Biography
American actor and acting coach Erich Fleshman has built an international career spanning more than 80 film and television productions, working alongside performers including Academy Award-winner William Hurt as well as Kevin Bacon, Djimon Hounsou, and Cary Elwes across projects in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Fleshman began his screen career in the HBO film A Bright Shining Lie, appearing alongside acclaimed actor Bill Paxton. The experience introduced him to professional film production at an early stage and launched a career that would expand across multiple international film industries.
Over the years, Fleshman has appeared in a wide range of productions including studio films, independent features, television series, and international streaming projects. Working across diverse filmmaking environments has allowed him to collaborate with performers from multiple cinematic traditions while developing a reputation for professionalism and adaptability across genres including drama, action, thriller, and comedy.
In addition to his work as an actor, Fleshman has also contributed to international productions as a drama coach and cultural consultant. His coaching work has included collaboration with Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue on My Best Bodyguard, as well as coaching work with French actor Tomer Sisley and German actor Ulrich Tukur on the international thriller The Burma Conspiracy. He has also worked alongside Thai performers including Nirut Sirichanya and Paula Taylor, reflecting his long-standing involvement in Thailand’s entertainment industry.
Throughout his career, Fleshman has collaborated with filmmakers from a variety of cinematic traditions, including internationally acclaimed Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang and action filmmaker Prachya Pinkaew. These collaborations reflect his ability to work fluidly between Western and Asian production cultures and his deep connection to Southeast Asia’s evolving film landscape.
Fluent in Thai and based in Bangkok for much of his career, Fleshman has become an active participant in the region’s international film community. His work across languages and industries has given him a unique perspective on the increasingly global nature of contemporary filmmaking and the growing collaboration between Southeast Asian and international productions. In 2024, Fleshman founded Illuminate Acting Academy, a professional acting school dedicated to training actors for careers in film and television. The academy emphasizes practical on-camera training, professional discipline, and repeatable performance technique suited to modern production environments. His teaching draws on the American acting tradition associated with influential teachers such as Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, while adapting those principles to the technical realities of contemporary screen acting.
Through his combined work as a performer, educator, and mentor, Erich Fleshman continues to contribute to the development of internationally competitive actors while maintaining an active presence in global film and television.
