Meet Chris Edgerly | Voice actor and writer

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

Hi Chris, how do you think about risk?
Since my career is in show business, it has always involved a measure of risk due to the enormous amount of uncertainty. You can have incredible swings in fortune and you simply learn to deal with it. And so the risk merely becomes part of the ride. As I could have hardly imagined myself with a job that wasn’t in the arts, the idea of not doing what I loved was much scarier than the risk of not being successful in my chosen field.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been a professional voice actor for over twenty five years, and the path has never been easy. But it’s always been fun; performing and connecting and telling stories is the core of who I am, and I can’t see myself ever doing anything else, so a career in the arts was inevitable. But getting in was the hardest part – after ten years of traveling as a standup comic, I was ready stay in one place and voice acting was always on my radar. But convincing an agent to take me on, getting together a good demo tape, auditioning countless times before I could feel like I was finally breaking through – it was all part of it. In fact, voice actors get exponentially more auditions than on camera actors so while we tend to fail a lot more, we also get to work at a higher volume and wider variety of jobs. It’s that opportunity to play a deep roster of characters and styles that has helped me refine what I do and continue to stay busy.

And that helped me when it was time to branch out and write a novel. The idea of using my imagination not just to create a character but to express it through the written word was daunting, but exhilarating. The first book, Soldier of Ages: Tettenhall, was a work of historical science fiction and the first in a series of ten planned stories. I’m working on Book 2 now. The response was amazing (we got on Barnes and Noble’s best seller list) and I can’t wait to share the next story once it’s done this year. I learned a lot about the process of writing, rewriting, working with editors, artists, and stepping into the literary marketplace. And many of the lessons I learned in my previous vocations – try to put your best foot forward, be honest with people, trust your creative instincts – worked for me here.

If I have any kind of brand, it’s that of a curious artist always trying to engage with the world through his creativity, whether it’s vocal performances, interviews with people I find fascinating, or my stories.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d start with classic Hollywood if they’ve never been to the area. Let them see the Hollywood sign, maybe the Griffith Observatory, the Walk of Fame, etc. Touristy stuff, I know, but indispensable. Then maybe Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and so on. But we would definitely get dinner at Vibrato in Beverly Glen, a legendary restaurant owned by Herb Alpert with a great menu and an always interesting lineup of jazz artists. Next, Santa Monica and the Pier and the ocean itself, not to mention Malibu and perhaps a bite either at Duke’s or Geoffrey’s, depending on their taste. And watching the sunset in Malibu is unrivaled; it’s such a peaceful place to enjoy the view.

But you can’t discount the museums and outdoor delights. No visit to Los Angeles is complete without seeing the Getty in Brentwood overlooking the city, not to mention LACMA down on Museum Mile, and another frequently overlooked gem is the Huntington Gardens in San Marino. Lovely art and breathtaking gardens right near old town Pasadena where again, more incredible restaurants await. You can’t go wrong at Bistro 45.

Finally, if your friend is outdoorsy, we could go on a hike at Runyon and get a nice view of the city before driving back at night through the Sunset Strip. These are all fairly well known points of interest, but this says nothing of the limitless hidden nooks and crannies around the city that even a native will never fully uncover. This city is full of surprises.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Pat Brady, my first voice acting agent in Los Angeles, is the reason I have a career. She believed in me when I was still finding my way to steady work and was there for years after, helping find me the opportunities that brought me the success I enjoy now.

Everyone at CESD, the talent agency that’s been my home for over twenty years.

My family and friends for understanding the road I’ve taken and the challenges it brings.

Website: chrisedgerly.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.edgerly/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisedgerly69