Meet Blake Cooper Griffin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Cooper Griffin.

Blake, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started acting as a little kid — in my backyard. I would memorize books my parents read to me before bed. They thought I was a genius because I would recite the story word for word while looking at the pages of the book; so, it seemed like I was reading as a four-year-old. Nope. Just memorizing. I would then turn those stories into plays where I would act out all the parts. I would use our deck as a stage.

I went to a performing arts boarding school during the latter part of high school and got serious about acting in college when I went to a Drama conservatory — the North Carolina School of the Arts. At the end of the four years, I did a showcase with my classmates on both coasts and decided to move to Los Angeles.

If you had told me when I was a kid that I was going to star in a reboot of a Warner Brothers film or be in a movie with Cuba Gooding Jr. – I don’t think I would have believed you. Well, maybe I would have… I was a pretty ambitious kid. Regardless, that’s the magic of this industry.

For me, at the core of acting, whether I’m working on NCIS or Major Crimes or Beerfest: Thirst for Victory, it’s about exploring the human experience and the untold stories of the deeper facets of peoples’ lives. That works for comedy or drama… it’s important to me to find the hidden truth that brings a character to life. I relate to that, and audiences relate to that.

Empathetically stepping into another person’s shoes has highlighted some important issues to me. A movie I did in 2016 called Love Is All You Need? Examined the horrors of bullying; I was bullied as a kid, so stepping into that world was strangely cathartic for me. That experience has led me to be an advocate for those who are bullied, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with several anti-bullying organizations, and I even got a chance to develop an anti-bullying kit for NPR.

Connecting with people is at the heart of being an artist. Lately, I have been involved in several other philanthropic and political causes. I had the honor of traveling around the country campaigning on behalf of Hilary Clinton when she ran for president. While that didn’t turn out the way that I wish it had, I’m so proud I got to advocate for someone I believe in.

Lately, my efforts have been geared toward the fight for affordable healthcare for all people, from rallies about saving the Affordable Care Act, to holding round table discussions about why protection of pre-existing conditions and providing greater preventative care is both economically sound and morally our duty.

While acting and my volunteer work keeps me busy, I have also recently stepped back into writing. I’m currently working with a previous co-star who is also a very close friend on a script that I’m really excited about. Writing is such a creative and challenging art form because you have to both honor the truth of the moments in individual scenes while remembering the larger framework of the story you are trying to tell.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t know that a “smooth road” exists in a creative life. If it does, let me know where to find it! For me, the challenge of being an actor is to remain inspired and active, even when the external world is not validating your efforts. Initially, when moving to Los Angeles, I knew no one.

So, part of my journey was creating a life in a place far from home. Work comes and goes, one’s popularity ebbs and flows, and life comes at you fast. But, I try my hardest in moments when I am feeling down to remember the bigger picture: ultimately, I am a kid from rural South Carolina who decided in his backyard at the age of four that he wanted to do something. It’s my job to fight for the dream of that kid while staying as hopeful as I was then.

I’m incredibly humbled by that opportunity and so deeply grateful for everyone who has been helpful along the way.

What are you known for? What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
As an actor, I hope I am known for showing up committed to bringing my character to life while also being open to collaboration. It happens on the day, in the moment. I prepare myself for a role through imagining, listening to music, mining the script — but then, I just try to listen to the other actors and work with the director in a way that helps us create spontaneously together.

As a person, I hope I am known for being a good friend. I think about that a lot. I have had so many people in my life— teachers, family members, close friends, and even strangers — who rooted for me. I’ve had plenty of people that didn’t root for me too. But for those people who have supported me through words or actions, I like to thank them by saying: your belief in me has chemically changed who I am.

And it’s true— their belief helps me see what is possible and motivates me to keep going. I want to do that for other people as well. So, I’d like to be known for that. And if I am, that would make me proud, and I think it set me apart as well.

Do you feel like Los Angeles is a good place for you? If someone was just starting out, would you recommend them starting out here? If not, what can our city do to improve?
I love Los Angeles. As I mentioned, I’m from South Carolina which could not be more different from LA. But I appreciate both. Los Angeles made me an adult. As an actor and a person, I’ve learned a lot of hard lessons here, and I’m having so much fun. I chose to come to LA to pursue my career over starting in New York, and I sometimes wonder about that decision.

Here, I obviously focus on television and film; had I gone to New York, the emphasis would have been more on theater. I love what I’ve gotten to do— getting to work on dozens of network TV shows and getting to be a part of movies with actors, writers, and directors I respect and admire.

The drawbacks of LA are the traffic… it really is as bad as everyone says… and that it’s far from my family. I would definitely recommend Los Angeles to those starting their career with one caveat: make sure that YOU tell LA who you are, not the other way around. You are the architect of your life and identity here. In fact, you’re in charge of who you want to be wherever you are.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakecoopergriffin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlakeCooperGriffinActor/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegriffster

Image Credit:
Benjo Arwas, Vince Trupsin, Dimitri Halkidis

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