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about Kevin
Kevin’s Inspirational Interview with Keri Murphy
Videoclip
(During this interview Keri and Kevin were sitting side by side on a bench in a park in Beverly Hills)
Keri: A lot of people come up to Hollywood with big dreams, but so few of them actually make it anywhere, well I am with a man, Kevin Sorbo, who has not only conquered amazing things in his life but he’s been doing this for over 20 years in television and film…you might know him as Hercules but he has done a lot more than that, so with that being said, Kevin..thank you so much;
Kevin: My pleasure, it’s good good..it’s good to be here, we’ve got a nice pleasant spot, and it’s… (Keri: beautiful)..Beverly Hills, this is good;
Keri: And Andromeda…
Kevin: Andromeda…Keri: Yes..
Kevin: Andromeda was a lovely 5 year run right after Hercules. I shot Hercules, from 1993 to the end of 99 down in New Zealand, beautiful New Zealand, and then 2000 to 2005 I rolled right into another series called Andromeda created by the late Gene Roddenberry, it was actually the first show he created after the Star Trek series in 1969, (Keri: Wow), yeah..
Keri: So you’ve been doing this for a little while,…this series is all about inspiring people and I think so few people really believe in themselves (Kevin: hm) or believe that they can do something like maybe you’re doing or anything in life, so Kevin..what was it like when you first came out here, what was that experience like for you;
Kevin: You know I was…I was actually pretty lucky..I had gotten my sidecard when I was in College..I’m from Minneapolis, went to University in Minnesota there..uhh..you know Minneapolis is..got headquarters to Dairy Queen, 3M, Cargill, Pillsberry, General Mills, all these main….major companies that advertise all around the world.. they do a lot of commercials there, so I was lucky to get that all important sidecard, which is a tough thing to get…(Keri: it is)..It’s a weird catch 22.. you know, to even get one of those, so I had a very good commercial reel, everything was kind of put in place when I moved out here, and when I got here I booked a commercial within 3 days.. (Keri: Wow)…that shot in Sydney, Australia (looking at camera), so I wasn’t even here a week and I was a plane down to Australia, and I stayed there for 6 months..I just stayed..I got there, I shot the commercial for 10 days and I fell in love with the country and Sydney and I said I’m staying, (Keri: oh..) so I did a bunch of commercials down there, I did 2 small plays, and had a wonderful time, but then I moved back here and I was really lucky, I stayed very busy within the commercial world, which enabled me to take the acting classes I needed to take and I didn’t have to bar tend, wait tables, or bounce, or do any of that stuff, so I was pretty lucky that way;
Keri: That is really lucky.. (Kevin: I know, I know)…most people here you gotta do like 50 million things as you’re trying to pursue your career, so..but it was 6 years before you actually kinda got your breakout role with Hercules right?
Kevin: It was…I…you know…it was, it was in..like 91/92 when I started realizing that I…I started feeling more comfortable with myself and where I was going and the direction I was going in, I was a lot more confident in where I was going, and I carried that into auditions and I started booking more and more things and I stopped beating myself up because I know every actor when they leave an audition, whether it’s for a commercial or whether it’s for a tv show or movie or whatever, they get in the car and they driving on the 101 and they’re cussing themselves..
Keri: I should have..I could have (laughing)
Kevin:…they’re biting the steering wheel.. (Keri laughing)..every actor can write the same story no matter what level they’re at;
Keri: Could I do it one more time..(laughing)
Kevin: I know it’s true..it’s so true and I got to the point I said I’m not gonna worry about that anymore..I’m not gonna worry about it, and I would just be very honest with myself and my manager, agent..I’d call them up..you know what I nailed it, if they don’t pick me..I’d call them..you know what, I blew it guys. Even Michael Jordan didn’t score double figures every game..you know, so..(laughing)..
