Today we’d like to introduce you to Damani Patmon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Well, being an actor wasn’t really my first choice. I didn’t want to start acting for real until I was 16. My first choice was to be a Major League Baseball player. Growing up, my mother had me and all my brothers and sisters in sports constantly, don’t matter what sport it was. I love baseball, been playing since I was five and it will always be my favorite sport. I played up until my sophomore year of high school, then I ended up giving up baseball to work two jobs and help my mom. Growing up and seeing your mother cry because she can’t pay bills wasn’t a fun sight to see. So I decided to stop playing sports and work. I continued to work all throughout high school and once I graduated I joined the military. I’m a Marine Corps veteran. Served four years in California. After I retired from the military back in 2023, is when I decided to follow my second dream of being an actor. I’ve been attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Los Angeles since February 2024 for my BFA in on-camera acting. I have two beautiful sons that I continue to work hard for everyday. They are what keep me pushing, they are what motivates me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the main struggles I faced growing up was being poor and raised by a single mother. My mother has 9 kids that she had to raise by herself, (5 boys 4 girls). I’m number 6 in the line up. Growing up in a small house with 10 other people wasn’t always easy. You can forget about having privacy, didn’t exist. Always had to share everything you got, no matter what it was. Even though it wasn’t easy, we made it work and it was truly never a dull moment. Being poor and having a big family taught me so many valuable lessons about life. Having a big family also taught me that nobody would want to try you because it’s so many of us. We fought and argued almost every day, but when it came down to it nobody could step to any of us without dealing with all of us. Even though we had it hard, we were rich in other ways such as being rich in family, love, and faith.
Another struggle me and my siblings faced and still facing is our mother constantly in and out of the hospital due to brain tumors, cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and a couple other issues. It’s like never ending worry. Always wondering if she’s ok. There have been multiple times where she’s had to be in the hospital for months on end and we had to take care of each other. Always felt helpless when it came to my mother’s health because there’s literally nothing we could/can do. My goal is for Ma dukes to be able to see me make it. To be there with me when I make it. She deserves the world and I’m going to give it to her.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently go to a performing arts school and I specialize in acting on camera. I’ve done two short films and a music video. I’m known for my goofy and chill personality. Always able to make someone laugh or pick them up when they’re down. I’m known for always being the person my people can go to when they need something. Know matter who it is, friends or family I never hesitate to be there when they’re in need. I’m most proud of making it this far and just being at a place in my life to be able to do what I love. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for God. He has helped me fight many battles to get me to where I am now. All thanks to him!! What sets me apart is, how hard and long I’m willing to work to make this dream into a reality. It’s not just me no more I’m taking care of, so that itself just continues to motivate me and make me work harder.
Any big plans?
My future plans is to just be able to take care of my family, give them a great living and become a successful actor. I want that more than anything, and I will keep working everyday to achieve it with God right by my side.
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