Today we’d like to introduce you to Thom Scott II.
Thom, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My goal is to fulfill God’s purpose for my life by using my artistic talents to affect change, stimulate learning, motivate productivity, heal through art, galvanize creativity, and entertain the world. With that said, I was raised in the theatre by my actress mother and was bitten by the acting bug at the tender age of three. Convinced that my calling was to entertain, I performed child roles in “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” and “Medea” at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
While at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Maryland, I juggled talent shows, where I performed as a comedian and vocalist, with athletics, where I was a basketball and track standout. Because of my interests in both sports and entertainment, my athletic coaches nicknamed me “HOLLYWOOD.” After graduating from high school, I played it safe and took a detour from my true calling. I attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where I graduated cum laude, with departmental honors, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science.
After a stint working in Corporate America, I ultimately gave over to my artistic impulses and went to Hollywood, CA to pursue my dream of being a successful full-time actor. While in Hollywood, I guest-starred on “The Parkers” and “Good Eats” and co-starred on “CSI: MIAMI”, “ANGEL” and “Crossing Jordan.” I also landed roles in independent film projects. Further, I was cast in commercials for “McDonald’s” and “DirecTV.” It was also in Hollywood that I returned to my theatre roots, where I fell in love with acting, becoming a founding member and CEO of The Black Gents of Hollywood (“TBGH”), an award-winning entertainment company.
The critical acclaim of TBGH’s theatrical productions led me and TBGH to take our talents to New York City. While in New York, I produced and starred in the Off-Broadway award-winning and AUDELCO nominated hit play, “WEBEIME”, for which I received a Planet Connections Outstanding Lead Actor nomination. I also starred in and produced over 400 performances of the Off-Broadway hit play, “Black Angels Over Tuskegee”, with two NAACP Theatre Award nominations, one NAACP Theatre Award for Best Ensemble, and an ADA for Best Play to its credit. Additionally, “Black Angels” was nominated for Best Long-Running Show by Off-Broadway Alliance. I also had a supporting role in the feature film “Straight Outta Tompkins” produced by Robby Benson.
Full circle, back in Atlanta, I am a successful full-time working actor. I have co-starred on the Golden Globe-winning and Emmy Award-winning hit TV show “Atlanta”, Showtime’s “HOMELAND”, CBS’s “MacGyver”, BET’s “American Soul”, and NBC’s “CONSTANTINE” to name a few. I have also landed a guest star recurring role on Tyler Perry Studio’s hit TV show “Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots on OWN”, and had supporting roles in TV ONE’s “BAD DAD REHAB” and the feature film “A Question of Faith” and “Redeemed.” Appearing in 25 commercials, I have co-starred with Charles Barkley in a “Capital One” spot, and portrayed Larry, an iconic character, for the GA Lottery’s Dream Delivery Team’s multi-media campaign.
Because of my strong desire to enlighten/educate the southeastern artistic community, I am the founder and head instructor of the ACTORS’ GYM, a successful acting school in Atlanta (Buckhead), GA “where artists come to strengthen their artistic gifts…”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey to becoming a full-time artist is a tough and lonely path inasmuch as not many can appreciate the tug of one’s soul by artistic desires, the rejection one must endure, and the long hours of hard work with no immediate results. So, from firsthand experience, my words of encouragement would be…
~ Pray incessantly; have faith in GOD
~ Be true to yourself
~ Trust your gut
~ Don’t settle for “NO”
~ It’s a marathon, not a sprint
~ Stack your “chips” (save your money)
~ Let your focus determine your destiny
~ BELIEVE
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Because of my strong desire to enlighten/educate the southeastern artistic community, I am the founder and head instructor of the ACTORS’ GYM, a successful acting school in Atlanta (Buckhead), GA “where artists come to strengthen their artistic gifts…” the ACTORS’ GYM is a place to learn and exercise your craft individually or with other talented, motivated, and ambitious artists.
In the ACTORS’ GYM, you will study acting alongside myself, an award-winning actor, producer, director, and educator. I am a Meisner trained actor who has not only learned from the best in LA, NYC, and Atlanta but for the last 20+ years have also been successfully acting in all mediums including national commercials, network television shows, feature films and over 400+ performances Off-Broadway.
In the ACTORS’ GYM, actors will learn fundamentals of the craft, acting techniques, improvisation skills, audition skills, monologue & scene study, character development, emotional preparation, script analysis and vital industry business strategies for on-going success as a professional actor.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I have multiple inspirations for different facets of my life, but my current, greatest inspirational pull comes from my wife of 25 years, Tacita Mikel Scott, Esq., in two distinct ways:
~ Observation of Tacita: Tacita’s dedication to her work product and professional work ethic is unparalleled. Her knowledge/brilliance of the law is awe-inspiring. Her heart to help, determination, and commitment to her clients is amazing to watch. She is the smartest person I know…
~ Tacita’s belief in me: Tacita believes in my vision as an artist! She has invested in me and supported me since day one. Tacita is one of my toughest critics and my biggest fan! She strengthens my faith, which makes me a more confident artist, by constantly reminding me of my authority in Jesus Christ and praying for me incessantly. Tacita Scott is my muse and inspires me not only to be a great artist but a great person.
Pricing:
- Monthly On-going (adult) group classes ~ $130 per month (credit/debit card) www.thomscott2.com/THEACTORSGYM.html
- Private Sessions ~ $65/hr (credit/debit card) | www.thomscott2.com/THEACTORSGYM.html
Contact Info:
- Address: 3100 Cumberland Blvd. SE
Suite 1460
Atlanta, GA 30339 - Website: www.thomscott2.com/THEACTORSGYM.html
- Email: gym4actors@gmail.com
- Instagram: @theactorsgym
- Facebook: @TheActorsGymATL
- Twitter: @THOMSCOTTII
- Other: www.thomscott2.com
Image Credit:
O. Patrick Scott
Melinda Kelley (melindakelley.photoshelter.com)
Sue Coflin
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