Check Out Tony Robinette’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Robinette.

Hi Tony, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Orlando, Florida. My mom got me into performing when I was around ten years old. Early on I had an obsession with film comedians of the 1920’s and 30’s. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Laurel and Hardy. I would literally sneak books to school and read their biographies. When I was 16 I decided to go audition for the character department at Walt Disney World. I got in and it was exciting. For the next few years, I did parade performing, puppeteering, and all that came with it.

After high school, I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and then joined an improv summer troupe in upstate New York. This laid the groundwork for my career.

I toured with a puppeteering company throughout the USA and then I got a job doing an international tour of Disney Live! with Feld Entertainment where I got to see the world.

When I arrived back home in the States I was fortunate enough to go back to Disney… but this time… doing improv/sketch comedy under an Actors Equity Contract.

I met my first agent in central Florida in 2009 and I started doing commercials and industrials. In 2012, I decided to move to Los Angeles. I remember packing up my car and driving two days after my birthday to make my way out west. Since then… It’s been an amazing ride. I’ve gotten to work with some amazing people and I met my partner and we just celebrated our 10th anniversary together.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! Following your passion is never easy. You have a lot of doors that are either closed, locked, shut in your face, or just out of reach.

How you navigate to get to those doors is the important part. I’ve been in LA for 11 years almost. I remember … year 2 or 3… I was eating peanut butter for dinner and trying to figure out if I had enough gas to get to the pawn shop to sell my TV. It hasn’t always been easy. But… You just have to dig your heels in. Find your community and make it work.

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’m an actor with representation in Los Angeles, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, and New Mexico.

Recent credits:
Dahmer (Netflix), NCIS (CBS), Tacoma FD (TruTV), Night Court (NBC), This Is Us (NBC), Waco: The Aftermath (Showtime), Good Trouble (Freeform) and All Rise (OWN).

I’m a mentor/coach:
I think it’s important that actors and creatives take back their power. Realize our value.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Realizing that it’s a team effort. I couldn’t succeed without the amazing support I have from my family, my community, and the fantastic team… It’s all about the US, not Me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tonyrobinette.com
• Instagram: @TheTonyRobinette