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My acting started in 1989, with a community theater that hired me for a play on AIDs. I played the boy who hated the girl. Patty played the girl who hated the boy. By the end of the play we were in love. We finished with a great stage hug. Six months later we were married. I know. Crazy, right? - My son was born five years later as I went back to graphic design and my wife, that would be Patty, taught piano lessons in the front room. Long story short, my son grew to love ballroom dance. And especially Dancing With The Stars. To this day he can tell you all the scores. After years of lessons, we moved to Southern California so he could learn from one of the DWTS dancers. - Patty worked on her first CD. I went to acting classes. - Someday I'll tell you more about Patty and Jeremy. They have all the cool stories, but you are here to read my bio. Okay. So.... I found a great scene study for the camera class with Peter Valentino, teaching in Hollywood. He shot a lot of student scenes, which was great experience for us. One day he made a SAG-AFTRA movie and next thing I know I'm eligible. Another day a student from Malaysia came in (He was born Columbian, and moved to Malaysia, such is the international flavor of LA.). We became friends, and before he had to leave, we made a movie. I wrote it, he co-stared with a fantastic LA musician/singer. The movie was called Open Mic (Short 2019). I asked a friend to shoot it. She brought in a crew. We earned a lot of laurels, which is another story for later. - During these years I did a lot of improv at different places, and in different groups. Not the biggies, but still very experienced teachers and fellow players. I also did a lot of background gigs, mostly through Central Casting. It got to where they were calling me, so you know I did a lot, which every actor should do. It taught me set etiquette as well as what studio acting experiences look like on large sets and intimate sets and amazing locations. - I was also doing TV and film for students and indies. - To up my game, I went union. OMG I went union. The SAG Foundation, I love them. Just say'in. And, to push it, I found another school called the Beverly Hills Playhouse. I started in 2018. I cannot explain the shift in my brain going to a school like this. I grew up, and I was in my 50's. Then Covid. Crazy, right? During Covid we learned to act online, we had workshops online, I finally attacked the guitar, and eventually we, all masked up and tested, and went back live classes. During the online time, one of my two morning coaches went out on his own. That was Michael Yavnieli, who, with Tonja, his wife, also a wonderful actor, started a new school, eventually known as Arete Acting Workshop. I went with him because I felt we're on the same communication plane. And we are to this day. I'm so happy to say Arete is thriving. - I love all of my acting coaches. I was lucky. - But in 2021, with my mom at 89 years old, we made the toughest decision to move back home, to live near family. Mom is amazing, the little old church lady in tennis shoes. I flew into Los Angeles as often as I could for a few years, trading off online and live scene study classes at Arete. Michael and my fellow students, and others in the Hollywood/LA area, are my acting family. - But, a reality hit our pocket books, and now I take live acting classes just a short 20 minute drive from home. Another great acting school, Peak Acting Studios. Irony, the owner and instructors are from Los Angeles. Most of my neighbors are too. Crazy,..yep. - I also started screenwriting earlier in Hollywood for my friend who helped produce Open Mic, Sabrina. She introduced me to another producer, Raja, and my screenwriting career was budding like a crazed weed. Now in Denver I balance my time between acting studies/auditions/bookings and writing. I even write plays. - This brings us up to speed. Thank you for reading this far. I know an update is in the near future. (Excuse the types.) I appreciate IMDb for letting us write these bios, and for giving us all a platform to network, do business and thrive. - DV
