Meet Brennan Keel Cook | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brennan Keel Cook and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brennan, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Orange County, California in a safe, comfy city called Mission Viejo. I gotta give thanks to my sister, Tara, for nearly forcing my hand to join the high school drama program after failing to make any of the sports teams I tried out for. She told me I’d make friends so I took a crack at it and that’s where my appetite for performance really began. I fell in love with it. After graduating, I joined the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and studied Theatre Arts at San Francisco State University. It was here I got in front of a lot of audiences and saw what worked and didn’t work for me. I learned to fail. And after squeezing everything I could out of my college experience I dropped out and moved to Los Angeles. And, needless to say, I floundered around and it took a few brutal years to really find my footing and get some sort of sense on how to navigate the business of acting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s been no easy road. I think you have to always go back to the question of how much do I want this? I remember being broke and carless and walking three hours across the 101 freeway to an audition I didn’t book. Obviously don’t ever do that. But I think it’s moments where things feel turbulent or desperate that really shape you as an artist. That hunger. When you lose your hunger your work suffers. And I’m grateful I can look back on those darker days and see where the road has taken me. Since then, I’m fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to work on some great projects with some great people. I’m at a point in my life where I’ve been available to afford the time to really give my whole heart into this work. I tend to lean into more bold, colorful characters – or at least that’s what’s been offered to me. But being able to have the permission to free yourself and let loose in front of your peers – and a camera – is a liberating high. We’re all just kids at the playground.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m very fond of Otus in Hollywood. It’s a great spot for Thai breakfast. Bourgeois Pig was another go-to where I’d post up and write. Unfortunately, it closed earlier this year.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yeah, yeah. It goes without saying I owe a lot to my parents who didn’t shy away from giving me anything less than their full, committed support when I wanted to blindly chase my dreams. I know not everyone has that support system in their corner, so I’m lucky to have their love and encouragement. They really believe in me. So many people have had a hand in shaping my journey. I’m like a cat with nine lives – I end up on my feet but that’s after so many of my friends have saved me or bailed me out of tough situations time and time again. I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot of gratitude for those special people in my life. Los Angeles can be an isolating town, so it’s really important to have your tribe to fall back on and love you up.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brennankeelcook/?hl=en

Other: IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5320755/

Image Credits
Line 8 Photography Angela Ng Photography