We’re looking forward to introducing you to Evan James Henderson. Check out our conversation below.
Evan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Being a kid. Go outside and play games with your friends. I went to an escape room the other day and I haven’t been that giddy in a long time. Don’t be afraid to be silly and make a goof of yourself!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Evan James Henderson, an Actor and Podcaster in Los Angeles.
I’ve been an actor in LA for the past 10 years, so I think it’s safe to call myself a local. It’s been an absolute honor to work with such talented people in this city to create art you get to see on screen. Having success in the commercial world, working for companies like Microsoft, Disney, Fox, Hulu, and Popeyes, has been such a blessing to experience. Recently, I’ve been lucky enough to lead multiple feature films coming out this year on streamers and in theaters across the country. Despite the industry being in a unfortunate lull, 2025 has been my busiest year so far. I feel so blessed.
I’m the host of ‘A Guy from South Dakota’, a comedy show about Film, TV and the entertainment industry from (you guessed it) the perspective of a guy from South Dakota. I dive into the exciting world of making movies and how silly our world can be. From Movie Reviews to Sketches. It’s been an honor bringing my unique South Dakota humor to viewers for the past year.
I’m also excited to announce a brand new variety comedy show coming everywhere July 31st called ‘The Buddy System’. Hosted by Canadian musician, Seth Horst, and myself; We bring improv, characters, and the strangest things on the internet to get you through the week. No matter who you are or where you are, to us, you’re one of the Buddies.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When you’re a kid, you feel like you can do anything and be anything. I knew for a fact that I was going to pilot an F16 Raptor, then I’d be in the NFL, and then I’d retire as race car driver. But as you get older you’re fantasy begins to fade, your confidence withers, and your imagination doesn’t get used enough. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
When I first moved to Los Angeles ten years ago, I felt I could get any job purely off of confidence. Some may call this being “naive”, which it absolutely was. But to people in a creative field, you HAVE to be a little naive. Having an outrageous belief in yourself is key because no one else is going to have it for you. Your push has to derive from deep inside you. Use your imagination and fantasy to fuel your goals and turn them into a reality.
One thing I don’t believe anymore is that I’ll have a pet T-Rex. But seeing as they’re still making Jurassic Park movies, I may have to hold out hope just a little longer.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When I turned 25, I hit the worst wall I’ve ever hit in my life. I was in a constant existential crisis, afraid I’d die of a rare disease, and completely lost my joy in life.
This was easily one of the-if not the most-difficult parts of my life. And I know many young people are going through that right now. But what I got out of it was greater than any suffering I endured.
During that entire year, I spend most of my time praying, starting therapy, and giving my time to a local church. I found that if I couldn’t make sense of myself, I might as well make use of myself for others. In doing so I learned the true power of helping people and staying connected to God. A gift I will always cherish. This made me a better husband, a better friend, and, a weird way, a better actor.
Coming out of my year long rut gave me so much insight to my approach to acting. With so much rejection in this business, you have to be everything BUT an actor most of the time. And that’s where you need to place your stock. If I don’t book an acting job, it’s a blessing in a way. No matter what, I get to go home to my wife. I get to be alive and enjoy the outdoors. I know it may sound absolutely crazy, but that perspective and my connection to God has changed my life. And I wouldn’t have been able to come to this without going though such a painful time.
If you’re going through this phase right now, my best advice is this.
Don’t fight it. Embrace it. Understand it. It WILL be difficult, but you’ll be twice the person you were when you started.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
My wife.
My wife is better than me in almost every aspect of life even if she won’t admit it.
It’s true when people say you need to find your rock because she is absolutely that. I don’t know where I’d be without her.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. As Angela Bassett says in MI: Fallout, “That’s the job.”
Being an actor is 99% of the time a thankless and praise-less profession. You do it because you love it. Wether its making a podcast, or a short film with your friends, or a feature film you’re spending the next two years working on because you have no money; you do it because you NEED to do it. Not the praise. (That can just be a bonus sometimes)
So if you want to give some praise, make sure to follow my shows, The Buddy System, and A Guy From South Dakota on YouTube, or wherever you get your Podcasts. You can catch my acting work on Instagram.com/@EvanJamesH
Contact Info:
- Website: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/evanjameshenderson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanjamesh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuyFromSD
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@BuddySystemTV
Image Credits
Photographer: Camryn Eakes