Keri: That is so true and everyone can take that message because there are times in our lives when we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna think we’re so right for something.. (Kevin agreeing) ..whether it’s a job or whatever it is and you know it doesn’t happen….it’s a confidence thing…
Kevin: You know, I’ve actually booked jobs that I thought I sucked at when I did the audition…I’d go there’s no way in hell they’re gonna book me because I was horrible and then 2 days later they go you booked that one…I go.. whatt?…they want you..you know I guess they like suck..I don’t know..sooo…(laughing)..
Keri:…did you care when you went in….
Kevin: I always care, I always care, I will always give my best effort when I’m doing any audition but you know, like you said, you’re not always on your game, and even on Hercules and Andromeda, I mean, it’s a fact, television is brutal, especially 1 hour television…it’s..it’s 12 to 14 hour days, I mean Hercules, on top of the 14 hour days, I was lifting weights 2 hours a day…I’d long days, I was 235 back then, I’m just a little wimp at 215 now, so..you know..I was big back then, but I put the time in and I think the fact being in New Zealand it kept me away from all of the tension I would have gotten here in the States, because I was getting a lot of attention, the Show just kept getting bigger and bigger in the ratings, but I was in New Zealand, I got invited to all these parties..I could never go.. you know..and premieres..you know like oh I can’t take advantage, so I stayed focused on the Show and I didn’t have any distractions that people get up here;
Keri: That is really nice because it is so easy.. (Kevin: yeah)..to get distracted here;
Kevin: It…it is and you get easily caught up in the BS, you know…
Keri: Yes, or the wrong crowd, or whatever..
Kevin: Yeah..
Keri: Now, have you ever had an experience where you know you’re reading something that someone wrote about you that maybe didn’t cast you in the brightest light, and how did you feel about that, you know the whole tabloids and everything,……as a celebrity, how do you deal with that everyday;
Kevin: Well, you know, as you know, if it’s.. if it’s..if it’s in the paper or if it’s in a tabloid it’s true.. (looking at camera)..(Kevin and Keri laughing)..
Keri: Oh totally right..
Kevin: I just got to a point just to say forget about it;
Keri: I wanna go back to that all ominous word of confidence, because you said you know once you went into the room and you kind of….it’s not that you didn’t care, but you just knew that you were bringing it, and you feel that that’s kind of when things kept coming your way…or was that when things really changed for you…
Kevin: Ummm..that’s when things started changing for me..like I said..I worked a lot, I did guest spots here and there..but I worked a lot in the commercial world, I made a very good income doing that which was great, I didn’t wanna be a commercial actor but that was able..that was fuel for the fire for me in terms of money to be able to not panic about paying my rent, or getting groceries or something like that, so I was able to take you know the acting classes I wanted to take, I was able you know to kinda pick and choose the places I wanted to be part of in terms of you know promoting my career..I think the best advice that somebody gave me when I left Minneapolis..a good friend said you know remember to call it showbusiness not showshow…(Keri: mhm) so that’s stayed with me forever..I realized they look at you going what don’t I like about this guy, because they got 400 guys to look at and they want to go through you as quickly as possible (clicking fingers) and just get you out of there…so I…you..you kind of have to just realize that it’s just part of the game (Keri: mhm).. and you know, they tell you you’re supposed to have thick skin..it’s hard to have thick skin if you’re an actor, because I think as an actor…
Keri: You’re supposed to be emotional right… figured..
Kevin: Well, yeah…exactly (Keri laughing)..you know..so when they’re rejecting you, it’s you, you’re your own product..(Keri: yeah)..they’re not rejecting your vacuum cleaner you’re trying to sell, they’re rejecting you and that’s..that’s always…you know, you do beat yourself up and this business destroys a lot of people, there’s not many people…when I first came out here…there’s not many people left in the business from my age group (Keri: Right) that was here back in the 80s…
Keri: Well I think actually that rest of thing that Harrison Ford said, he said that..ah…that he knew he would make it if he just stayed here long enough.. (Kevin: Yeah..nodding).. something like that, because there are so many people that come out here and then just get destroyed or because they come out here seeking for that…maybe that..
