Meet Christian Deaton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Deaton.

Christian, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I come from a family of laborers. Both my parents were factory workers until factories moved out of the states. Because of this, we moved to a little farm town in Michigan called Blissfield. It’s there, where I spent most of my life. I played sports, did theater (in and out of school), worked for a contracting company, helped some local farmers etc. Always worked really hard. I guess I owe that to my folks. When I was 17, I graduated from High school. Not even two weeks later, I moved to Los Angeles to obtain my BFA in Acting from AMDA College and Conservatory. It is there where I learned a heck of a lot more than I thought possible, and not just about Acting. About life itself. My teachers always explained how this industry is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs. And 2020 has definitely been a down.

Although the starting line has been a bit rougher than I anticipated, I’ve learned a lot this year. I’ve learned that I have to let go, let God, lead by example, and keep moving forward even if that means taking a break. I wish I could say that I’ve spent this time working on my material, and I’m going to be a part of the next big thing, but that would be a lie. Yes, I’ve done some work as an Actor this year, and yes, I’ve written some music. But overall, I’ve had too much on my plate to be able to truly focus on my career, and that’s OKAY.

Jesus walked everywhere he went. Probably because if you run, you miss the good stuff. Sometimes we get caught up in running because that’s what the world tells us to do. SPRINT! But that’s not the case. Sprinting only gets you a short distance faster. Walking gets you to the further destination, and you don’t have to burn yourself out doing it. So this was a year of walking. I’ll see you again when I reach my destination. God’s plan for my life is much bigger and better than in 2020.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not everything has been smooth. When I moved to L.A. I ended a 4.5-year relationship, and I’m not much of a city boy. If I’m honest, I hate the city. It’s not for me. But, I’m here for a reason, and I’m currently working on saving up so that my girlfriend and myself can move. I’m thinking Atlanta, but we haven’t decided 100 percent.

Some other struggles would be getting distracted by people/parties/substances. By no means am I innocent when it comes to this, but I’ve seen a lot of people get too caught up in the ‘Nightlife’ of Hollywood. It’s easy to do. Anything and everything you want are available within a mile or less. So I’d say a lesson I’ve learned from this is, if something is controlling you, or distracting you for too long, cut it off. Don’t do it. Easier said than done, but it’s the truth.

When I first began auditioning, I would get frustrated from doing audition after audition and not booking. But I soon realized that my teachers were right. Leave it at the door. There are too many things out of your control to be upset that you didn’t land it. And if you did a good job, then they will remember you and may call you in for something else (I’ve had this happen to me.) But overall, prepare and do your best. That’s all you can do.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m an Actor/Writer/Musician but my main focus is Acting. As an Actor, I specialize in Dramedy because I have the dramatic chops but can say or do something just a little off so you giggle. I’ve been told I naturally have a style that leans towards Jeremy Allen White as Lip in Shameless (Huge compliment. He’s great.) In comedy, I’d probably be the guy that sets up the joke for the other Actor. Or I’d deliver the one-liner etc.

I think I’m most proud of just being able to say that I have been paid to do what I love to do. That’s a huge deal to me. It gives me hope that one day I can not only survive but thrive from doing what I love. Something that sets me apart from others is my ability to ground people. I can’t remember what teacher from AMDA told me this, but it really made me feel special. They said, “You know, you have this really unique way of grounding not just yourself, but other people. If you had a superpower, that would be it.” And the other thing is when people tell me, “There’s something mysterious about you. Not bad. You give a good vibe, and you’re open, but there’s just something I can’t put my finger on.” Maybe it’s because I’m a Scorpio. I don’t know haha.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about our city is the options. I’m a foodie, so having options everywhere I go is nice. And if I want to go out for the night, I can either find places/buildings or find myself at the beach. But one thing that I absolutely love doing is buying an all-day pass for the Metro and exploring the city.

The thing I like the least is, there’s too much crime/homeless. I don’t have an answer to the problem, but I think Los Angeles could use some new ground rules. And, if we can help as citizens of this city, we should.

Contact Info:

• Website: christiandeaton.com
• Instagram: christian_deaton

Image Credit:
John Anthony Sutton (Head shots)

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