Interview by Andrew Bard
I recently had the privilege to sit down with the very talented William DeCoff, an actor from the Boston Area. William has a number of achievements under his belt, from being a stuntman, inducted into the New England hall wrestling hall of fame of fame to a police officer, bodybuilder and qualified olympic trainer. Working alongside actors like William Forsyth, Andrew Divoff, Jason Issacs, Sophia Bush and Kane Hodder, he is one of the most humble people I’ve met and never takes himself too seriously which is a contrast to seeing him on set where he is professional, driven and 100% focused.
AB: When would you say was the first time you really wanted to be an actor and to follow up what was your first acting role?
As always I never took the direct route. In high school I got a spot in an Anderson-Little TV commercial that was being shot at my school. I was recruited in the hall-way between classes. I would definitely say gave me the bug. Not being on camera but the pay! I made more in that commercial than working 3 summers as a lumberjack during my summers and a bus boy the rest of the year. The following year I was competing in the 1978 Teenage Mr. America contest in Los Angeles. A Producer asked me to play a High School bully in a horror film named “Blood Tide”. I remember thinking that acting was a great way to meet really cute chicks. (Laughing) Later I got some print ads. But, my focus was really on becoming a Pro Wrestler. So while I enjoyed the acting and modeling side of things it was not close to being a consideration long term. The funny part is that I got more commercials when I was bodybuilding and Wrestling than I get now! LOL
AB: Looking back at your career (not just film) what would you say are your top 3 most memorable moments? As an actor you have been on a number of film sets from Hollywood productions and small indie films. What has been some of the best and most insane moments you’ve had on a production?
Working on “The Finest Hours” was definitely #1 in every conceivable way as best experience on a production. The sets were amazing. It was like going to Vegas in the early 80’s. The set changed and morphed everyday it was like a living organism. I’ve never worked with so many talented people in one setting Entertainment or otherwise.. From the Carpenters to the Iron Workers, the painters, to the Actors, stunt men, wardrobe all the way to the Production Assistants. And the food! My friends Jay Street, Tyrone Alcorn, & I put on close to 60 lbs. between the 3 of us in 6 months! Everyone was on their game for the near 6 months I worked on it. It was an all-star team in every way. Did I mention the food? (laughing)
After that it would be the fight scene I had with Ethan Embry in Season 2 of Showtime “The Brotherhood”. The scene was outside at the bottom of a steep hill. We did at least 10 takes. The Actors, the crew the Teamsters, townsfolk everyone in the vicinity circled around the set. Had to have been close to 100 people watching us. At the end of each take they went crazy applauding us, Slapping us on the back. Ethan and I really put our all into that scene. The funny thing is about 90% of it was cut from the episode!. It was so brutal that if they showed the whole fight as filmed our characters would have been out for the season let alone the episode! I didn’t get hit that many times in the vast majority of street Fights I’ve been in. And I’ve been in a few! (laughing) I was almost 50 years old when we shot it. The next morning my wife teased me “Well, my husband can still fight. He can’t get out of bed for 3 days after. But he can still fight” (laughing)
After that it’s acting moments. The time I was improving with William Forsythe in “Slip & Fall” and he didn’t hear action called. He just thought I was being crazy as usual. The scene made to final cut! LOL My first scene with Eric Eastmen in “Dystopia” which I think was my best acted scene ever. I never connected with anyone better in a scene. Working with Sarah Nicklin in her very first short film. Then spending the next day calling every Producer I knew to say how great she was. LOL Helping beginners at this really brings me a lot of enjoyment. Guess that’s the Dad coming out again. I really enjoy life moment to moment. I could pull a great memory from nearly every scene I’ve done. Especially the bad ones! (smiling)
AB: What is your process for choosing roles? Do you have a specific character type you like to go after?
I really just want to have fun. That’s what life is about. When I was younger and not a very good Actor my favorite scenes were playing villains chasing pretty actresses through the woods in horror films. These days I’m older, more experienced, but still not a good actor. I now look for projects with meaningful dialogue. Roles that really tests and stretches me as an actor and person. That include a scene where I’m chasing some pretty actress through the woods in a horror movie. (laughing)
AB: Take us through your routine after you land a part. How do you prepare for a role?
First, I learn the story inside out and backwards. Know how my character fits. From there I try to find the emotion in particularly the love in the character. For me Love is the strongest motivation. So I try to apply it to whoever I’m playing no matter how evil or psychotic he is. From there I bring in life experience and think of people I know who are similar. I get all prepared. Go to rehearsal….and I find out I completely misinterpreted everything about the story and character, make a toal fool of myself before going home and starting over! (laughing)
AB: Being a husband and father do you sometimes find it difficult to balance family life with your career?
There is no balancing act. If something affects my family in a negative way I just walk away. I will not allow any profession or passion to affect my wife, son, nieces, nephews or Bulldog. If I get stressed out or preoccupied it affects them. They are the center of my universe. Not me or any silly movie no matter what the pay.
AB: Who, if any actors throughout time do you credit as an inspiration?
“By far Boris Karloff. He was a great actor who had to do background and drive a truck to make ends meet. He got the part of Frankenstein completely by luck. He didn’t even get a credit! He got that opportunity and he became a star. If he had walked away like most he never would have succeeded. But he worked on the craft and nailed it when he finally got his opportunity. After that http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0158856/?ref_=tt_cl_t2 Min-sik Choi , Ian McShane, Brian Cox, William Forsythe , M.C. Gainey, Larry Fine for many different reasons.
AB: Do you have any advice for actors who are just starting out? Lessons they should learn, do’s and don’ts and first time mistakes they should avoid?
After 38 years I feel like I’m just starting out. (laughing) I’m reminded of Brian Cox’s line from Deadwood “It’s the learning of nothing that keeps me young” (laughing.
#1. Be polite. If I got to explain why then you better visit your parents more often and start listening.
#2 Don’t take anything personally particularly in the audition/casting process. You either fit the vision or you don’t. Some casting directors said talent only accounts for 7% of casting decisions. I believe that. If you are going to pursue entertainment and not go crazy you better learn not to take rejection or an slight personally. Entertainment is filled with eccentrics and egotists get u8sed to weird behavior and conversations! (laughing)
#3. Be prepared! If you get the sides for an audition know the material. The only time,.THE ONLY time you should be angry with yourself is not being prepared for an opportunity. And believe me when I say it takes years to cultivate a relationship with casting. You can destroy years of work if you embarrass a Casting Director at an audition in front of a client. Your auditioning for your next audition. If the Casting office is asking you back then your doing good. Know your material when you get a spot. Don’t waste the Producers money. They are showing faith in casting you. Do the right thing. I’m a Dad so I can go on for days. So I’ll stop preaching now!
AB: Now here is the time to self promote yourself! Any projects coming up?
Very excited about Dystopia Capital City. The Response at film Festivals has been fantastic. I’m preparing for “Finding Surrogates” and “Paying Your Debt’s “ by Bryan Casey. The release of “The Finest Hours”. Got a few other things going on that can’t be talked about yet you know this business it’s all Secret squirrel. (laughing) My acting reel can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76WmI_giYKA I hope it will bring a smile and some enjoyment to whoever watches it.. And you can see the William Forsythe scene I described!