Kevin: Yeah..well you know, the rock and roll guys sing ‘em all the time..(Keri: Yeah)..it’s a city of broken dreams..and it really is..you know they call it…you know they say it’s the city of angels but it’s hardly that comforting and nice to people…it’s a cruel town;
Keri: Let’s talk about like young people (Kevin: mhm) that look at you and what you’ve done and aspire to be this (making circle shape round Kevin with both hands and finally puts her hand on his wrist)… can you imagine I’m just kidding.. (both laughing).. what would you tell them, what would you say you know to your kids you know about getting into the business, would you…
Kevin: You know, I..I..I’m a firm believer in following your dreams..if this is something you want do go after it, but you’ve gotta go after it with an open mind, open heart, and..you have to have the passion..I have the passion…when I went to acting classes I could look around the room and see people there thinking that Spielberg’s gonna knock on the door and make ‘em a millionaire, make them famous..don’t get into it for that..work will get work, the money will follow, go after it because you have a passion for it for the profession of acting.. enjoy the acting. I had an old acting coach that told me once the butterflies stop then get out of the business, you know I’ve been…I’ve done 300 hours now on television and I’ve done about 30 movies, and I’ve been very lucky to keep myself doing it..I mean I create a lot of my own work too..I have my own production company now for these last 2 years, I bust myself doing that, but..before that camera starts rolling I still get that buzz, I still get that excitement, I love it..I love it..and when you hit that scene just right and you can feel it inside during (Kevin claps with the back of his hand in his other hand)..and .. sometimes I get like an out of body experience..it’s fun for me..I guess it’s the old..it’s the buzz I got when I was an athlete in High School and College when I played football and basketball..you know, I can’t do that the rest of my life..you know I’m too old and beat up for that..but..but I still get that feeling and I like it;
Keri: Yeah, and I think that’s what everyone should be doing with their life is..you know, fulfilling their passions, getting that feeling no matter what they’re doing..
Kevin: I write follow your dreams all the time when I sign autographs, because people are afraid to follow their dreams, they’re…people are afraid of failure, and if you’re in this business you’re going to have so many failures and you have so many failures in life, and you see that’s a big problem I see throughout this country..this entitlement thing, this laziness thing..people..you have to be motivated, you have to create something, you have to do something with your life, and the most successful people that I know, and I’ve been very fortunate to meet a lot of them because of ‘celebrity’ (making inverted comma sign)..I ask them how did you become CEO of this company, how did you get success here..every one of them talked about the failures that they had…failure after failure…the learning, and not… and using that, as I did, as fuel for the fire…to, (Keri: absolutely).. when people told me I couldn’t…you’re too tall, you’re too this, you’re too that in this business..you’re too young, you’re too old.. whatever they come up with, that just made me…I just said, you know what..I’m gonna show you..I’m gonna show you..
Keri: Did you hear that everyone..determination yeah..and you are tall (both laughing)..he is tall..tell me about your charity..what are you doing there;
Kevin: I have a foundation called A World Fit For Kids..I’ve been doing it for 13 years now..I was looking for a foundation..when Hercules really kicked off by 95/96 I started getting inundated with a lot of great causes, but I wanted..I had a lot of friends already involved in those, so I wanted to get involved in something with kids who were basically healthy but living in really unhealthy environments and along came Normandie Nigh, who heads up a programme called L.A Fit For Kids..when I came in I said let’s call it A World Fit For Kids, let’s think global..at least think national with this and spread this across the country at least, and..umm..it attacks childhood obesity, it works on mentoring, self-esteem, hope, desire, drive, grade-point average..all of this we work with..umm..L.A. County has a 54% drop-out rate, we have 12,000 kids that we work with in L.A County public schools, we have a 98% graduation rate, and all the parents want their kids being up in my programme, but we…you know the Governments keep cutting and cutting, it’s at the state level, the federal level…
Keri: It’s a huge problem yeah..
