Biography
Mitchell Rad was born on March 24th in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but soon moved with his family to southeast New Mexico and ultimately landed in his hometown of Midland, Texas. He grew up in the Permian Basin of West Texas surrounded by flat desert landscape filled with mesquite, oil rigs and pump jacks. High school football dominated the Friday night lights. Longing for something outside the sphere of his present environment, within a year of his graduation Mitch began exploring the world beyond his hometown roots.
Mitchell attended Midland College then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where he studied political science, English and history. For a while, he entertained the thought of entering the world of politics and law. Later he studied computer management systems and web technologies at the Albuquerque Technical Institute in New Mexico. A head-long series of interesting circumstances and developments however, led him in and out of various adventures during this time.
A twist of fate brought Rad to the acting table and once bitten by the "bug," he could not fight what became his overwhelming passion. Mitch has often said -- in a humorous tone -- that he was not sure if he should be forever thankful to the people who got him into the business or "beat them severely about the head and shoulders" for making the introduction.
Mitch's first acting public appearances were with a few small, theatrical productions in drama class and the Robert E. Lee High School Speech and Debate Club where he was dubbed "The Sharp Tongue." Not only academically and creatively inclined, Rad was an award-winning high school athlete, briefly studied martial arts, played on the basketball practice team in college for a season, had a short turn as a pro snow skier and taught downhill skiing at Sierra Blanca, New Mexico now known as Ski Apache. All this led later to his ability to do many of his own stunts.
His roustabout life has been tempered by stints as carpenter, painter, paralegal and many other diversified fields of endeavor. Growing up in a Southern Baptist household and being an active member of a local church in his youth, Mitchell yearned for a deeper meaning. He lived and studied for two years at a place known as the World Refuge of Truth where he journeyed on a personal, spiritual vision quest that helped to expand and redefine his outlook and perspective on life and the world.
Mitch re-discovered acting later in life with renewed passion for the craft, now seasoned by a life filled with rich and varied experiences. Like Dennis Farina and other gifted actors who come by their skills naturally, Mitchell Rad exudes an intense believability few actors can match.
Rad got his first acting break in a short film for the 48 Hour International Film Project where Mitchell portrayed a Russian hit man in the award winning production of "El Perdido - The Lost One" (2005). Mitch's second film project landed him the lead in "AB-Negative" (2006), an independently made horror thriller, in the role of Wooster Carneal.
Mitchell had the distinct privilege to play in six episodes of the exciting and adventurous made for TV series "Hidden Histories" (2009), which explored the daring deeds of some the famous sons of Texas and other characters during the forming of the wild western frontier, while starring as General Sam Houston in Episode VI - Battle Texas. He also portrayed other real life, historical figures in the series - Temple Lea Houston, Robert Potter, Pierre Lafitte, Edgar Wilson and Gabe Moore.
Soon followed a supporting role as the Air Traffic Controller in "Clean Sweep" (2010), as an Airport Traveler Business Executive in the TV series "My Generation" (2010), a Channel 4 TV News Reporter and College Football Scout in two episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (2010) and as Gunfighter in the western, "The Magnificent Dead" (2010).
Rad plays the lead as Detective Denslow in the award-winning short film "Malevolence" (2012), a supporting role as Ark Hunter in the post-apocalyptic, sci-fi live action trailer "Defiance: Join the Fight" (2013), and offered up the physically demanding role in his portrayal as Noah in the full length feature "Genesis" (2014). Mitch again displays his acting range in "Violence 4 Fun" (2015) as the contract killer, Stone Horse, who may not be quite as cold and evil as he appears on the outside.
Mitchell has co-produced and starred in the soon-to-be-released "Back Roads: A Texas Tail" (2015) where he plays Sheriff Bill Raderson and reprises this role in "Four Yeguas - The Beginning" (2015).
His work in many films, TV shows, movie and live-action video trailers, short films, web series, commercials, music videos and theatrical productions continue to sharpen his acting skills.. He has been cast as lead, principal and supporting characters and possesses the athleticism to provide his own stunt work when necessary.
Keep an eye out for Mitchell Rad: His acting and producing career are in overdrive.
