Meet Merrick McCartha | Film, Television, and Stage Actor.

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

Hi Merrick, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I think most people don’t realize that the film and television industry requires a LOT of patience. When you work on a project, ether a tv show or feature film, you are part of a very time consuming process. As an actor, you are required to show up to set several hours before you get to actually act on camera. There’s a term we use called, “hurry up and wait”

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.
As a film and television actor, one thing I cherish about what I do is always being ready. I’ve trained for years to become a better actor, and will always strive to improve, but only after working in the business for a while did I learn that being ready is a highly valuable attribute for an actor. I do understand that plenty of actors have a somewhat chaotic life outside of the the film set, and being fully prepared and ready can be a constant struggle. I am so fortunate to have the means to mitigate personal issues and make being at my best on set a priority. This happens by me alsmost obsessively planning ahead for every audition and every film shoot. I don’t wait till the last minute on anything. I start working on my script the moment I recieve it, even if it’s just giving it a glance, my mind goes to work. It certainly helps that acting is a true love of mine and I’m excited every time I’m able to do it, to the point of being giddy.

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?
For me, Griffith Observatory is like a temple grounds for an actor. The opulent panoramic view of this land of magic we call Los Angeles almost immediately brings me to a meditative state of gratitude and accomplishement. I know the Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. strip is probably the biggest tourist attraction in LA, and it is a fun visit, so I’m usually fine to take visiting relatives there for the world famous walk of fame. I also feel like the Melrose district is somewhat of a hidden gem for non-locals. It has great bars, food spots, and some of the wildest boutiques you’ll see. Speaking of truly hidden gems is this litle place called Beauty & Essex on Cahuenga Blvd. It has a secret entrance! It’s one of the swankiest spots in town for great food, music, and people. Finally, I know people think of Rodeo Drive, but for me, Sunset Blvd for me represents the glam life of Los Angeles, and always good for a car ride of seeing famous Hollywood sights like The Wiskey, The (legendary) Viper Room, and the Roxy Theater. These are the more known places, but I am also well aware (as should any visitor be) that there are many many other places that just take your breath away. Los Angeles has a long history and a dense subculture of artistic people always looking for the best party in town.

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?
First I’d like to give a shoutout to my wife, Lady Peggy McCartha, for the tremendous support she has given me in my career. She’s not only there to give reassurance, she is a key part of my selftaping process. She is my selftape cinematographer, reader, and editor. She is what you call, ‘All about it’. Being in a relationship with an actor is not easy, but she takes it all in stride. Also I’ve had great mentors for many years including Kim Estes, governor of the Performers Group Executive Committe at the Television Academy. I’ve got wonderful audition coaches, Laura Gardner and Gregory ‘Berg’ Sobek, who are always enthusiastic about helping me be at my best. I also include my late mother, Beverly McCartha, in this. In my younger days she saw that I had a knack for performing and encouraged me all my life to go for it.

Website: https://www.merrickmccartha.com

Instagram: @therealmerrickmccartha

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Image Credits
Photographer: Headshots by Peggy