Today we’d like to introduce you to Maurice P. Kerry.
Maurice, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I didn’t realize until I got older that I am an entertainer. But not for the sake of fame and fortune (great as those things may be) but for how good it makes me feel to bring joy, energy, and enlightenment to others. So let me start by saying there is going to be a couple of stereotypes I landed on FACE FIRST, yes I’m from Atlanta and yes and some point in my life… I was a rapper.
I wrote my first rap song when I was ten. It was actually pretty horrible. I basically rewrote “You can’t touch” this for a girl, who later dumped me for the tallest kid in class, Joseph Forte (Yes THAT Joseph Forte). As I grew and experienced more life’s ups and downs, I continued to write music but made the mistake of finding out I could hold a note. I thought I was going to be the 5th member of Boyz 2 Men.
All I want to do was sing. In High School, I made the local paper as the Cowardly Lion in our version of The Wizard of Oz called Wiz N It. In 2000 I met with Raheem the Dream and DJ Cooley C tried to get a deal… I didn’t But Cooley took me on at 19 as an I house R&B writer. During this time and often through him, I got to meet some music’s biggest names, Big Gipp, Pastor Troy, Fabo, Freak Nasty, Young Dro and others. But a few run-ins with the law put a halt to that.
I realized I needed to make better decisions or risk ruining my life for good. Enter the United States Marine Corps where I was known in every unit I was in for my electrifying and entertaining cadence during our runs. While fighting in Iraq in 2004, my Uncle Dana (better known as platinum-selling producer Dee Jay Dana of Bloc Ent) would send me C.D.s with unfinished music he called DNA on them. That reawoke my love for music and entertainment and I started writing to everything I could get my hands on in the middle of the desert.
Even wrote a verse to Kelis’ Milkshake… lol After Iraq I link up with a group of fellow rappers/Marines named SouthuNoyz (You Can Google it) With them is where I learned how powerful I could be on stage in front of crowds and how amazing it felt to make others feel. In April 2005, SouthuNoyz got the chance to share the stage with Ja Rule, Destiny’s Child, Sharon Stone, Kiss in front of a crowd of 30,000 people on Camp Pendleton, Ca. The Ja Rule segment got chopped from the DVD due to legal reasons but seeing myself on TV and on a DVD… That is what caused the spark for me to pursue acting. I loved seeing myself on television and the big screen and had been told for years I had that “THING.” I think they meant charm and personality.
I started the pursuit in 2005-2006 in San Diego California. At the time, I was out of the Marine Corps, homeless and living out of my friend’s car while HE was in Iraq. I didn’t have any real guidance and just like many, I started in background acting. It didn’t take me too long to figure out that pantomiming was not MY way in. I spent most of my time on set writing rhymes because I was still rapping and performing with my group. Jason Dohring, one of the stars of Veronica Mars, told me, “It’s really cool that I was creating while working on set.”
My daughter came along in 2009 and life took a major detour. Marriage, divorce, the Middle East. However, working as a contractor in Kuwait for a number of years put me in a position to get back on track for ME. Still, as a full-time single father, I had to wait until my daughter was a bit older to REALLY go after it! I took the money I made from Kuwait and became a fulltime actor and started my company MPK Investments. Buying and selling homes allows me the time to be a father to my daughter as well as continue to grow, discover and develop as an actor. I enjoying taking classes here in Georgia as well as in Los Angeles. Experiencing both really gives me a deeper perspective and respect for the craft.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, the biggest challenge has been balancing who I have to be against who I want to be. I’ve been a full-time single father since Feb 2011. The duties and responsibilities of being her only parent come first and foremost to my needs or wants. It was especially true when she was much smaller. Now shes ten almost 11 and much more self-sufficient, it opened up space for me to work on my aspirations.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
First and foremost, I’m an actor. I’ve been seen on CBS as well as T.V. One and multiple commercials like UPS and TaxSlayers. I also own and operate my investment company “MPK Investments”
You are an actor yourself. ..so no need to call your fellow actors struggling. You can we offer payday loans to Artists. MPK Investments owns properties around the Major Metro Atlanta area. Currently specializing in rehabs.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My biggest supporter has been my own mother. Since day one she has told me to “Do It!”, whatever ‘IT’ is. She is my first line of defense when I need a babysitter, hairdresser. Or advice on little girls.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://evolutionmt.com/talent/maurice-p-kerry/
- Phone: 7702962822
- Email: info@bromfieldent.com
- Instagram: @Maurice.P.Kerry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maurice.kerry.52
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MauricePKerry
- Yelp: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-YxBgu4wRM1wT_FsLtbd4w
- Other: imdb.me/MauricePKerry
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