Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Dal Santo

Hi Kyle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

As a kid I was obsessed with story telling. Movies, literature, comic books, video games – I loved to immerse myself in far out worlds and imagine myself within them. I would dress up as characters in old war movies and fantasy worlds and act out the scenes as they were happening on the screen. During Middle school I started borrowing my parents camcorder and would make little sci-fi and action movies with my friends and cousins. I knew someday I wanted to be a part of the process.

After a brief stint in the Marine Corps, I started acting at first as a hobby to keep myself occupied, but also to keep me from returning to the troublesome life I had found myself in during my teenage years, which was a lot of drugs, sex, and violence. It very quickly became a safe place for me to not only rekindle my love for creation, but it gave me a way to explore myself emotionally and recover that little boy that loved story telling so much – a part of me that I feared I had lost during my more turbulent years. It helped me to rediscover my humanity after the military, and gave me a new avenue for expressing myself, which was something I never really had before in my life.

It has now been fifteen years, and I have had the pleasure of being a part of over a hundred and sixty acting projects, and I have no intention of ever stopping. Story telling has fully embedded itself within my DNA, and I love every minute of it.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It has been anything but a smooth road, but I personally have never met anyone in this industry – regardless of their profession – who has had a journey without some heavy obstacles in the road. And honestly, I don’t think I would have it any other way. For starters, the reason most of us find ourselves in this world – the world of entertainment, the arts, storytelling – is because our lives were “bumpy” in the first place lol. It’s what makes so much of us so unique. It gives us the drive to be our unique and original selves, and in turn gives us the edge to be so talented and dedicated. It separates us from the “average” or “normal” if there even is such a thing.

That being said, my life has been a wild ride. I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, and ever since I was little I have found myself in the thick of crazy, whether I put myself there or not. I survived violence, abuse, bullying, emotional and physical destruction to myself. I have more scars than I can count. And since entering the entertainment industry, it has only gotten crazier, and stranger. I have lost loved ones. I have come close to death. I have faced countless failures and I have “given up” many late nights. I have sacrificed more than I sometimes want to really think about so I could stay on this roller coaster. And it seems that no matter how much I learn, I’m always terrified I have yet more to suffer before I can consider myself “worthy.” Like you have to truly suffer to be a truly great creator or, the word we all covet so much, artist. I wish it wasn’t the case, but I know much of the horror I’ve experienced in my life, has made me a better actor/writer/storyteller.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

As an actor I have been a part of over a hundred film projects, not including the dozen or so I experienced from behind the camera as a crew member wearing various titles. I’ve held every level of performer from the uncredited background filler to the main star. I’ve been a part of a dozen theater groups. I’ve played every level of protagonist and antagonist, and I have loved every one of them in their own way.

I’m also a writer. I’ve self published three works of poetry, a short story, and my first novel, titled “The L.A. Memoirs.” which received a handful of nominations for “Best First novel”, and “Best Indie Novel” I’m hoping to have my second novel out before the end of this year.

Acting for sure is the “quick fix.” It’s an adrenaline rush, an emotional release that’s like combining therapy, a family reunion(good and bad) and a crazy gym session. Its like letting off the steam valve to all the things I keep bottled up inside of me from week to week. Writing on the other hand is like raising a pet. It’s your baby, you watch it start from little more than an idea to a pile of maybes. Bit by bit you find the right puzzle pieces and put it together, until one day its finished and you have your name on this thing that you created out of thin air. The journey is much longer and more strenuous than acting, but man is it worth it at the end. I love them both, and I’m equally proud of what I’ve accomplished in both avenues of creativity.

One thing I think that sets me apart, something I’m most proud of, is my work ethic. I was raised a working class kid, my dad running his own catering business, my mom cutting hair in our basement when I was growing up. They were machines. No matter how stressed they were, no matter how tired, they always made time for me and my sister. And I have tried to carry that into my creative world. Many times I’ve been told by filmmakers and fellow actors I was the hardest working performer they had ever seen. “Kyle’s the busiest actor I know” has been said out loud many times in my career, and I wear that as a badge of honor.

I also pride myself in my dedication to my craft. When I started in this industry I unfortunately rubbed shoulders with some very seedy people. Individuals who were in this industry not for the love of it, but to take advantage of it, one way or another. I swore early on I would NEVER be that way. Never take advantage of people, never let my pain or problems brush off onto others. I focus on being the best possible I can be, and if I can help others in their effort to do the same? I always try to. The real ones are here for the same reason. To follow their dreams. And if we can all unite under that mission, there’s really no stopping us.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?

I spend far more time than I want to admit on youtube. Whether its watching documentaries or interviews to research a role, how to videos or example videos to learn a new craft or trick for a role, to watch actors I look up to for advice. We’re talking tens of hours a week lol. But the resources you can find on youtube for a creator are absolutely ENDLESS. You want to learn to play guitar? Looking for reference video for an accent you have to learn? Want to learn more about life as an (insert occupation)? Odds are you can find all you need there.

Instagram is the only social media platform I use. Honestly, nowadays, it’s smart to have a presence on every platform(especially as a creator) but for me I find it best suits my needs for engagement, and I never really found comfort when using tik-tok or facebook or “X”, etc. But if you enjoy them, it really can’t hurt to have multiple avenues for you to show off your creative abilities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kyledalsanto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyle.dal.santo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kkarl187