Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Joseph Pierce.
Michael, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been in the entertainment industry in some form. During my youth, I studied and worked with Marie Hitchcock who was known as the San Diego Puppet Lady, in which the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park was named after. I also worked with their family, ‘The Padre Puppeteers’ doing their annual Christmas Show at the Marie Hitchcock Theater. At the time it was just known as the Balboa Park Puppet Theater. During that time I also was part of the team that helped build the San Diego Padres Cy Young Award Winner Randy Jones Marionette. At that time it was a huge deal to meet Randy Jones. I also spent many years studying magic and performing magic shows in San Diego. As I got older I began doing local theater and taking classes in Jazz, Tap and Disco Dancing and competed in the California State High School Dance Championships produced by David Mirisch Enterprises during my last two years in High School. I attended Santana High School and studied and performed theater and also competed in Speech and Debate tournaments. After High School, I studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. My first real “break” came when I was picked to perform as a disco dancer on the Soap Opera ‘General Hospital’ in the 1980’s. I was a dancer in the disco during the Luke and Laura disco story line for a little over a year. Locally I was doing theater and my first role that had substance was in the San Diego Repertory Theater production of ‘Mother Courage’ with Whoopi Goldberg when she was still living in San Diego.
During this time I was represented in Los Angeles by the Norah Sanders Agency and repped locally by Lee Carpenter. Currently, I work on episodic television and films. I can currently be seen in many character roles in Festival Films, Music Videos and on TV in such shows as ‘Very Important Person’, ‘Declassified’, ‘People Magazine Investigates’ and ‘Unusual Suspects.’
I have filmed two pilots for Karga 7 Pictures. One of them was about the Nuremberg Trials. The other, ‘Killing Time’, a reality docudrama that was sold to the ID Channel and aired in the Spring of 2019. On that show, I was seen in the first episode as well as the Series Opening Credit Sequence throughout the Season. Recently I filmed a Guest Star role on another TV Show for Karga 7 called ‘Believers’ which will air on the Travel Channel in 2020.
From the standpoint of commercials, I have been in dozens. I can be seen in commercials for a myriad of companies including Riverside Metro Volkswagen, Augustine Casino, Kaiser and Montclair Radiology. I was the commercial spokesman/husband for Glucose Health/Glucodown Ice Tea Drink Mix from 2016 – 2018 – the commercials aired nationwide during this time on Hallmark, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries & Game Show Network.
Recent Projects include several Industrial films for the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST), an Industrial for Bemer Cardio Vascular Health, a series of five commercials called Fashion Films for the Elena Bryantsalova Censored Thoughts Fashion line, the Music Video ‘Let You Down’, from Machineheart, the Music Video ‘Bruised Not Broken’ for Matoma, MNEK and Kiana Lede and four episodes as a Detective for the upcoming streaming TV Series, ‘Wicked Enigma’.
Additionally this year I portrayed a Priest in the web series ‘Confessions’ from Serrano Studios which I was also a producer, and I was cast in a supporting role as Danny in the 1960’s/1970’s period piece, ‘Catch the 57’ starring Ryan Ochoa from Disney’s ‘Pair of Kings’ and Nickelodeons ‘iCarly’. This summer I also worked on the film ‘Lloyd’, I played the role of Walter, the father of a troubled teen. It is an urban modern day drama, being released in 2020, starring Danny Royce from ‘Inside the Black Actors Studio’.
Right now I can be seen in the short Festival film ‘New York State of Mind’ on AMAZON PRIME.
Locally I have tried to stay in theater as much as possible, participating in the San Diego International Fringe Festival as well as working with Pickwick and Lamplighters Theater. Over the past few years, I performed in ‘Mack and Mabel’, ‘The Bad Seed’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.
I am currently represented by ENGAGE ARTISTS AGENCY on the West Coast and DEVISE TALENT AGENCY on the East Coast and am Managed by LEFT FIELD MANAGEMENT on both coasts.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing is ever smooth. I took advice that I wish I had not. I left the entertainment industry for many years because I was told that I was not good enough, would never make it further than I was and that I need to get a white collar management job. So I did. However, in hindsight, I can say that it may have been a blessing in disguise because I have such a thicker skin today and can handle all the rejection that comes along with acting so much better. I was in white collar management for large companies managing many employees (LEGO Toys, Rand McNally, No Fear) and all of those experiences added immeasurable layers.
Having gotten back into the entertainment industry five years ago my success has been more than even I could fathom. I am a character actor and get cast as so many different characters now. Additionally, I am not in a position that my existence is based on whether or not I get the job or not so I think in some way that always subconsciously assists me, because if I don’t get cast, then it’s on to the next audition.
Please tell us about your work.
I am proud of the fact that I took the chance to get back in this industry. I was cast in a show back in 2015 from a friend who was directing it, and to be honest I remember the feeling after opening night and thinking to myself, this is what I have been missing for 25 years. I missed acting and being creative and performing. I dove head first into another play right after that and started looking for an agent and rejoined the Actors Union again (SAG-AFTRA) and I am really proud that I didn’t question what I was doing, that I just did it. It has paid off very well in many different ways.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Honestly more than likely I will continue right where I am at. I drive to Los Angels two to three times a week for either showcases or auditions or acting jobs. I am a working actor, as I have something booked every few weeks and it has been that way for several years. My acting coach (Carey Scott) is here in San Diego and I take his classes weekly. I speak to my agents and manager every few weeks but I just keep going forward and will do so. I am not going to lie. Getting in a major studio film that might have a sequel is wonderful and so is a series that can go for more than a couple of years. Is that a dream. Of course. It is for a massive percentage of actors. But, you have to be in this business because you love it, not for those other things. SSo, I do what I do and drive to LA because I love what I do. So big changes? My hard work and persistence and determination will determine that. And also the luck of the draw, cards, a minute or whichever expression works.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.michaeljosephpierce.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpiercesd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actormjpierce1/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3019537/
Image Credit:
Chris Jon
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