Today we’d like to introduce you to Warren Burke.
Warren S. L. Burke is an actor/writer from Chicago, Illinois, raised in Memphis, TN. He’s been seen on Netflix’s Family Reunion, NBC’s Abby’s, and Bigger on the all-new BET+ app. After graduating from Tennessee State University, and leaving his corporate job at the local newspaper in Des Moines, Iowa, he moved to LA to enroll in The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His initial training led him to star in commercials for TurboTax, Dunkin’ Donuts, State Farm, and McDonald’s to name a few. However, Warren’s desire to deepen his craft continued as he was inducted into The Groundlings Theatre and Upright Citizens Brigade main company programs. This opened the door for Saturday Night Live to request Warren for the network’s broadcast audition in New York City. Today, he is currently in the process of developing several comedy pilots with a strong team of producers as he expands his craft from the screen and stage to the page.
Great, 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?
To say that my acting career has been a smooth road would be almost as uninteresting as it was tumultuous. One of the first challenges that I was faced with on this new path was my “inner circle”. Friends and family simply couldn’t understand what I had to embody. What I had to go through in order for this to work. What faith it took. It was challenging to let go of what they knew me as and except me for who I am now. For example, my dad didn’t speak to me for two years when I got on this path of acting simply because it wasn’t within the comfortable standards of what he knew to be success which was “becoming a doctor” in his eyes. Which is just as difficult as becoming an actor. Another thing was finances. Finding a job that was flexible enough to accommodate my schedule and could help me on the journey to becoming an actor. An even to this day, one of my biggest challenges is finding a mentor. I’ve read several books and heard many lectures stating how important it is to find a mentor, however it has been a never-ending bout finding someone.
World War Bee Entertainment – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Well, if I were to speak from how I see myself, I’d say that I am a content creator. One who is trying all modes of creativity, through multimedia facets, through art through photography, but I guess on paper you can call me an actor, one who specializes in comedy. Ever since leaving the Sunday company at the Groundlings Theater, I was so fortunate enough as to land my first big role on Netflix’s Family Reunion as “Uncle Daniel”. Still today, I am most proud of that role because not only did I get the role a week after being cut from the Groundlings, but it was a part of a production whose main initiative was to portray a different perspective of what it means to be part of a Black family. Even though this rings close to home to speak on my own personal experience growing up in both Chicago and Memphis, I feel it was my persistence of undying faith that this would always happen. I meet so many actors who love to talk about what’s going wrong with their career and I guess you could say what sets me apart from them was the pure gratitude for the process, no matter how high or low times may get.
If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
I guess in the beginning I was so anxious to be an actor instead of a content creator because I was so inspired by heroes like Jim Carey, Denzel Washington, Robin Williams and others, but as we move into the golden age of television I’m noticing how important it is to create your own content as I’m seeing how important it is to put your own story into the world. I’m seeing many stories told, based on one format, in one specific narrative. Had I started creating and taking an important step into creating my own narrative from my own background confidently as much as I put energy into acting and the craft of being an actor, I would be more than just an up and coming actor, I’d also be an up and coming writer and an up and coming producer who is making a mark on the entertainment industry. So if there are any eyes wondering what is the best step into the entertainment industry as an actor, make sure creating your own work is a big part of it. Remember, it’s called “show business”. The “show” part is all about acting, but as far as the “business” goes, I think actors need to understand how important it is to OWN their own voice as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.WarrenBurke.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Janell Lenfert Photography
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
