The Art In Yourself

Emmy Award winning actor Jim O’Heir was King of TV guest stars before landing his career-defining role on Parks and Recreation playing Garry, Jerry, Larry, Terry, or Barry - depending on the episode. Jim has appeared in over one hundred TV series, numerous films, and on stage throughout the country. Jim’s life and career are fascinating, from training at the famed Second City in Chicago to sharing the stage with psychotic puppets and being a part of one of the most successful shows in television history. This is part one of our two-part conversation. 

“Why didn’t I get the part?” “Do they hate me?” “What did they say after I left the room?” Bob Mason is in a position to answer these and many other actor questions as Casting Director and Artistic Associate at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. After graduating from Northwestern University, he began his career as an actor before transitioning to the other side of the audition table. In this conversation, we get an inside look at the casting process, including what happens after the actor leaves the room. 

Actor, director, producer, writer, and entertainment executive Harry Lennix is best known for his film and television roles in The Five Heartbeats, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Ray, Man of Steel, The Blacklist, and 24. He also has an extremely successful stage career, having performed internationally as well as in Chicago, LA, and on Broadway. With director Chuck Smith, he founded and runs Legacy Productions. In this conversation, we discuss his self-produced projects like Revival, a musical movie recounting the Gospel of St. John. As well as his take on race, religion, politics, and his mission to create the Lillian Marcie Performing Arts Center on the South Side of Chicago.

Actor, writer, producer, comic book creator David Dastmalchian is best known for his roles in films like Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Blade Runner 2049, Prisoners, The Dark Knight, Suicide Squad, and Dune. He has also written, co-produced, and starred in two independent films - Animals and All Creatures Here Below. The odds of becoming a successful actor in Hollywood are pretty slim. The odds of becoming a successful actor in Hollywood after going through what David has been through are almost nonexistent. In this conversation, we mostly cover David’s life before Hollywood and his journey from addiction to recovery.