We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Connor Dean. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Connor below.
Connor, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I actually kind of fell into a career in the entertainment industry. My older brother wanted to be an actor and so I always had to tag along with him to auditions and classes. After a while I decided I might as well start auditioning too since I had to be there anyway. After I booked my first job when I was about 4 years old, I fell in love with it. I loved meeting new people, the action of things on set, and of course, craft services isn’t too bad either!
Connor, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an actor, podcast host, and influencer. I am best known as Butch the Bully in the cult favorite series of movies called Cool Cat. For some reason that character was a hit with fans and memes and social media accounts were created. From there I have been on 9-1-1, a short film called Jingle Trails (now on Amazon Prime), among many others. I won Best Lead Actor for my starring role in Jingle Trails at the Young Entertainer Awards which was amazing. As a podcast host, I have 2 podcasts. One is a sports/pop culture podcast called In or Out with Connor Dean on BLEAV and the other one is a horror podcast called Clowns ‘R’ Us with my friend Broadway actor Max Bartos. I also have my own production company called Penny Arcade Pictures. In addition, I am an influencer that attends many events and works with different brands, companies, and charities. I am also a competitive tennis player competing all over Southern California as well as coaching up and coming players.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think the most rewarding part of being a creative is just that you can create! I love being in control of my own destiny and creating what I want when I want.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
To be a creative means you have to have resilience. You spend most of your life hearing that you cannot do something or that you are not right for a certain role. You hear a lot of “no” in your career, but you have to know what your path is and that your career is not a sprint but a marathon. Also, some people may not be able to separate you from a role you play. Ironically, I was bullied for my role as Butch the Bully long after I worked on that project. I even had the captain from my tennis team bully me and make fun of me for that role. I learned it is best to ignore bullies because that takes away their power. Most bullies are just jealous of what you have that they don’t. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and have your back is what really matters most in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.connordeanofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconnordean/
Image Credits
Rodin Eckenroth- Headshot Photos Personal Collection- Tennis Photos