and earn food and drink and possibly a few dollars extra. I performed in Legions, for schools, corporate events, and anyone who would give me stage time to hone my craft. It was a pretty cool gig for a scared kid with no real world experience and many of the performers I worked alongside went on to become some of the bigger names in the industry.
One of my most memorable nights here was when I came off stage and found myself hanging out with a bunch of aspiring comedians and Robin Williams. He was in town shooting Jumangi and stopped by to be in a familiar place with familiar people. It was one of the coolest moments of my life. He was kind, an incredible listener, and talked to each of us as equals.
