Your dreams can manifest if you act on your vision, keep faith as your foundation, and don’t let up. That’s a realization you have to understand to reach your goals. It’s not enough to just say it, you have to believe it’s possible and then work at it until you achieve it. But some don’t commit. Some don’t know how to achieve it. Some don’t have a plan. Some don’t believe they can do it.
Toledo, Ohio native, Rodney Damon Collins, was different. He knew at a young age exactly what he wanted to do; his dream was to be an actor and he set out to be one. He started by participating in the arts at school whenever he could to cultivate his gift. But he understood everything has a process and a time.
After moving to Cleveland, Ohio, he continued to sharpen his skills and build his acting resume while he worked in corporate America. During that same time, he traveled to Monrovia, Liberia, and assisted in building a school. Collins’s heart and the calling on his life led him to help where he could. He was even called to ministry and is now an ordained minister.
Pretty soon, his road would take him and his family to Los Angeles, where he could fully immerse himself into acting on another level. After many small parts on shows and in movies, and because of his perseverance and belief in the call on him, he got a part that would change his life. In 2018, Collins became a series regular on Amazon Prime’s Chosen Kin Origins. That was the confirmation he needed to push full-speed ahead, and he hasn’t looked back. He can now be found in many movies and shows.
Here is the chat I had with award-winning actor, Rodney Damon Collins.
Tell us a little about yourself and what led you to get into acting?
Acting has been a part of my life since a very young age. I knew that I had a gift for telling stories and impacting lives through my art. I wrote my first sketch comedy as a senior in high school. I was involved in the arts in college and after graduation, I wanted to continue to pursue my career. I also had met my college sweetheart and was preparing to get married. Shortly after getting married, my wife and I had two children. I knew that I had responsibilities. I believed that if my career in entertainment was something meant to be that one day God would bring me back to it.
I decided that if I prioritize my family and my commitments God would honor my dreams. My belief was confirmed because years later, I received a job offer to relocate to Los Angeles. Little did I know that this was the springboard to me launching into my career in entertainment.
What is the name of your latest show and the current role you’re playing, and what is the show about?
The latest show I’ve worked on is Incandescent Love where my mentor and the legendary actor Bill Cobbs play my grandfather. It will be released soon on a streaming service to be determined. My character is Craig Usher. He is a member of a family. The problem is this family isn’t the normal family and is filled with secrets, crime, deception, and death.
What was it like winning the Best Male Actor Award in a Feature Film for the movie, Central Authority?
It was an incredible feeling. I want to thank Armin Nasseri and Kristen West who brought me into this very creative project. This film was shot in several different countries during the pandemic lockdown. It came about at a time when a lot of production work had ceased due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. I was grateful to be a part of this film. I enjoyed creating the back story of my character, Bishop Buckz. Anytime your gifts are recognized to an award-winning level, it’s an honor. The film is actually streaming now on Tubi.
What are some of the biggest projects you’ve worked on? What has been the most exciting role you’ve played to date? What would be a dream role for you?
I’ve had the opportunity to work on a film, Survival, starring Actress Elise Neal. Prior to booking a role in this film, she became a mentor for me. I am a lead in a TV Series that is currently being pitched to several streaming services called, Incandescent Love. And I’m in Amazon Prime’s Chosen Kin Origins.
The most exciting role is the character, Craig Usher from The Job Interview and Incandescent Love. He’s a complex character. Initially wants to make everyone in his life happy until he finds out that his family isn’t the loving people he thought they were.
My dream role would be the next one! I’m just joking. My dream role would be playing a pivotal historic figure and I would definitely love to enter the Marvel Universe.
You’re a married actor and your wife is not in the industry; how do you balance both worlds?
I make sure that my wife is never insecure about any roles I play. When I book a role, I make sure that my wife understands my character and what will be required of the character. I even invite her to attend various events, although she’s not really an events person. When I’m not on set, I’m not the characters I play either. I unplug from work to make sure I am available for my wife. I love what Joseph Sikora (Tommy on the TV Show, Power) says, that his wife told him that his character Tommy doesn’t live with them so she’s not scared of him, haha. Ultimately, when I include her in the process, it helps to provide balance. She also plans to do more writing in the very near future.
