Meet Danny Hackin | Actor, Write, Poet and Producer

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

Hi Danny, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued an artistic/creative career cause I felt a sense of acceptance. As a person born with a physical difference/disability everyday I step out into this world to prove my humanity, prove that I’m like everyone else and when I’m creating and performing I feel I’ve accomplished that acceptance. I can express myself fully without any judgment. I can be a different person for a couple of hours, convey stories and experiences that might not be common to everyone and I’m able to gain self satisfaction when I’m on stage or in any creative setting. Pursuing an artistic/creative career is a great way to make friends and build lasting bonds and collaborations. There are people I’ve been working with creatively for over decades now that have become close friends and like minded individuals for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am an actor, writer, poet, improviser, comedian and producer. I wear many hats when it comes to my artistic/creative career. I’ve been performing since I was six years old. It helps to be born and raised in Los Angeles. At the moment I’m not where I want to be professionally. I would love to get to a place where I can get parts that are not based on my physicality but are based on my skills as a performer. Recently I worked with a friend on a movie and that was a great experience. I played a liquor store owner and it felt great to play a part that required my skills as an actor and not an exploitation of my physicality. When I’m recognized for my skill set is when I feel my humanity is seen rather than just being looked at on a surface level. Two projects that I’m proud of recently are my one man show which I’ve performed twice in Los Angeles and a play that I’m producing called Bronco Billy. My one man show is a combination or prose and spoken word poetry about my life, the struggles and triumphs I go through having acondroplasia dwarfism along with funny stories that come with being me. Bronco Billy is a play I’ve been a part of for ten years now. We had a production in Los Angeles at the Skylight Theater in 2019 and are now in London right off the West End at the Charing Cross Theater with the eventual goal being Broadway. The lessons I’ve learned along the way are to be patient but to constantly be creating, stay true to myself, even though it sounds cliché and to keep striving for better while at the same time acknowledging the work I’ve already accomplished. I want the world to know that I’m human like anyone else and I want to be cast in roles that showcase my humanity. I might be shorter than most but that doesn’t mean I have a short sense of emotions or feelings.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take them to the beach. I would go up and down the coast from Malibu to the Venice Boardwalk, everything in between and beyond. We would get the best tacos, ramen, sushi, and pupusas. I might take them to the tourist spots like Hollywood boulevard only if they want to go. I would teach them how to Paddle Board. I would take them to Bergamot Station, MOCA and other exciting museums. We would go to Grand Central Market in Downtown, Grand Park and a complete walking tour of Downtown. I would take them to the Griffith observatory and then to finish off the night I would take them to a comedy show at the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica.

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?
I dedicate this to my parents, family and friends, the teachers and mentors who taught me about life and how to navigate in this world, Los Angeles for being the city that’s been my home, meditation for keeping me balanced and able to think objectively and for myself for having a positive outlook on life.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2L2tTKJv2XGsHCs67H45Zw