We were lucky to catch up with La’Charles Trask recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi La’Charles, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

In the 7th grade my friends dared me to audition for the school play, The Wiz, seeing that I was the class clown and all. Was I going to back down? Nah. I had a reputation to up keep. I auditioned & actually got it, even with how un prepared I most likely was. Let this be the first note, that when it’s for you, nothing is going to get in the way, prepared or not.

I got the role of the lion! To make a long story short, I fell in love with the process. The long rehearsals, script breakdown, putting scenes on their feet etc. I finally could put a name to this thing I didn’t know what to call, an actor. I wanted to be an actor. Opening night comes and I have a solo, the, curtains open, I strut my stuff, look into the audience and catch my dad’s face, smiling ear to ear, woah, what a feeling – I can make someone and people feel like this? Yes. In that moment my journey to becoming an actor had begun.

And here we are – still going! Almost 16yrs later….Ahaha

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a black man from the south of Chicago who has a dream of being the best entertainer I can be.

Starting from scratch in an industry I knew nothing about. Chasing this feeling of what it means to be alive. That’s what acting is for me – it’s the humanity, it’s a pulse, a freedom.
And most importantly, a responsibility, a responsibility to honor the present moment.

To be, or not to be – that is the question. Makes more sense to me now. To be anything you want or to be everything, for everyone else. I stand 6 foot 4inches and I’m fighting for the big boys, I also think it’s time we see that 6 foot or taller actress on the screen.

It’s been a process, but that’s what we’re doing this for, right? You have to divorce the expectation and actually marry the process. That’s were the joy and fulfillment comes from, in anything, it’s never been the end goal in my experience. Just the life lived along the way.

I love stories & I love story telling. Connecting with feeling that anyone can experience from all around the world, now that’s powerful.

Cheers to the process.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

At the age of 24 I was making the most money ever working as a full time actor living in L.A. – enough to open a restaurant with my business partner by the age of 25 in Las Vegas. By 26 I had been to the top of the mountain and was now in the valley & had to walk away from my business, packed it all up and moved to Texas to get my mind right. By 27 I was back in L.A with a new fire and perspective on my place in this industry & most importantly my life.

Life is going to be nothing but pivots. It’s going to be good, even great at times and it’s going to bad, maybe worse and guess what? That’s the way it is. It’s about balance. You don’t get joy without pain, you can’t receive if you can’t let go, it’s all about the pivot. Open yourself up and see the possibilities life has to offer you. “Don’t wander too long,” an old friend told me and I can’t seem to shake that.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Short & simple. The mission driving this creative journey is authenticity. Within my life, my faith, my relationships, my purpose and the list can go on.

We’re having a human experience. Fill it with your truth and love and see what happens.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: lacharlestrask

Image Credits
Photography by Emily Sandifer