Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mike Karan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mike, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

My whole life I think I’ve always taken the riskiest route(s). I think that all sprouted from playing sports. I was always taught to just leave it all on the field no matter what the out come, go big or go home. Take the risk no matter what. So I did just that. I loved playing football and honestly if I could today would do I’d do it in a heart beat. I tried my hand in being a professional giving my younger years away to it. That ended when one day I was involved in an accident that gave me several pins in my shoulder. Doctors telling me it’s over. My life at that time was dedicated to my sport and it didn’t pay off. I had no clue what to do. I hit a pretty big low not knowing what to do with myself because my dream was playing in the NFL. When that happens, you don’t think of what’s my back up, what else am I good at? It took some time to heal from that and I don’t mean just physically. It took a certain professor of mine to make me realize I had other talents. He also told me to follow my heart. So I looked back through my years and I was always doing some sort of art when I wasn’t doing football. So I auditioned for a lead in a play. I had some experience in high school plays but never a lead due to how much time was needed to be put in. I nailed the audition. Had so much fun with the cast. When the final curtain closed I had this thought in my head. Why not be an artist. I’ve always played music, always painted or illustrate, and always wanted to act. So, I looked at myself in the mirror and took my professor’s advice once again with no holds barred, quit persuing my degree. Enrolled in an acting school in New York. Got in to bands since I’ve always played an instrument. Was introduced to a music producer who put an idea in my head to move to the west coast. This route, this risky route, ultimately lead me to L.A. Which, I had never stepped foot in until I moved here. It wasn’t easy. It still isn’t. I was homeless for quite some time and couch surfed but hey, go big or go home. That was what I learned and still practice to this day. I’m still taking that risk everyday, if you will. There are good times and there are bad times, but I won’t quit no matter what. Things have gotten better than sleeping on a street, but I’m hungry, always will be till the day I die.

Mike, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an actor out of Los Angeles. I moved here in 2005. I studied both music and acting. I’ve always been an artist since I can remember. Going back in my younger years I was always in multiple art classes, i.e. painting, music, or theatre. Like most, the older crowd always tried to steer me away from such kind of career path saying it’s virtualy impossible to “make it.” But being the hard head and probably too many hits to the head, I did not listen. I dared to be great, whether it was in sports or now in the arts. This is my passion. I have surrounded myself with it. Never taking on that 9 to 5 mentality, or seeking out that waiter job to float the bills. I’d much rather be homeless then saying “What would you like tonight?” I think that’s what has made me different from everyone else. I won’t settle and I don’t take no for an answer. There’s always a way. There is always someone out there that will believe you, your abilities, you just have to find them. That’s the one problem I face in my industry and it’s one that everyone faces in this industry. You have to make “them” love you. It’s hard to do but it’s doable. I can say I’ve been on a big stage rocking out, on stage acting and been on t.v. shows and movies. Not many can say that, but I can. You just have to not give up.

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

I know a lot of people always say I want to be a big star, or win an award, or be rich. My goal is for people out there to say “Damn, he’s good!” I just want people to see my work and love it. I don’t care about having a huge house, nice car, more money than I can spend. Actually, I dream about have a cabin in a place like Tahoe, or Breckenridge. I’m just one man, with a dog, what do I need all that for? No, I want people to say I think Michael Karan is an amazing talent. I want to work with other amazing talent. I want to go to theater, watch people walk out of a movie that I’ve been a part of and say that was great. Do I want to be a part of big things like Marvel? Hell yes! I grew up a huge fan of stuff like that, but I just want to say I did it. You can keep your awards, believe me I have never attended any of my sports award ceremonies. I don’t need trophies, they’re just paper weights. Just give me the satisfaction of being a part of something great.

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

What is the most rewarding aspect? Being able to go to those non believers I had growing up and say “Look what I just did.” I’ve never had support in things I’ve done. There have always been these walls to break down that have stood in my way. To be able to one day go back to those who didn’t want to give me a chance or support me and just smile.    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.MichaelKaran.com
• Instagram: Michael_Karan22
• Youtube: mikekaran7099