Kevin: It’s huge…they cut physical education programmes in like grade schools..9 year olds have to run around for an hour…I’m there to try and make..you know..try to make a little bit of difference with my programme, I got an award from Governor Schwarzeneggar 2 years ago for the best after school programme in the entire state of California..that’s when we said okay we’re going nationwide with this..so I had a golf tournament, we just finished 2 weeks ago, in Vegas, our 2nd Annual..so people want information go to worldfitforkids.org..it’s worldfitforkids.o r g (spelling out)..and check it out..
Keri: We’ll make sure we get the link out there..
Kevin: It’s a great, great event and I..actually I just flew into Vegas 2 days ago, I got invited to the.. NHO’s having their awards for the best goalie..best everything, and I got invited to play with their hockey players and 6 professional poker players in a poker tournament…well I got down to the final table of 6 people and ended up in 3rd place and won $22,000 for World Fit For Kids..(thumbs up to the camera)..
Keri: No..(laughing)..nice…………next time I go to Vegas I’m gonna take you with me (laughing)..
Kevin:..and I’m not even a poker player..(Kevin grabs Keri’s wrist) ... (laughing)..….I know….you know what, I just played smart..I had one pro tell me, he says you gotta fold 70% of the time, and this guy…and you just gotta know 70% fold down….he says don’t hang in there and chase things…
Keri: That’s a good life lesson too there..isn’t it..I mean sometimes you just need to know when to fold..
Kevin: Sometimes you need to know when to fold yeah..
Keri: Yeah..you know what..you are quite the inspiration Kevin Sorbo, thank you for your time..
Kevin: Thank you..I appreciate it.. (Keri puts her hand briefly on Kevin’s shoulder and he returns the gesture)
Keri: I’m glad I’m seeing you now instead of a serial killer..(both laughing)..that I..you later... alright..that’s it..
…..
Kevin: It’s not a quick story but I’ll make it as quick as I can. Kevin Costner came to an acting class back in 1991, he was filming Body Guard at the time, he had studied with Richard Brander, one of my old acting coaches, and studied with Richard a long time ago..so he came to speak to the class during one of the breaks during The Body Guard, and he walked in the class, probably every student from all 4 or 5 classes..there was like 50/60 students in there and he says..I don’t mean you know to kind of break your hearts but none of you are going to have any success in this business..that’s what he started his speech with..you could hear the room deflate..(Keri: Yeah..sure)..but I sat back and I understood what he was saying..I knew exactly what he was saying, because the chances are very very slim, and I walked up to him afterwards and I said..I totally get what you were saying but you’re wrong about me because I’m gonna make it..and he goes..that’s nice…so flash forward 7 years later, it’s 1998, Hercules has now been on the air for 5 or 6 years, we’re now the most watched tv show in the world, we’re past Baywatch as the most watched show in the world, I get invited to Kevin Costner’s golf tournament in Monte Carlo with Prince Albert..so I’m there, he now knows me as Hercules..walks up to me..Kevin, pleasure to meet you..I really appreciate you coming all the way to Monte Carlo to..I go tough duty to come out there, and I said..Kevin we met..he said have we met..I said yeah we met back in Richard Brander’s acting class back in 1991..you came to talk to us while you were on a break from your movie and he looked at me and he said..yeah, I did come in there,.. and I said yeah..umm..you said when you first walked up there nobody in this room is gonna make it and I walked up to you..before I finished he goes you’re they guy who walked up to me and said you’re gonna make it..and he goes you proved me wrong;
Keri: That’s a great story;
Kevin: It was fun..it was fun..I mean it was neat and I’ve known him ever since, I’ve golfed with him a number of times and become friends with him so it’s……….
Keri: A great story.. good story..yes you can;
Kevin: Yes you can;
Transcript of free speech Lindsey/Edith (apologies for errors)