Meet Denis Shepherd | Actor & Producer

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

Hi Denis, what do you attribute your success to?
For me it has always come down to persistence. You can have all the talent and skills in the world, but if you shy away and get down on yourself at the first sign of adversity, you’ll never get to where you want to be in life. I decided very early on in my career that no matter what happened, I was going to get back up and keep pushing forward. ESPECIALLY in those moments of rejection or feeling stuck, THAT’S when it is most important to find some small way to keep going and invest back into yourself. It is always after I make the extra effort, whether it be sending more emails, creating my own projects, investing in a new class, reaching out to mentors, just putting myself out there in one way or another, it always leads me to something I can use to catapult me to my next win. I truly believe as each challenge comes my way, it’s my persistence that leads me through it and helps me appreciate any success that comes after it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
There’s really no way anyone can prepare you for what this career is going to be like. What’s exciting to me is that there are so many possibilities and any day you can wake up with an opportunity that can completely change your life. What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’m still here showing up every day for myself and giving it my best effort. I’ve been able to accomplish so much but yet I still have so much more that I hope to do. When I look back on when I first started, I had no idea what I was really getting myself into and all the trials and tribulations have only made me a better actor and a better person. It’s made me appreciate all the wins so much more. What I have learned along the way is there are so many people and resources out there to help you but at the end of the day it truly is up to you and how proactive you can be to make things happen. You can sit and wait for the phone to ring, or you can make it ring. It was when I finally started to take control that things really started to happen for me. This is an exciting life and industry with so much opportunity, but I’ve learned that at the end of day nothing will replace your family, friends, and making time for yourself. It’s important to live a well-rounded life. You never know what’s around the corner, where you will go, all the incredible people you will meet. I’m grateful for everything that has led me to this point in my career and I’m proud of the person I’m becoming.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh wow… So many ways to go about this! Each part of the city is going to have it’s own itinerary, whether its the valley, Hollywood, the beach, etc. If someone is visiting, you have to hit the ground running, the weather is going to be great so we need to start the day with some sort of exercise and get the metabolism going. As cliche as it is, a morning hike at Runyon or workout would set the tone, let them see the epic view of the city and Hollywood sign. Once the physical activity is out the way, it would be coffee at Priscilla’s and straight to Salt’s Cure in Hollywood. From there, we could make a mission to the beach in Santa Monica for some spike ball. Little bit of a drive, but traffic shouldn’t be too bad. If they are getting hungry again, there’s Bay Cities, or a great rooftop spot at Elephante over looking the ocean. Great place to catch the sunset. Or make your way back to Hollywood and get some Jon & Vinnys. At this point, I’m checking to see what concerts are in town, fingers crossed someone epic is playing at the Hollywood Bowl, or the Greek. Another favorite of mine is heading to Franklin Village, grabbing a drink and catching an improv show at UCB Franklin. Or the rooftop at Mama’s Shelter and EP&LP. Once the night activities come to end, I’m hoping for one last meal at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles. But those are just a few of my favorite spots!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, I could write a whole book on this one. So many teachers, mentors, and friends that have encouraged me and made an impact on me throughout my journey. I wouldn’t be where I am at today without the support of my family. Specifically, my parents, brother and sister. I’m the youngest of the family and I have always felt an incredible and unwavering amount of support from them throughout my life. My parents have always encouraged me to be and do whatever I wanted and my siblings have cheered for me every step of the way. I know I am incredibly blessed to have the family that I do, and everything I do and hope to accomplish is because of them.

x

Instagram: @dendshep

Image Credits
Jonny Marlow, Joanne Garcia, Hector Juarez, Tom Dewh, Joris Studio