Life & Work with Moe Irvin of Westside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Moe Irvin

Hi moe, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I fell into acting by accident. It was never my intention initially. I wanted to be a Veejayback back when MTV and BET were actually about music television. I wanted to do what Donnie Simpson, Arsenio Hall or any of the Veejay’s on MTV were doing; interview musicians, primarily. I had no formal training except a little from junior college. I use to drive up from Riverside, where I’m from, and go to live tapings of The Arsenio Hall Show to see how it worked. I even got an interview to be a page on the show, which I blew by wearing a purple velvet suit to the interview. (it’s a long story) Prince inspired clothing is never a good idea in a professional setting, in case you didn’t know. But, hell, I was young, fearless, and thought Hollywood was all sunglasses and sequins! A friend of a friend was the only person I knew here. His name was Russell Clark. He was a big choreographer who was teaching an acting class to dancers transitioning into acting. He invited me to take his class and I did. And that was the start for me. I had a natural knack for acting. I had performed when I was younger but mostly dancing in the streets, that type of thing. Not acting. But he pulled me aside and told me that I had talent and that I could work if I stuck with it. So I did. I would hear that many times over the coming years. That kept me going. I developed a love for the craft and went on to seek deeper training. And so began the L.A hustle of day jobs while training and trying to get acting work. Everything was trial by fire. There’s no road map to this. I suppose there can be when you’re trained at an institution like Julliard or Yale but I was not aware of those institutions at the time so I blindly found my way through one day at a time.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is nothing smooth about the entertainment industry unless you’re nepo’d in or something similar. For actors, artists, etc. the struggle is surviving day to day while pursuing your art. Keeping a roof over your head. My road was not smooth but I had help from people who saw my talent and spread the word and some lucky breaks. You need all of those things. Some of my obstacles were things like typecasting and imposter syndrome, but I think the bigger challenges are learning to develop the thick skin needed for the amount of rejection you endure regularly. It’s not normal to deal with that. And in my case, I was a former athlete so I was crazy competitive to an unhealthy degree and it didn’t serve me. And I was really hard on myself which also didn’t help. You need community in this game so to be competitive with your friends and such is hurtful to one’s career. I partied a lot in the early days. Time I could have spent towards my craft. So, I wasn’t as disciplined as I could have been. Those are the trappings of LA. Especially when you’re new in town. And they are big obstacles to overcome. So the key is to learn to stay out of your own way and get the help you need when you need it so you can focus on living a full, disciplined, healthy life that will inform your work. And when life gets tough, you’ll know how to deal with that and use those hard times to also inform the work; the lived experiences, but in a healthy way.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an actor through and through. I love this work. I’m one of those people that can’t not do it. Some people say acting is what you do not who you are. Maybe for some. But for me, it is who I am. It’s part of me. Not all of me but a significant part of me. I’d be empty without it. I wouldn’t put myself through this industry if I could be fulfilled elsewhere. And that’s how you know you’re the real deal.

I’m mostly known as a dramatic actor but I love comedy as well. And I’m great with comedy. I’m just rarely given the looks for comedy because most casting directors see me one way except for commercials which is where I do most of my comedy. It’s something I’m still working through.

I have a wide range as an actor. Those who know, know. mostly seen in theater. I still have much to share with the world and I look forward to sharing it.

How do you think about luck?
Talent is about five percent of the success equation in entertainment. The rest is proximity to success and luck. Real talk. I think I’ve created a lot of good luck by taking chances on myself and putting myself in the right places and being kind. Perfect example is I got a bartending job years ago in West Hollywood. One of my customers used to be Shonda Rhimes assistant when Shonda got out of college. Shonda was not publicly known then. After about 3 years of occasionally hearing Shonda’s name I saw a breakdown for a new untitled show she had written. I asked my friend if this was the same Shonda. She confirmed it was. I asked if she could ask her if she’d see me for an audition. She did. (proximity). I was given the audition, I was asked to come back for a callback later that day and I booked the job. (talent 5 percent ). That job became Grey’s Anatomy and it changed the trajectory of my career.

After seven- ish seasons on the show, I lost the job. Not because I did anything wrong but because of what I had not learned; that I am the captain of my own ship. There’s a business learning curve every artist has to learn be it an actor, director, musician, etc. I let an agent speak for me without checking in on what was being said because I was still insecure in this game. And this agent had their own agenda. Not mine. And essentially lost me the job. Naturally, over money. It happens to many actors but it was my fault for not being in on the conversation. Lesson learned. And I needed to learn it. The show has gone on for twenty seasons at this point. Was it bad luck or a life lesson? It’s all perspective. My character, Nurse Tyler, is still the most sought after nurse the fans want back on the show now that there’s whole new generation watching and I’m proud he was considered an asset to the show. I get dm’s constantly asking about his return. So, yes, luck definitely has its place. It cannot be minimized. But I’m also a firm believer in things happening for a reason and I understand it from their POV so I’m not at all bitter about it. It’s the business. We only learn from failure and I’m grateful that I learned it in the beginning of my career. So, to the new actor reading, work hard, be disciplined, be kind, and be involved.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @moetothemoon

Image Credits
@parsons
moe irvin
Andy Henderson