#157 An Actor Who Became 224 Different People on TV & Film | Spencer Garrett, Actor & Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Member

Many people fantasize about what it would be like to be an actor. And what many of us don't know is just how long the long game is in pursuing that dream.

And we have ideas about what that life might be like. But how accurate are those ideas? What does it take to succeed in the business? And what does it take to play 224 different characters and stretch into the realities of each of those individuals?

And what about social comparison and FOMO? It's a heavy component of life in the world of acting because all the players have such different realities. I mean, can you imagine playing with Leo Di Caprio or Brad Pitt and asking yourself, “How do I measure up?”

I have the perfect person to answer these and so many other questions that will fascinate you. Spencer Garrett is a veteran movie actor, and he was recently inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has played in TV series as diverse as Dallas, Murder She Wrote, and The X-Files all the way up to recently in movies like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and alongside Harrison Ford Air Force One. I mean, check out his IMDB—he’s done everything with seemingly everyone! I’m pretty sure that if you do, you’ll realize you’ve seen him in lots of great stuff.

Spencer and I met years ago on the California AIDS Ride, a seven-day, 575-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and I've always wanted to have him on the podcast. Since meeting him, watching movies has been like a long-time game of Where's Waldo; it seems like I see him everywhere! And he’s always excellent—no matter which of the diverse 224 characters he’s playing, he fully embodies the role. At least as impressive, he's an incredibly kind person with a superb work ethic and I'm grateful for his willingness to share his world with us at a very candid and deep level.

So, listen in as Spencer and I get into the skills required to take on 224 different roles.