Daily Inspiration: Meet Todd Anderson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Anderson

Hi Todd, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started acting as a kid. It was the best way for me to break out of my social shyness. It worked for me, so I pursued it further at NYU and then bit the bullet and drove across the country in a VW Rabbit to Los Angeles. I worked many odd jobs while trying to find acting work that paid. I managed to get a commercial agent from a play I did that he saw because he was dating one of my castmates at the time, and after a year of auditioning, I finally started booking commercials. Commercials allowed me to lose the side hustles and concentrate on getting acting gigs. I did some part time work for a theatrical casting agent who liked me enough to have me audition for feature films she was casting including Saving Private Ryan and Blast from the Past. I booked Blast from the Past, spun that into finding a theatrical agent, and then started booking guest stars and supporting roles in TV and film. I’ve been at it for almost 28 years, but now thanks to the one-two punch of the pandemic and last year’s labor strikes, I find myself in a place of very little opportunity, something I know much of the industry in Los Angeles is also suffering. The Los Angeles Times has featured articles of writers and crew workers who are in dire straits. They don’t mention the effect it has had on actors because acting is perceived as something stars do. Most actors, however, are like me: not famous and working job to job. Here’s hoping things will turn around in Hollywood soon!

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?
As I mentioned, the current state of Hollywood production is hurting a lot of people. I am accustomed to peaks and valleys as far as the work I’m getting, and sometimes I watch my debts pile up until it turns back around and I can pay them off, but at 52 this is the absolute worst time I’ve ever had to weather in my career.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known as a character actor, one that specializes in being funny, although there is plenty of evidence of my more dramatic abilities as you can find on my imdb page. I am very proud of my comedic work on You’re the Worst, in the indie movie Fuzz Track City, and before the strike I worked on a short film where I turned in the best dramatic work I’ve done in many years. This is why I do short films and other small independent projects, to find the chance to challenge myself and show just what I can do. I couldn’t more proud of my work, which makes this industry depression we are all suffering even more frustrating.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
An actor cannot put faith in the entertainment industry. No matter what stage of your career, you are on your own. That can be very confusing given how collaborative the craft of acting has to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.toddrobertanderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089694094876