Meet Tyrone Van Tatenhove | Actor and Delivery driver extraordinaire

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyrone Van Tatenhove and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyrone, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking. We’ll, at a very early age I feel as though I was conditioned for a life of risk taking. My twin brother and I were born into a very difficult situation as children. We lived with foster parents, babysitters, landlords, etc..until we were takin in by an immigrant family who had immigrated from Germany after WWII. The family unfortunately suffered a huge tragedy when the father had passed away soon afer our arrival. This struggles my brother and I had to endure were ,at times, overwhelming and even at the age of 6 I knew that life was going to be a daunting task. However, these experiences,I feel, gave me the tools I needed to survive. The bravery it takes to move across country several times and starting over and over and over family after family loss after loss builds not only character but creates an ability to see beyond the conventional boundaries of “normalcy”. A risk taker goes beyond the comfort boundaries. A risk taker says Let’s Go! It can be done! You can be something! You can be loved and you can also have the ability to give it out. Yes, it’s a risk but with out it you will never reach beyind your potential and break the walls that keep you safe or comfortable. That’s my view on risk taking. Take it or leave it. Thanks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I guess I’ll start at the beginning. The beginning meaning, when I first got bit with the “acting bug”. So, I was living in my van in Olympia Washington at the time when I decided to attend a local Community College. It was already an extremely difficult situation but I guess without risk there’s no reward right..? Ha
So, I was already an overhire stagehand at a local Music theatre and had a great fondness for the stage. Ofcourse, I was usually surrounded by musicians and many other characters whilst taking microphones and setting up for various musical acts from all over the world. I guess you can say that despite not getting paid and living in a van I was spoiled. Sounds funny right? Truly I was where I wanted to be..near the stage. The rockstars, the lights, the hundreds of adoring fans who would bless the theater 4 days a week was like a drug to me. So, back to the whole college thing. I decided I wanted to be a stage hand for a few upcoming College theatre Productions. Well,, during the audition process, the director asked me what I was there for. I told him, “I want to do something in theatre. Preferably some sort of technical aspect of the stage (lighting,sound,props stage management etc)

The director sort of laughed. I didn’t get it but he handed me a script and had me read with him. The play was a One Act entitled, “Hello Out There” by a playwright named William Saroyan. To give you a quick synopsis of the story, the lead Character nicknamed “photo finish” claims that his life has been filled with heartbreak and now he is in jail confessing his love for the sherrifs daughter who eventually steals the key to get him out. As she runs to get the key the sherif enters his jail cell and shoots him. As the daughter comes back she finds him bleeding to death where the play takes its emotional end. That play immediately hooked me. I believe it’s because of the plays parallels between my own fantasy and reality. After this, I acted in probably a hundred different Productions from Washington State to Indiana which included Civic Theatre, Profesional theatre, University theatre, Summer Stock, environmental theatre etc

Eventually, I was given the biggest scholarship from Indiana University where I majored in Theatre and earned a B.A. This was a major breaking point in my life. I was now performing in front of huge audiences as leading characters throughout my college career. This was all just a catalyst to my Hollywood dream of working in film and TV where I have been fortunate enough to book some speaking roles on cable TV and now I recently booked another show (Eli Roth Presents, The Legion of Excorcists) where I got to actually act and work with Eric Roberts for a premiere episode that will Aire on Discovery plus and the Travel Channel late Summer.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, let’s say this person is the adventurous outdoorsy type then we will have to begin at my favorite place..Runyon Canyon. Yes, I know it’s touristy but I will always have a fondness in my heart for this place..plus I can point out all the places I’ve lived and and other landmarks from the top of the West ridge trail it’s pretty cool. Next, we would map out or plan to head to the..drumroll..The Beach! I would definitely start just North of Zuma at a little private beach I like to go to and I bring my boogie board the waves are amazing! Now, ofcourse we make Our way down to the Santa Monica pier and Venice..and of course, the Venice canals because you know if you’re from out of town you’re gonna want to see those areas. So, after a day or 2 of doing the touristy stuff we head to some local spots. My first local spot which opens in the evening would be Jones Hollywood! This place is very dear to my soul also considering I worked there for years and can show all the Hollywood history accompanied by some pretty unbelievable Hollywood stories (I will definitely be name dropping hah)This place is a staple to the Hollywood scene and is ran by Keith McCarthy who is a local legend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe Jason Ongoco deserves a shoutout considering all the help he has given me here in Los Angeles. This can be a very difficult place to meet actual friends. With the fickle landscape of Hollywood it can be quite a challenge to find people you can trust and rely on. I can’t tell you how many times I was stuck on the road when Jason has come to safe the day..literally! Also, whenever I have an audition or something where I need another person to assist me Jason Always answers the call. He truly has been my saving grace and without him I really don’t know how I would have gotten out of some real tricky situations. Thank you Jason! You are a true friend!

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Image Credits
Marc Hauser photography