Meet Chance McCoy of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chance McCoy.

Hi Chance, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey started the way a lot of actors’ do..grinding through years of background work, stunts, photo doubling, and slowly climbing my way up to co-star and guest star roles. I never knew where each job would lead, but I kept showing up, putting in the work, and trusting the process. Recently, I got called by an amazing group called Game Changers for a Gatorade commercial. I showed up on set with a handful of other guys as an OCP (on-camera principal), not knowing what to expect. The director saw me and, out of nowhere, decided to start using me throughout the entire shoot. Next thing I knew, I became the only actor featured in the spot. Everyone else was either a professional athlete or a celebrity. It was one of those right-place, right-time moments, but it also felt like everything I’d worked for led to that opportunity. I’m incredibly grateful to the Game Changers organization and to everyone who’s helped me get here. You never really know what door is about to open…you just have to keep running through them.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like a lot of actors, I’ve faced the constant uncertainty of not knowing when the next job is coming or how I’m going to make rent. Money was always tight, and the pressure of surviving in this industry without steady work can take a serious toll. In fact, after the actor’s strike shut everything down for nearly six months, I started to lose hope. I had booked one national commercial a year prior, and the money from that helped keep me afloat during the strike, but when the work dried up completely, I hit a breaking point. I stepped away from acting and went into firefighting, thinking maybe I was done with the industry for good. I would do auditions weekly in the forest, at the fire station and after my sixteen hour days but I spent the majority trying to reset my life. But funny enough, as soon as my wildland firefighting time came to an end, everything started to shift. I moved back into my apartment in Hollywood and started booking co-stars, guest stars, and eventually landed the Gatorade national spot. That moment reminded me that sometimes you have to walk away to come back stronger. The struggle is real, but so is the reward if you hang in long enough

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been working full-time in this industry for the past seven years, and over that time, I’ve done just about everything — background work, stunts, photo doubling, co-stars, guest stars, and now national commercials. What I’m most known for recently is being the only actor featured in Gatorade’s latest national football commercial, performing alongside real professional athletes and celebrities. What made that role special is that it wasn’t just acting — it was also highly physical. I’ve done football stunts in numerous commercials and shows, and that physicality is a huge part of what sets me apart. I’m EMT certified, a former wildland firefighter, and I’ve completed multiple marathons, triathlons, and even an ultramarathon that pushed me 52 miles through the forest. I’m also a certified CrossFit and personal trainer, and I bring that same discipline and mental toughness to every set I walk onto. I’ve worked on hundreds of productions across nearly every studio in Los Angeles — from Loot (co-star) to Welcome to Chippendales (guest star) — and I’ve gained a deep understanding of how sets run, what directors need, and how to bring a professional, no-ego attitude to every opportunity. I’ve built my career brick by brick from the ground up, and I’m proud of the range, work ethic, and focus I’ve developed along the way.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve had some support along the way, but for the most part, I’ve really had to figure things out on my own. My parents aren’t in the industry and, truthfully, haven’t been around much at all. That’s a big reason I got so into sports growing up, especially basketball. All I needed was a ball and a hoop, and I could be out there for hours, working on my game and trying to stay grounded. That work ethic and self-discipline translated directly into acting.

That said, I want to give a huge shoutout to Game Changers, who brought me in for the Gatorade commercial and gave me an opportunity that changed everything. And I also want to thank my sisters and brothers — they’ve always been in my corner, supporting me through the ups and downs. Even when I doubted myself, they believed in me, and that kind of quiet support means more than they probably know.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeachancemccoy/

Image Credits
Gatorade National Commercial, NCIS: Origins (Captain Cameron Reid), Welcome to Chippendales (Calendar Model), Loot (Another Jock)