Meet Mike C. Nelson | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike C. Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike C., what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have learned that life is all about risk taking. The choice I made to move to Los Angeles as a 30-year old with no resume, headshots nor representation was a risk. But that choice has led to an interesting life filled with too many experiences and relationships to mention that have been extraordinary. Some risks don’t work out the way you hoped. So, being able to pivot and make new choices and take new risks is also a huge part of the equation. Life is hard but it never has to be dull.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This goes out to all you late bloomers or people that decided to take a risk at any point in your life to pursue something. As a child and teenager I was petrified to be in front of people. I much more enjoyed talking smack and making snide comments under my breath or whispered into the ear of my neighbor. But after hearing how fun an acting class was that my older brother took in college, I decided to follow suit my sophomore year at Indiana University in Bloomington. Amidst the flop sweats and dry heaves, I experienced that proverbial switch being flipped when I was performing where the rest of the world faded away and I was laser focussed on the task at hand and my fellow actors. What a kick in the ass and shot to the senses. I was hooked.

From that class to many more experiences within the theater department to one act plays at black boxes throughout the community, I started to feel like I wasn’t a total disaster on stage. Imposter syndrome is real and I have had a serious case of it from then until now. A pivotal moment my career happened after a performance of Larry Kramer’s sensational play, the Normal Heart where I portrayed Ben Weeks who has a real struggle accepting and supporting his gay brother. The director and cast gave me the confidence to explore this character as I was excited but frightened that I wouldn’t or couldn’t do him justice. My mentor, and legendary acting teacher at IU, the late great Howard Jensen came to the play and came up to me afterwards and said the following sentence to me that changed my life, “You’ve turned into quite the fine young actor.” Holy shit! No way… no way he just said that to me. Did someone put him up to this or pay him to say that? I reached out to Howard years later to tell him how much the words meant to me then and how much the have resonated to me as I have navigated the many highs and lows of pursuing this tempest of a career path.

Then it was on to Chicago to take my double major from IU to waiting tables at theme restaurants, single digit audiences at store front theaters and The Second City. Not wanting to be boxed in by the clique-ish nature of most of the comedy circles I went on my own and started a sketch comedy troop with my best friends, dubbing ourselves the highbrow moniker of DRY HUMP (Aggressively Inappropriate Sketch Comedy). We hade the stellar Chopin Theater as our home where we assaulted Chicagoans delicate sensibilities with our elevated poop, dick and vagina jokes for years with our live and video sketches as well as our song and dance closers.

Around my 30th bday, I found myself sleepless for many nights in a row. What the hell is going on? What is my brain or soul telling me? Then it hit me. I am single. No kids. Have a bunch of friends out in Los Angeles. Hmmmm. Screw it YOLO! I can always come back to the midwest if I hate it. I did not hate it and over the many moons out here have grown to adore the city of angels. Dry Hump reemerged out west and me and a gaggle of the funniest and best friends I will ever know kept the laughs rolling for years as we performed all over LA.

From my sketch work, some nice people in the industry encouraged me to get my shit together and start auditioning. I got a pal to take some headshots, I fabricated a resume and started auditioning for commercials. Booked my very first one which is insane. After a few more months, I was going SAG-AFTRA and going pro. after booking my first campaign, I ditched my day job in a downtown cubicle and started my pursuit full force… just as the Great Recession was beginning. Oops!

Not an oops. As much as jumping without a parachute or removing my more financially secure safety net was scary, I now had the free time to say yes to much more. I started writing scripts with friends, doing shorts at USC and AFI, and cultivating relationships with any cool, interesting and talented person I met along the way. Even though there were a few lean years, stretches of unemployment and a penny pinching social life I was somehow staying afloat doing the damn thing.

It has now been 20 years out here. And I feel like the luckiest guy around. I have had a lot of fun times doing over 100 national UNION commercials including the current “Turning into your parents” campaign with Dr. Rick for Progressive, some killer indie features like The Mortuary Collection, Bullitt County and Invaders From Proxima B, as well as stints on great tv shows like Blackish, Bad Monkey and Shrinking working with heroes and friends new and old. Being on set is the greatest and I wish everyone on earth could see that well-oiled machine and blue color, hard-working environment of these projects and shows where a motley crew of dreamers and weirdos and storytellers come together to make something worthwhile all while being kind to each other and leading with love.

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.
The food scene in LA is second to none and I like it ALL. From grabbing a burger at The Apple Pan in Westwood or Bill’s in the valley to putting on a tie to eat rad fare at Chifa in Eagle Rock or Mother Wolf in Hollywood. One of the best meals I have ever eaten was at the mysterious Pasta Bar. Don’t let the name fool you. Save up your dough and GO! Other jams are Philippe’s, Sugarfish, Little Beast, Hippo, Mozza, Roots Indian, Pie & Burger, Paty’s and the coffee commissary on Olive. I love Jumbo’s Clown Room, Idyllwild tavern, Frolic Room, The Fox & Hounds, Golddiggers, Black Market, Forman’s and so many more to grab a libation.

Other joints that are musts imo are The Last Bookstore, Largo, Atomic Records, The Getty, Lake Hollywood Reservoir, Dodger Stadium, Dynasty Typewriter, Malibu or Manhattan Beach, The Palladium, Highland Bowl, Angeles Crest Highway, Descanso Gardens, The Troubadour, Amoeba, The Elysian, Movies in the cemetery, The Broad, The Hollywood Bowl, Chinatown and The Magic Castle.

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?
Too many folks to list that have helped me along the way. I’ll start with my mom and 3 brothers, dear friends and more specifically some early influences that paved the way for me to pursue a career in the arts: Rob Johansen, Howard Jensen, Amy Fortoul, Chia Patino, BJ Symphony and Norm Holly.

Website: https://imdb.me/mikecnelson

Instagram: mikecnelson1

Image Credits
Headshots by Jeff LaPensee
Shrinking Shots by John Brawley