You’re also an author. Tell us the name of your book and what inspired it.
My book is entitled, Shattered: A Journey Through the Pieces. It’s available on Amazon. I was inspired to write this book first because I always wanted to be an author. Second, a very difficult time in my life led me to write and share to encourage others. I realized that my story mattered.
Mental health is at an all-time high and you’ve experienced depression. What caused it, how did you get through it, and what do you want people to understand about mental illness?
I talk about it in my book also. I experienced a business failure that had been a final straw in my mental health. There were other mounting issues over time but I didn’t realize how broken I was until that final blow. I began to isolate myself. It took me to the lowest point I’ve been in my life when I was seconds away from taking my own life.
I got through this by learning to be open and transparent. I told my wife when she got home from work the day I nearly took my own life. I went to therapy. I let my son and daughter know what got me to the point where I nearly took my life. I was still in the dark and battling through mental illness when I heard my daughter tell me she wants her dad back. Those words shattered the brokenness that I had been dealing with. It let me know how much my presence mattered to my family. I used to think it was what I brought into the home, now I know it’s my presence that mattered the most. The thing about mental illness is that I believed I was the only one going through something. It made me feel alone. Mental Illness thrives in loneliness. Don’t allow yourself to be alone.
You’re a busy man. In addition to acting and being an author, you are a speaker, producer, director, podcaster, writer, and humanitarian. Tell us a little about these other passions of yours.
Everything I do is based on a life experience that became a calling. Each aspect of my professional life is rooted in a calling. These callings have revealed to me what my dreams have always been. My podcast was born out of my book and my desire to see people be built up and not torn down. I entitled it, The Produce Your Own Life Show because that’s what we are called to do. Each person must learn to take ownership for their life and stop being a victim. My humanitarian efforts were birthed out of my desire to impact people in several areas of life. I’m a believer that each person I come in contact with must leave me better off, whether it’s physically, spiritually, financially, or emotionally.
Faith is very important to you. How does it help you in your journey as an actor, husband, and father?
Without faith, it’s impossible to please God. My faith is the reason why I get up every morning with anticipation of great things happening. It’s the reason why each audition I have will lead me closer to the right role. It’s the reason why I believed in my marriage and the woman I believed God gave to me. It’s the reason why I trust that the path my children were on have led them to be incredible adults who are making a significant impact in the lives of others.
What advice would you give to someone who might be trying to get into acting?
The first question I always ask someone is why do they want to act? I count it a privilege to be able to work in entertainment. I ask why because no matter the reason, it better be strong enough to keep you when things get difficult.
Secondly, surround yourself with a team that believes in you and won’t let you quit.
Third, train, work, train, work, every day you should be sharpening your saw.
Fourth, you are in the service industry. You work to serve the story, the character, the producers, the audience, the director, and your reputation
Fifth, Treat yourself like a business. As an actor, you are an independent business. You need to market yourself and you need financial resources. I don’t care what anyone says, being a starving artist is not cute. Know you worth
The last one is just because I don’t want to go on. I definitely can. This one is the most important to me, FAITH! My faith is that God has put the gifts in me to use to draw people to him. My faith that every moment in my life has led me to live the life I dreamed of living.
I have a lot more, but I’ll stop there.
What are some of your upcoming projects?
Many of my projects are listed on my IMDB page. Click HERE to visit my page.
There’s one project that will be airing on either TNT or CBS depending upon the final TV contract. It’s a mini-series dealing with one of the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. I can’t say the name due to my NDA. I am playing a role in an animated film entitled, Rise of the Red. I produced and was the lead in an upcoming Christmas film entitled, The Expectation. I’ve been cast in a film entitled Shots. I believe that by the time this article comes out that I will have many more projects coming up.
Where can people follow you?
I’m available everywhere with the name Rodney Damon Collins. I’m on every social media platform, you can click the links. TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and the newest app, Fanbase. I would love to connect with your entire audience.
Click the link to buy his book: Shattered, A Journey Through the Pieces
Writer, Debbie Stokes is a contributing writer. Follow her on Instagram @ iamdebbiestokes
Photographer credit: Jeremy David Creative
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