Today we’d like to introduce you to Bourke Floyd.
Bourke, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was always something of a performer, sometimes as class clown, sometimes as Student Government Officer or morning announcements host, even singing in church I wanted to entertain the people around me. Who knows where that all originated, likely something to do with my upbringing that I will never fully understand.
I had been a part of the chorus (one of two guys) and the theatrical productions at my high school since Freshman year. The summer before my senior year, I was a part of a production of “Guys and Dolls” with SPARC (School for the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community). Something about being in a semi-professional setting helped change my mindset. I was working with kids of all cultural backgrounds and of ages as young as six. I was one of the “leads” and oldest members of the cast and I realized that I had significant responsibilities. I helped give rides to some of the younger cast members, many of whom were on scholarships and learned that with the opportunity to lead comes an expectation of empathy and a debt is owed by leaders to those they lead. That debt is paid by putting yourself in their shoes and considering their point of view with understanding and an open heart that simply wants to learn from those points of view. After college, I ended up in Manhattan working in finance and was approached in the street by a modeling agent. After thoroughly embarrassing myself by extolling on the scam artistry of “modeling agencies” I found out it was a major agent with a major agency.
Two weeks later, I shot my first cover for Abercrombie & Fitch. National Commercials, Daytime (Soaps) and Broadway followed. Eventually, I ended up in LA working as an actor often traveling (I had several jobs in Canada and a stint on a teen drama that filmed in North Carolina). I love entertaining as an actor but I was also trying to start a family and I needed to find something that was more stable. I fell in love with the trappings of “putting on the show” in a restaurant on Sunset that was often frequented by tourists. I followed that culinary path and put acting on hold. I spent almost a decade running and consulting for restaurants all over the country, Large Brands and Independent, Corporate and Chef-driven concepts, I never lost my love of performing on stage or for the camera. I had certainly redirected it towards entertaining guests, appearing on the Food Network multiple times, hosting events for charities (Make A Wish, Children’s Miracle Network, Challenged Athletes Foundation, etc.) and singing karaoke any chance I could haha. (If you’re wondering, “Walking in Memphis” is my go to). I have, over the last year, redirected myself into acting full time again. I recently completed a feature for Overnight Pictures, “Sour” which has sold to distribution and should be available early 2021, and I begin principal photography on a Comedy Feature I am top lining in September.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has it been a “smooth road” is an interesting question. The person for whom it has been smooth should most certainly count their blessings but it seems unlikely you will find anyone willing to say their path was smooth. I will say that I have been given more opportunities to succeed and in greater capacity than I am deserving of. I firmly believe that there are so many people that face external challenges and overcome them to achieve greatness and most of them we never hear about. The child bullied, those who suffer bigotry, racism, antisemitism, the person born with a physical challenge or survivors of trauma, emotional and physical, there are plenty of individuals in our society that are included in those groups and plenty more who wake up everyday and excel. The same hot water that softens a potato hardens an egg. We are the result of how we react to our circumstances more directly than we are a result of the circumstances themselves. Having said that, I have been my own biggest obstacle. When a person is miserable with themselves and uncomfortable in their own skin the opportunity to entertain and “play” someone else can often bring respite. That “cloak of invisibility” can help hide the truth that there is actually pain inside your heart and soul that doesn’t have a specifically identifiable cause and therefore cannot be named. “THEY” did this to me or “THEY” are to blame are simply not available to those who face the challenge of mental illness.
I’ve been on Broadway, Television, Magazine Covers and in Movies, run wildly successful restaurants and rocked karaoke all over the world. I don’t check any of the boxes for those who have suffered institutional oppression. I am highly educated and I am of above average physical size and strength. I am also mentally ill. That is the first time I have publicly shared that and I’m quite certain plenty of people who have known me throughout the years will read that statement and quote the current songbird of my daughter’s generation, Ms. Billie Eilish saying “duh”, but I am aware of it. I recognize it. By the way, according to the National Institute of Mental Health almost half of all American Adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime so it’s not a small club. I owe a debt of gratitude to the people who have known this and stood by me and a debt of gratitude to those who have known it and remained quiet to save me the self-perceived and self-inflicted shame. That’s what it is, a shadow I find myself constantly trying to outrun and I disguise it with exaggerated tales and sometimes outright lies which all become further hurdles in front of me that trip me on my way towards happiness.
That, a smooth road does not make, but accepting the fact that it will not change and turning around to face it head on is such a liberating experience. I am a better father, a better friend, a better business person, a better member of society, and frankly a better actor for having finally taking inventory of myself and owning it. How could I possibly play someone else if I don’t know who I am myself. I have also been able to do more for those in my community who are also in need and contribute more to the lives of those individuals I encounter which is far more fulfilling and satisfying then impressing them with false-realities. I do good things now because I can, not simply to make up for the bad things I’ve done in the past. What really brought me to all of this realization was a significant loss I suffered a few years ago. There was no tall tale that could rectify it or money that could make it better. I initially responded by delving deeper under my perceived cover but I discovered I had to face that loss and try and overcome it and a part of that was facing who I am. I’m on such a more fulfilling path now both professionally and personally.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an entertainer and I entertain through acting, through being a chef, through emceeing
You can see me in January in the world-wide release of “Sour” from Overnight Pictures and as the star of the Feature Film Comedy “Peach Cobbler” releasing in theaters and VOD Spring 2021. Updates are available through Bourkefloyd.com or my IMDb page.
