We were lucky to catch up with Joey Thurmond recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joey, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I think I first knew that I wanted to be a performer when I was cast as Charlie Chaplin in one of my elementary school plays. I didn’t audition or even know who Mr. Chaplin was in fourth grade but, my teacher must have seen something in me that led her to put me into that role. I really didn’t want the part or any part for that matter but, she insisted that I learn about him and that I would be great at it. I remember the first performance when I stepped out I was the only one on the stage and it was just me and a huge room full of parents who had came to watch and before I was half way across the stage I heard one of the parents say “That’s Charlie Chaplin! That’s Perfect!” and just like that I was in love with performing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into professional entertainment when I was 17 as an independent professional wrestler. By the time I was 19 I had been featured all over the United States on television and live shows and was a part of World Championship Wrestling. After an injury forced my retirement from wrestling I had a great career in law enforcement. I was decorated for Life Saving, Bravery, Meritorious Service, and special Chief’s Awards on multiple occasions. I continued performing throughout my law enforcement career and eventually was able to retire and pursue show business full time. I have over 50 acting credits currently and have worked my way from background roles to supporting and lead. One of the things that sets me a part from others in my industry is the way I view the creative process. I see film projects from the eye of the viewer first. I visualize what the audience will see as I’m preparing a character. I don’t see me as the character at all. I think that builds hesitation and anxiety in how an actor delivers. I completely take my self out of it and portray the character. If I have done my homework in preparing I have all of the answers to anything that character may find himself having to deal with. Also, the fact that when I agree to perform character I’m all in. 100%! I want to be involved in any and everything that will help promote and move the entire project forward.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The absolute best compliment that anyone could ever pay me after viewing something that I’ve worked on is “It went by too fast!” When I hear someone say that I know that they were “all in” while watching and that I had done my part to help them escape whatever their reality is for just a while. That is that most rewarding thing that I have ever heard. I view the opportunity when someone watches something that I’ve worked on as a dedication of a portion of their life. They are truly trusting me with a portion of their life that they will never get back. It is the absolute most valuable commodity in life. Time. There is no way to ever thank someone enough for giving me that part of their life.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Consume creatives with an open heart and mind. Don’t be afraid of being judged by what you consume from creatives. Those of us who create are used to being judged on a constant basis. We create from our heart and soul. I wish that more people would consume with the heart and soul. As society consumes share, discuss, and steer away from the fads that come and go where not just creatives but, people in general are persecuted for any number of reasons. It’s so easy to criticize but, it’s equally as easy to build up and support.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joeythurmond.com
• Instagram: Joey_Thurmond_Actor
• Facebook: Joey Thurmond Actor
• Twitter: Joey Thurmond Actor
• Other: IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5731672/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1