From Humble Beginnings To The Big Screen, Rising Star Adam Joel Shares How Recovery, Resilience, and Embracing Risk Are Keys To His Success

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Joel.

Thank you, I’m grateful for this opportunity to speak with you. I’ll just jump right in, addiction and recovery are a huge part of my story so it would be insincere to begin without shining light on that aspect of my journey. I struggled arduously for many years with alcohol and drugs, mental illness, and trauma that ultimately led to homelessness and hopelessness. I finally became clean and sober in January 2020 and I attribute this breakthrough to every achievement I have had since. I’m extremely grateful for another chance at life and for all the support I have received. My mission is to give myself over entirely in order to be of optimal service, first just as a man, and then as an actor and artist.

The impetus to my journey as an actor began when I packed up a few things on a whim and moved to Chicago, IL in 2012. Very quickly I began studying at Black Box Acting Studio, helmed at the time by the current Steppenwolf Theatre Artistic Director Audrey Francis. I completed a rigorous training over the course of two years in both their Studio and Academy programs. I am tremendously grateful for my life-changing experiences at Black Box where I truly learned what it means to be a professional actor and an artistic leader.

From there it was off to the races, although you could say I was the tortoise and not the hare. My first professional theatre gig was in 2014 when I was cast as an understudy. It has been no easy ride since – I have since then been on dozens and dozens and dozens of auditions and done every menial acting gig you can imagine from background work as an extra to reciting menu items and daily specials at every restaurant and bar that would hire me! I took classes and trained everywhere I could, including Second City, The Annoyance, a red orchid theatre, The Artistic Home, Vagabond School of the Arts, and many more. I become obsessed and just immersed myself in everything I could. I would be rewarded for my persistence occasionally with a role in Chicago storefront theatres here and there, and I did 10 plays in the five years before seriously taking a crack at tv and film work.

It would not be until 2016 before I received my first speaking role on television – a role that was initially a non-speaking background gig until I took the risk of improvising some dialogue while cameras were rolling! The director liked what he saw and I was upgraded to Co-Star billing. I signed with my first agent soon after and I was off and running. I pounded the pavement, hustled for auditions, and booked more Co-Star roles in the television arena.

At that point, I felt it was time to begin casting a bigger net. What better place to up-level my career than the beautiful and sunny Atlanta, Georgia.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is definitely tough navigating the mental game as an actor in a business where the very product you’re selling is yourself. It is often difficult not to tether your self-worth to the countless rejections that come with the life of being an actor. Several times last year I had  been on check-avail (in the final selections) for some great roles on television and I was not chosen. Knowing the odds are invariably stacked against you, you gotta dust yourself off and you must persevere at all costs. I’ve once heard it said that “validation is for parking – you must do it because you love it.” That’s become a mantra for sure. You’ve got to keep a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Recovery work, therapy, meditation and spiritual practices, exercise. It all helps keep me sane in the dark times as well as in times of great success.

I’m most proud of my willingness to take risks, embrace change, and persist against all odds. I’ve learned that my personal development has been directly linked to my development as an actor. Therefore I want to keep pushing myself and growing and becoming the best human being I can be first and foremost.

I believe that the difficult and often painful beginnings I have endured give me an edge and raw humanity combined with a special humility and earnestness in my work that provides positive energy and appreciation and commitment to the work and to the people involved. After all, people just wanted to work with great people. I learned the hard way what it means to be a man of character, a man of integrity – I don’t take that for granted. And the work continues!

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There have been so many guiding forces and people in my life that have contributed to my growth and I am deeply grateful to them. Audrey Francis and Laura Hooper took a chance on me at Black Box Acting and that was when it all really started to happen, where I really learned what this art form is; My agents Beth Saunders of Evolution Talent and Vilma Llaguno of Dream Team Talent and their steadfast hustle, all the casting directors far and wide, the artistic communities that provide saving grace and sense of belonging, my family and friends for their endless support, and most of all, my lovely, amazing, and immensely supportive partner, Alyssa. I love you!