Meet Will Roberts | Professional actor & Magician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Will Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Will, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I’ve always felt as a professional Actor & Magician that you needed to have more than just the tricks, you needed to have more than just one thing you did to be able to stand out in the crowd. Early in my career I made the decision that I was going to learn as many skills as I possibly could. one for the fun of it but two and mainly because I realize that my odds were better that if I was able to do more things in my industry I would be more valuable. Once I went into an audition for Jack in the box and they wanted someone to make an eggroll disappear. The first thing they ask the over 200 people in the room was how many of you do magic? and a whopping six people raise their hands. At that moment I realized the more you know the better your odds are of success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In real estate they say location location location in my industry as a professional actor and entertainer I say skills skills skills… What sets me apart from most actors is the fact that I have so many different skill sets from world record holder gun spinner, trick roper, whips, Stunts, professional clown, balloon artist, dance, Magician, comedian… The list goes on and I continue to hone and add more skills daily. When I start my day and I look at the audition notices the breakdowns and I see that they’re looking for something different out of the ordinary it makes me excited that in most cases I can click it and we noticed because I do that skill. Again and allows me in the world of gambling or should I say acting to give me more opportunities because if they’re looking for a professional clown that’s a rodeo clown that can spin or throw a rope while breakdancing I’m making a balloon animal… I’m there man. But to be totally honest with you it was not always as easy because as I was acquiring my skills back in the late 80s and early 90s there were many of times where I just struggle from clown Gig to magic Gig to balloon blowing at Chevys restaurants to make rent and to try to find work as an actor. Very grueling very difficult very emotionally heart wrenching because I knew I didn’t have anything else to fall back on.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give you a really wonderful flowery answer and an answer that didn’t make me seem like I was an egomaniac, but I’m actually going to thank myself.

I spent the last almost 40 years blood sweat and mostly tears as a professional actor and entertainer. Very little family support mainly because of economics and how poor I grew up and a lot of people in my life that said you can’t do it so with that being said I’d like to thank the Academy but most of all I’d like to think myself for staying with it!