Conversations with Paul Carafotes

Paul, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began as a young actor. I left my hometown just outside of Boston at 18 for NYC. I spent my first year and half at H.B. Studious studying acting. Then added the 78 street playhouse. The universe was working for me. I choose a teacher that happened to be a casting director. Soon, I was unable to pay for class. I had lost my job as a dishwasher. Joanna Merlin was her name she was a excellent, caring, the perfect teacher  and as all young people, I needed that. She taught with a keen eye, love and guidence.
One day after a period of being absent, she called to ask why I hadn’t been to class.  I explained my situation, She told me not worry about the money, to just come because she felt that I had talent and wanted me there because little did I know she was casting a movie and wanted  me to meet the director. It was almost an out of body experience. My dream lay right before my eyes. I had only been in New York for 18 months. She cast me as  one of the four hopefuls in a 20th Century Fox film called, “Headin For Broadway.” ( you can only watch this relic on YouTube) To play Ralph Morrelli, a rough around the edges, street dancer from Philly. Thus began the long journey into the world of Hollywood. The ups the downs, Being in or out depending on the role or succses of that certain project. All through this process I was always feeling a bit lost, lonely, not really connecting. I didn’t know anyone in Hollywood when I arrived… But I was always in search of something. Greater, bigger, ahh  that sweet smell of success. Years rolled on by. Lost, drinking and carousing. What do you do when you’ve been free to pursue, gallivant, no strings, come and go as you please, no one but myself to take care off. Eventually your thinking is, this cant go on forever, can it? So you get married, but the party continued.

After a failed marriage. I sobered up. I remarried and my son Charlie was born. That was the physic change. I now had purpose, someone depended on me. My life now had meaning. The joy of fatherhood was deep and wide. The out pouring of love could only result in humility and gratitude. I now had someone else to put before ME!

I would read to my son everyday, play my guitar and sing to him. Take him with me on every audition and job I worked. We were always together. I had a trick I learned in junior high school to escape boredom.  I’d sit next to the windows in the back of the class right up against these archaic, giant heaters that blew warm air into our classroom. There I’d sit and blow tiny bubbles off the tip of my tongue and watch them float across the room. Sometimes they’d land on someone’s nose . I watched them look around, confused, like where did this come from? It entertained me.  I was delighted. But Mostly, sitting there in class I daydreamed as looked out the window and saw myself in the movies or on a TV show. It was where I would get lost in my dreams and thought one day I knew what was coming. I believed in it. Made little movies in my mind about seeing my name in lights and it all happened. Then suddenly I’m a dad…

My son lay in my lap, I started to blow the bubbles of my tongue just like when I was in the 8th grade. Odd how this has all come full circle. I blow a bubble and it would pop on his nose and he loved that. He’ giggled and smile up at me, try as he may with chubby, tiny hands to catch the bubbles. We laughed and had such a brilliant time. I would put him down for his nap, go to my computer, gazing once again out the window that looked out over Los Angeles and day dream just like when I was in school.  This time Charlie was floating in a bubble. I imagined Charlie a baby, and the bubbles he enjoyed so much and then it came to me, “Charlie Bubbles”, what if a child could blow a magic bubble that could transport him to far away places. Some kind of magical bubble ride. The bubble could get him in and out of trouble… What kind of boy would he be, Who would he meet? what would he learn? He would have to be Helpful, loving and kind, wouldn’t he? Of course he would He’s Charlie Bubbles!

Then I began writing “The Adventures of Charlie Bubbles! I thought this would be easy, but, it took almost five years to complete. It was after all a love letter to Charlie, something for the future, one day, he may open the book when he’ a dad android it to his kids.

Another tenet to Charlie Bubbles is to say yes to life because when you say no, nothing happens. Well, my actor friends read the book and told me to put it out. A few couldnt beleive that this wild Hollywood boy could ever write such a thing. We put it out. That job was finished, the gift had been delivered. Then one day not long afterward, Charlie asked me if there were any more books in me. I could’nt say no, now could I? So, I said yes… Now we have 8 books, one coloring book, a music cd They are collections of songs about many of the characters from the books. A YouTube channel (@charliebubbles) that follows not only our stories but Charlie’s Baseball career as well.. But one more nugget, during the pandemic at age 14, I gave Charlie a task to write his own Charlie Bubbles book. he said, “what should I write about?’ How about our new family puppy, Zena. And he did, “Charlie Bubbles, Zena The Great!” All the way from inspiration to being a writer himself. Another gift. He is playing baseball in his first year of college now. I’m a very proud dad.

We have just put out our latest book. “Charlie Bubbles, Brave heart!’  This is interesting because you just never know in life what will inspire you. I played a character on a television show that was hugely popular, called Knots Landing! The show remains popular today and there are several fan groups associated with the show on Face Book. A fan DM me and asked if i would talk a father of a baby girl born with half a heart and he had a unique request for me…  Sometimes a story finds you!
Charlie Bubbles was inspired by the birth of my son, Charlie. I created it because I had suddenly found my own true heart. Born out of love, bringing hope, courage and dreams to life through the magic of bubbles and strength of a brave heart
When I learned about Isabella – a tiny baby girl born with half a heart – I knew she carried the spirit of Charlie Bubbles within her.
Isabella taught us that even the smallest heart can have the biggest courage.
This story honors her life, her fight, and her endless light.
May every child who reads these pages feel a little stronger, a little braver, and forever connected to the power of a Brave Heart.

The last thing I’m going to say is Charlie through the years, loved to give the books to his classmates so we decided to start a non profit, Charlie Bubbles Cares For Kids! We raise funds to give the books away. We don’t take a penny from royalties from any book sold at Amazon. All funds go directly to gifting books to children in hospitals, schools and the less fortunate. We have donated about 5000 books to both schools and hospitals from Boston to Los Angeles.
You can find us at
charliebubbles.com shop at the store, make suggestions as to where you may think some school or hospital near you might like Charlie Bubbles! And if you can, make a donation
Thank you for allowing me the sometimes meanderings of a silly dad.
Paul Carafotes

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?
Mostly for me it’s finding the story to write… you are not always going to be inspired. I would take situations and scenarios from what experiences I was having with Charlie and write about those… Every book is connected to something, some experience we had, both father and son. A lesson learned. Nothing beats what you know. So write about it.
The struggle: has been to get the more people interested in the books and of course our non profit. And I’ve tried social media, and the like, but I haven’t found the key to unlock the tremendous succsess we all want. The universe owes us all.  If somebody out there has any suggestions I’m all ears. check us out at…
Charliebubbles.com

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Actor since i was 18. Headin For Broadway, All The Right Moves, Fight CLub, seires regular Knots Landing, Recured on several tv shows, Mind Hunter, and most recently Tulsa King but i starting writing stories, plays, short films
‘I wrote a play about my relationship with my dad, “Beyond The Ring” I won best writer for that as well as being nominated for Best Actor for the LA Drama award.
I wrote, produced and Directed a short film, starring James Gandolfini, Joe Mantegna, Mike Rispoli, Lou Gossett Jr and Steve R. McQueen. which won several film festivals. IT will be streaming very soon it’s called, “Club Soda”.

I dont know exactly what sets me apart from others, mostly I always tried to find the similarities. But I can sing, play several instruments, act, dance write…if Jim Gandolfini were here today, he’d say, as he often did, “this is why you’re crazy, to much going on in your head.” He was right. Miss that guy.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Perseverance. Don’t quit before the miracle happens! Keep moving forward. I have failed repeatedly. Don’t Quit!