Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Oakley III.
Hi Frank, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It’s truly a very long story that I think I tell better in person, but in short I’d say what planted the seed was when I was watching “All That” and “Kenan & Kel” when I was a kid! I remember watching Kel Mitchell specifically and thinking “man it looks like he’s having a lot of fun! I wanna have fun like that.”
Fast forward, realizing I’m not funny enough to be a stand-up comedian, and shifting gears from wanting to be a cartoonist to trying my hand at acting (mostly in the classroom as the USD 500 class clown in residency to actually doing some plays at my local library in downtown KCK); the “acting bug” came back around in the winter of 2010. I was sitting in my first college (Lincoln University of Missouri) dorm room thinking “will I be satisfied doing this for the rest of my life?” At the time I was majoring in Broadcast Journalism. I was sitting there late at night trying to build up the strength to do homework after a late night marching band practice. I had the Disney channel running in the background (I think “Good Luck Charlie” or something similar) just for the sound. I glanced over at some point and that’s when the the idea came back (like 6-8 years later).
I reached out to my high school (Wyandotte High School) debate and forensics coach/teacher, Ms. Michelle Lee and told her that I think I may want to explore this whole acting thing. Not knowing where to start she immediately hoped into action and sent me a ton of theatre schools, summer theatre camp programs, etc. I was thinking that if I’m going to do this the “right way” then I need to go to one of “the main acting schools”. So I started looking at Yale, Juilliard, etc., but those schools are crazy expensive and pretty far away. So then the thought went from “where should I go?” to “where can I go that won’t be a huge burden/barrier?” I eventually landed on something closer to home – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). My mindset has always been “no matter where I go, I’ma make sure to treat it like it’s Yale!”
Ms. Lee also helped me prepare my audition piece for one of the camps I landed on – Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp (PM). I eventually completed my transfer form for UMKC and submitted my audition submission for Perry-Mansfield. I got accepted to attend PM’s 2011 summer camp, which was dope and really exciting! I also got a scholarship to attend too! However I still had a remaining balance. So again Ms. Lee helps me by selling candy bars around town, her community and church. We spent a couple weekends literally going door to door (specifically the rich neighborhoods haha) trying to close that gap. We get about a couple weeks out and the balance is still there. So I literally prayed and said “God if this is what I’m supposed to do with my life then YOU have to make it happen because I just can’t.” I don’t remember the exact time, but roughly a few days before the camp starts I get the email that said something along the lines of “…welcome and we’ll see you this summer!” I want to say I either gave them, or Ms. Lee, a call to inquire if there’s been a mistake or something. But nope, my remaining balance was covered! And in short order I also got the email that I’m all good to transfer to UMKC. That’s when I was like “Okay, God – bet. It’s on.”
The rest is history. Funny enough I find out (maybe 4-5 years later) that not only Ms. Lee helped covered my remaining balance, but also a PM alum Melinda McCrary also helped cover. And between the two of them they also got me plane tickets there and back! Which was my first time ever taking a plane. One extra kicker to the story – Melinda was (and still is) the director of Education and Community Programs at the Kanas City Rep Theatre (which is located and associated with UMKC Theatre at the time). Can’t nobody ever tell me all of this was simply coincidence!
I’ve been on this journey since 2011 and by the grace, strength, mercy and patience of God I’m still on the journey. Despite hitting some really hard low points where I’d rather do anything but act.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No it most definitely has not been a smooth road along the way. There were so many struggles, still are at times, but I’d say the biggest that both I noticed in my journey, and not uncommon for most actors/artists is misplaced identity.
One of the hardest things to experience as an actor/artist is this viscous game/cycle of trying to book work/gigs. So many times I found my self worth (or lack there of) tied up into whether I could book something or not. If I’m only booking co-star roles then I’m not good enough of an actor to book anything higher or “more”. On the flip side of the defense mechanism of coping with rejection was me thinking too highly of myself. Thinking that since I’ve booked a guest star role that there’s no way I could go back to co-star work. Obviously the pandemic and strikes did a number on us all, and in a lot of ways we haven’t fully bounced back (both artists and the industry in smaller markets).
What I’ve been able to walk out of one season and into another with is – that nothing is ever promised. Tomorrow, a signed contract, a favor, etc. Only thing that is guaranteed is what’s in front of you right now. How can I be grateful for what’s on my plate right now? How can I steward that well? What do I do when I ain’t got nothing going on at all? Once I figure that out I’ll let y’all know! But for now what I do know is self worth WILL NEVER be measured by what our hands, emails, reels, headshot, audition submissions can produce (or “promise” to produce) for us.
When I do get the chance to work (even if it’s only for 3 days for the next 7 months) I’ve learned to treat it like it’s my last time. Not from a scarcity mindset, or even as a defense mechanism. More so I’m trying to practice gratitude for the opportunity to do what I love. Whenever I can, because it very well could be my last time on stage, in front of a camera, in a booth, etc.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a SAG-AFTRA actor and creator. I LOVE stunt/stage combat and telling stories that are inspirational, hopeful, and entertaining. I love to do that by way of excavate what it means to be human through unpacking the broken, vulnerable, playful, and powerful expressions of life. I also really enjoy the challenge of telling stories that demand rigorous exploration through physicality. I wouldn’t say I’m “known” for anything at the moment except an Oreo aficionado and general foodie. I’d like to be known consistently as the guy who is a pleasure to work with, exceptional at the craft, makes people feel seen and a peacemaker on sets.
As far as work I’m proud of, I think the 3 projects that really hit all the things I’m truly about is “Puppet Man”, “Room Tone” and “Rewind”. Again, if I can be a part of something that’s original, engaging, leaves impact, and resonates with audience I’m happy!
What I’ve been told, and I got to say I believe it, is that I’m someone who can be a complete goofball one minute and complete locked in the next. My “range” is odd and not what you’d usually think when you see someone like me, but it I can work the heck out of my range. The spectrum is super silly/goofy to super cerebral and introspective. If that makes sense? haha.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think you have to take risks and make sacrifices if you want to achieve a dream. This looks different for so many people so I’m not even going to try to prescribe a way to risk take. What I will say, that the more you take those risky leaps, the easier the next one becomes. Any dream or aspiration you have in life is always worth the calculated risk(s) needed to inch closer to whatever “it” is for you. As long as it’s not harming yourself or others!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frankoakleythethird.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankoakleythethird/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankoakleythethird/
- Twitter: https://x.com/FrankOakleyIII
- Other: https://www.frankoakleythethird.com/the-contact.html
Image Credits
For all black and white photos: Photo credit – Chad Erichsen (Erichsen Photography ATL)
