Hi everybody, I'm Kelly. I drove out to LA with my "car my clothes and my stereo" in September of 1982 - not knowing a soul. As legend has it I found a job and a place to live within 10 minutes of parking my car at Bobby McGees in Newport Beach. I subsequently signed with Wilhelmina West and started auditioning.
I got my SAG card shooting a Gillette commercial for director Joe Pytka who famously proclaimed "this guy looks like sh**". I met Sanford Meisner in spring, 1992, took his Intensive and the 2 year program then was a Founding Member of the Sanford Meisner Center for the Arts theater company in the winter of 1995. I starred in several dozen plays and wrote/directed several plays at the SMC 1995-2013. I was cast by Oscar nominated writer/director Lynn Mamet as the lead "Bobby Fry" in the world premiere of "The Job". I was subsequently cast by writer/director Larry Cohen to play Charles Lindbergh in his world premiere of "Fallen Eagle" (script co-developed with Oliver Stone). I considered the Sanford Meisner Center for the Arts as my second home up until its closing in February of 2013, and I continue to be a standard bearer for the Meisner Technique via Twitter @MeisnerActor where I posts first hand Meisner acting notes daily. I most recently portrayed Boaz in the sit com pilot "Thank You Come Again", written/directed by Chelsea Steiner as well as a sweet cameo in David Collins's 2019 sit com pilot "To Die For". I enjoy a good scotch, and am an advocate for the Ruskin Group Theater, and can be caught singing Sinatra on Sunday nights at The Belmont in Hollywood (pre covid anyway). I'm developing the feature film "The Floating Church" https:///www.thefloatingchurch.com based on my gg grandfather's life story and am seeking enthusiastic development help. I'll Executive Produce, pen the screenplay, and star.
-"A pure talent, just cast him, he can do anything." - Lynn Mamet (producer/writer "Law and Order")
-"A leading man who can really act." - Larry Cohen (writer "Phone Booth" "Cellular" "Its Alive")
-"You mad me cry. Bravo! Excellent" - Jay Bernstein (producer/manager "Mike Hammer")
-"A sensitive actor, you can't teach that." - Sanford Meisner (the man himself)
-"Powerful and multi-layered, with strong, thoughtful choices. Bravo!" - Billy DaMota (CD "Colors" "America's Most Wanted")
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I drove out to LA in '82 myself, having never been west of Kansas City, with nothing but what I could fit in my car. Lived in LA 30 years, (actually had a play, GOING OUT OF BUSINESS premiere at the Misner Studio in North Hollywood, in the 90s. Now I live elsewhere (better schools for my sons), but still working as a screenwriter after all this time. Your story reminded me of mine. Blessings!
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Yes Bart, you and Josh cast me as the MaitreD' in "Going Out of Business". LMAO! Great to hear from you, keep up the good fight.
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Right on! I came in 1981 with 57 dollars and got a job the next day at a restaurant called The Breakers in Mar Vista! Can so relate! Faith!!! Great career you've had since! Congrats girl!