Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Cook.
Matt, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I graduated from Rider University, worked for the summer saving as much money as I could and then made the journey from New Jersey to Los Angeles. My first job out here was as a waiter at Maggiano’s at the Grove where I spent most of my time unsuccessfully trying to talk individuals out of ordering themselves a “large” portion of whatever family-style pasta they were interested in. And then being scolded because their order was way too much food for one person. I worked there for almost a year before I got into dog walking which ended up becoming my full-time gig for almost ten years.
Right when I moved out here, my uncle told me, “You need to be at Groundlings.” He took me to see my first Groundlings show and then watched as my mind exploded. He was right, I immediately fell in love and jumped headfirst into taking classes. The program there was such a blast and such a huge part of me finding my “voice” and growing as an actor and performer. Especially once I made it into the Sunday Company where you do a new sketch show every Sunday for six months at a time. At the end of six months, you get voted on to do another six months or not. That goes on for a year and a half. It was the most intense training I’ve ever had and any muscles that I have are from Sunday Company. You move so fast and the stakes are so high that it just burns away all the stuff you don’t need. And then I was lucky enough to get into the Main Company where I got to keep learning and growing and having a ball.
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?
I mean, no? Yes, comparatively? I don’t know! It’s been what it’s been and I’m so thankful for all of it. There were years, YEARS, where I was living out here hoping to make enough money for rent so I could stick around for another month and maybe have something finally click. One year when things were particularly tight I was driving down Crescent Heights and got hit by another car. I got the check from the insurance company to fix my car but didn’t have rent that month so I paid my rent and had a busted car for years after that. If I drove above 45 miles per hour the door would start to whistle. But I got to stay out here so I was happy to whistle along or just turn the music up loud enough to drown it out!
I was fortunate to move out here not expecting too much too quickly. I think this city is what you make it and it can take a long time to get to where you want to be. I focused on making sure I had good friends, a good life and worked my butt off to be ready when and if an opportunity should arise. I was so lucky to have so many friends who felt the same way. We spent years doing improv and sketch shows all over the city, at all times of night, in some pretty rough venues. And it was heaven. So even in those early years when we had nothing going for us, we at least had each other. This little network we had created from nothing was such a blessing. We could lean on each other, commiserate, and laugh our asses off all along the way. I made some of my best friends going through that chaos and I’m so grateful for it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love being an actor because things always change. I love going from project to project and playing different characters, meeting new people, facing new challenges, going new places, all of it.
At Groundlings, they teach you to take your emotions to a 10. Whatever is happening in the scene is important and you are emotional about it in one way or another. I think that has been such a huge help to me in my career outside of Groundlings. When I get an audition, I apply that to whatever the sides are. I try to find a point of view for the character that works for me and hopefully for the people casting the project too. Most of my biggest roles have been men who are pretty emotional, especially Lowell in Man With A Plan. The audition sides for that didn’t have Lowell crying during the scene but I thought it would be funnier if he got really choked up at one point. So I did that in the audition and all the way through the casting process and got the part. And getting choked up stayed in the pilot and the writers leaned into it as they wrote all of the episodes to follow. It was so much fun and I love playing characters who wear their emotions on their sleeves whether they know it or not.
I’m really proud of a movie I did called Film Fest. My friends Marshall Cook and Paul Alan Cope wrote it, Marshall directed it (no relation, just a great last name) and I got to work with so many of my friends from all throughout my career. A ton of Groundlings are in it, friends I made while working on a show called Clipped, and a bunch of other wonderful actors who I hadn’t met before. The cast and crew all came together and worked so hard to make a really funny movie with a lot of heart. It was such a blast to be able to work with so many talented people and make something that I’m really proud of. It’s also streaming almost everywhere so if you have a night where you can’t decide what to watch maybe check it out!
What matters most to you?
The people around me. At work or at home. It’s all about who you’re with. I love being a part of a team where we can all bring something special to the table. Like the Avengers or the X-Men! Finding ways to celebrate the people, you’re with and ways to make them shine is the most fun and makes everything better. It’s all about teamwork.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mattcooktookpics
- Twitter: @mattcooktweeted
Image Credits:
Sela Shiloni CBS Television
