We recently connected with Ruben O’Neill and have shared our conversation below.
Ruben, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
As silly as it may sound, it was all for my dad.
We would watch anime until 3a.m in the morning. Watching Fullmetal Alchemist, Bleach, that was our bonding moment, and one day I looked at him and said, “Dad, just you watch, I’m going to voice in an anime one day.”
And where I was from, stuff like being an actor was unheard of. It wasn’t “realistic.”
Later on, my dad passed away from cancer and that promise I made to him, held strong in my heart.
I looked everywhere for work, any type of voice over gig, film/ tv, and finally.. I started making it happen.
Taking any class I could, networking events, and today…
I’m humbled and honored to say, I’ve done commercials that have made it on TV. I’ve voiced in anime, and I will keep pushing myself and learn as much as I can. Because this was not all me, but the people who took a chance on me. I owe all my thanks to them.
Dad, it’s all for you, I love you.
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?
It’s nice to meet you all, I’m Ruben O’Neill an LGBTQ+ actor who does film/television/voice over work in LA, as with TX.
Getting into this industry was an experience truth be told for me, everybody’s story is different. But I was taking any free work I could get. In fact my first film was a short film I did with a buddy where he cast me as a zombie! As silly as it may sound for me it was an honor, it was fun! Sure I wasn’t getting paid at all, but you could dang well bet, I was having the time of my life being on set!
The biggest thing about this industry is personal discipline because remember, being an actor, YOU are your business which means marketing yourself, taking as many classes as you can, but most importantly along the way with each new friend you meet, to keep up and support them as you all continue to grow.
Projects I’ve been humbled to work on, would be, “ShowTime!,” which was my first anime and it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Ascendent Animation for taking a chance on me. The Solutions for Change commercial I did that ended up on NBC, as with Magic 92.5, and my recent two would be doing walla lines for ShowTime! 2, and a new commercial I did which I can’t say who it’s for yet since it’s not out, but it’s a well known name.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I’ve never told anybody this before, but this is my answer.
What drove me was my dad before he passed, what drives me now is nothing but heart.
I love meeting incredible, phenomenal people on each set I get the opportunity to be on.
The days where you take your shot and chance.
It’s thrilling, because each day I get to have wonder in my life, wondering if today will be the day I get to work with a new studio I haven’t worked with yet.
Each day is fun, and that’s how it should be for you!
#childatheart
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Believe it or not, some people forget the most important aspect of wanting to be an actor. Are you ready for my advice? Here it is…
HAVE. FUN!
Don’t become an actor for money, for fame, for any other reason than to enjoy what you do everyday.
A regular day for me is:
Work at my day job:
8:30AM – 5:00PM Monday – Friday
Get home as soon as possible, check emails, send out auditions and some nights finishing at 10:00PM, and guess what?
I enjoy every second of it. Being an actor is tough, but I promise you, as long as you’re doing it to satisfy your heart, then you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rubenvoices.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubenoneillii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010650635015
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/actorrubenoneill/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rubenoneillii?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10110630/ Anime News Network: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=229995
Image Credits
ShowTime! ShowTime! 2 Fragile Heart Why the Nativity Game World Reincarnation Dubbers The Extras Sincerely Saul Fatal Anniversary Full Tilt Boogie Daddy Oh Hey Man