Rising Stars: Meet Gregg Daniel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregg Daniel.

Hi Gregg, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m the son of a Caribbean immigrant Father (who became a naturalized citizen) & an American Mom from the South. Both parents traveled to New York City for greater opportunities where they met, married and had my Brother & I. Growing up in one of the most exciting cities in the world gave me exposure to the Arts in all its varied forms (dance, music, acting, etc.). New York had a strong influence on me. I initially wanted to be a Jazz musician & still play Jazz guitar. However, once the acting bug bit me, there was no turning back. I studied Acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where I graduated & have been working ever since. My wife is also an actress with a similar background, our daughter attends USC majoring in communications & minoring in Dance. Being born & raised in New York, a Theatre rich city (more like the mecca for stage), attending live productions was part of my growing up. Once I fell in love with performing, you’d more than likely find me in a theatre attending a show, it might be on Broadway, Off Broadway or Off Off Broadway, it didn’t matter, I just wanted to see actors on stage practicing their craft.

I was lucky enough to be accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the most prestigious actor training programs in the country. I spent years immersed in all types of work from voice, speech, movement, circus, etc. NYU instilled a strong sense of craft and technique in me which services me to this day. It was the love of language which first drew me into acting. My father (who emigrated from the Caribbean) kept a volume of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets sitting around our house. I remember when I first opened it and began to say the words. I had no idea what they meant but it was something about the poetry which thrilled me. Later on, when I heard a trained speaker reciting classical language, I was hooked. I wanted to be able to sound like that and on reflection, be that character as well. By the time I attended a live performance & saw professional actors doing their thing, I was mesmerized l, the lights, sound, set & costumes left me speechless. I knew what I wanted to do in my life, nothing seemed noble to me in than telling people stories & portraying characters.

Alright, 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?
I consider myself extremely lucky to have achieved a level of consistent work in the entertainment industry. The roles I’ve been privileged to play & the projects I’ve worked on have been enriching to me as an artist. I can’t say it’s all been smooth, certainly there were times when I wanted to give up, when I really wanted a role, prepared for it, WOWED them at the audition, then proceeded to not be cast. Every actor goes through feelings of rejection and believes me it’s very easy to lose confidence in yourself, to begin thinking you’re not talented enough to survive in this industry. What I’ve learned over the years it is, don’t take it personally, always do the best work you can, and your time will come. The question is, do you have the tenacity & resiliency to remain in this industry? I’m pleased to say I’ve proven I’ve got plenty of both.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been lucky to have received unwavering support and encouragement on my journey as an actor from many sources. Beginning with my parents and continuing on to teachers, fellow actors & directors I’ve worked with, the advice has always been the same, “pursue your dreams.” My Father was no doubt one of my biggest advocates. Having emigrated to the U.S from a small, impoverished Caribbean country, he truly held the belief that in America you could become anything you set your mind on becoming. This was put to the test in our family when I declared I wanted to be an Actor. He couldn’t quite get his mind wrapped around how an actor lived or to be more specific, how an actor made a living. The thought that you wanted from one job to another and were never promised consistent employment baffled him. Yet, in spite of that, my Dad never said anything disparaging about my dream or did anything to stand in my way. Both he & my mom supported me in any way they could through those tough years of a conservatory training program and the early times in my career. They appreciated that acting was my passion and if I wanted it that badly, they were there to assist me in making it happen.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
When I look back on my life, I consider one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was relocating from the environs of New York City to Los Angeles. Most (if not all) of my support systems were in New York including lifelong friends and family. Yet career-wise, I felt I had hit a plateau in New York, I was working but longed to do more film and television work as an actor. Additionally, I wanted to experience a different locale and way of life. Remaining in NYC was definitely the safe choice, however, I knew it would have been a major disappointment if I hadn’t given myself a chance to experience something new. What do they say?” Nothing risked, nothing gained” And now, I love L.A. the energy in this city, the space, the environment, the weather, the industry, it all stimulates the hell out of me. I love the fact you can drive an hour in any different direction and be able to access the beach, the mountains, snow, etc.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Officialgreggdaniel
• Facebook: @ActorGreggDaniel
• Twitter: @realgreggdaniel