We were lucky to catch up with Damian Raven recently and have shared our conversation below.

Damian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I am not yet able to earn a full-time living as an actor. It has always been my passion and my joy to be an actor and a writer. From the first time I stepped into a casting room for an audition, I knew that I wanted to be an actor. I have achieved some success, I have an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Principle Actor, but I am still struggling to land a role that provides me a stable income. Knowing what I know now, I don’t think that I could have sped up the process. This is a tough industry, but I have always believed that my true success would come to me at this stage in my career, and when you love something, the way that I love being an actor, nothing with stop you from realizing your dream.

Damian, 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 started acting when I was six years old. My mother took me to Santa Monica pier when we were on vacation and we met the lead actor from the TV series S.W.A.T. He thought that I was a cute kid, and could do commercials and television, so he connected us to his agent, and things took off from there. I began doing print work and commercials before I landing a few speaking roles on TV. I was acting until I was sixteen, when I took a bit of time off to play football. I was a fantastic running black and I won a full scholarship to college. After receiving my scholarship I found out that I was going to be a father, I was only 16 at the time. My son was born when I turned seventeen, so I left college and fought for custody of my son. I worked as a busboy and a server until I was promoted to manager at the age of twenty. After years of fighting to get my son, I was finally successful and gained full custody when he turned six. I then moved us to Santa Monica, reinstated my SAG and my AFTRA membership, and resumed my passion as an actor.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

After moving to Santa Monica with my six year old son in order to pursue my career, I was hit with the death of my mother. I was living in an apartment, no job and no way of supporting us, and I was losing faith. I decided to lean on my athletic skills and I became a personal trainer. I had a passion for yoga and martial arts, along with weight lifting, so I got certified as a Yoga Instructor and a certification from NASM, the I began training clients daily. My list of clients started to build and I was then able to provide for my son and. myself, but I was still struggling in my acting career, so I needed additional income. I went back to Managing a restaurant in conjunction with my personal training so that I could raise my son in a nice home.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I have to say that the thing I love most about being an artist is the privilege of inspiring people through the roles that I play. One of my most inspirational roles, Chadwick Williams, lead to my Emmy nomination. This character became a voice in the Black Gay Male community, and provided a platform for the stories of men whose struggled with their sexuality. I am so very proud of that particular role because it showed me how powerful my craft can be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: damiantoofeekraven
• Facebook: Damian Toofeek Raven

Image Credits

All photos taken by Lasalle Barnes