Meet Jamarr Tillman Tillman | Actor

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

Hi Jamarr Tillman, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued to become an Actor randomly . Literally I didn’t know I wanted to get into this career until I was introduced to it. It started back in 2012, when I graduated from college at western Illinois university. I moved back to Chicago and a friend said that I should audition for a role in this play. I did and booked the role. It was a theater role and it opened Friday and closed Sunday. Friday there was 3 guest in the audience, Saturday 8 and Sunday 3. On Sunday night it was just my family in the audience. On closing night, I left my last show and started crying, “ my cousin said to me, why are you crying? “ I said, “ because I finally know what I want to do for the rest of my life.” Being on that stage gave me life and purpose. It was a feeling of being free. I never felt that experience before so that’s why I knew this was something different. I’ve been acting since then. So when I say random that’s what I mean. I never knew that experience would make me feel so alive and that’s when I knew this was the path GOD wanted me to walk down.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This journey has been a journey to say the least. Being an artist/ Actor gives me the space to tap into the expressive side of myself. I never knew how passionate I was about the craft until the journey. I never knew I could tap into the mind set of a character and truly relate even when I’m being introduced to a new character. I started doing theater where the first time I fell in love with acting. I didn’t go to a performing arts school so I didn’t know if I really had the capacity to be a successful actor. I just took acting classes and relied on my gifts. It’s the same as When people say when you know you have found the right partner, you just know , it’s a feeling. The journey itself has been tough just driving from Atlanta to LA by myself was scary. I never knew I had so much Faith to follow a dream that I couldn’t see . Now planting my foot in LA I have finally found my why. God took me on this journey because he knew I was fearless and I have the faith in myself and GOD to be an example on how amazing GOD is. A lesson I learn is to keep GOD first in anything I do in my life. I want the world to know that vulnerability is my superpower and when you keep your heart open and have an open mind you never know what blessings will come your way.

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.
Wow my favorite places to just go and have fun is twenty88. It’s an arcade in DTLA. They have all the old school games I used to play growing up like, mortal combat and pac man. I love food so any rooftop restaurant that has a nice vibe and scenery. I love tao which is another restaurant in Hollywood. NOBu is also amazing right off the water.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out my cousin Nelsan Ellis RIP. He was an actor that graduated from Juilliard. He was a study of the artist and so inspiring to me. He was famous from his break out role as layafette in true blood. He understood me, supported me, believed in me and saw me for who I am. He would always tell me you are going to be a super star. I always just glazed over the compliment because I never really allowed myself to appreciate the kind words. So, my career is not only for myself but it’s to Continue what he was not able to do. RIP (nelsan Ellis)

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