Meet Thomas Peterson | Actor, Rising Star….World Traveler

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

Hi Thomas, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
They probably are not aware of how much networking comes into play to be a successful actor. You have to network all the time to stay in the game. It doesn’t end with just expanding your network, you have to continue communication with everyone in your network or you will soon be forgotten. There are thousands of actors competing for the same roles, and having that recognizable name can make all the difference. The last thing I always say to sum up the importance of networking is “You can be the greatest actor in the world, but if nobody knows you, it doesn’t matter!”

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.
I think what sets me apart from other actors is my life experiences. I’ve traveled the world, seen so much, and it hasn’t always been good. I’ve been to war in Iraq, I’ve visited the communist country of China, and I’ve seen the beauty of Europe to include Germany, France, Italy, and Monte Carlo, to mention a few. I think all my life experiences have helped me stay grounded. Being an actor is very competitive and being focused and persistent is key in this industry. One of the most important things you need to remember is why are you an actor? You are an actor because you love performing and if you lose sight of that, then you may not survive all the obstacles that come with pursuing acting. Young actors coming into the business sometimes expect instant success which very seldom happens. I would say to casting agents and directors that when you cast me in a role you don’t just get an actor; you get a world of experience, and I will transform myself into the character you want.

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.
Showing my visiting friends a great time would include some traveling. In the immediate area we would visit the coast, probably Encinitas, where there are so many great places to shop and eat. Visiting Coronado Island would be on the list, where we would visit the famous Hotel Del Coronado. Visiting the San Diego Embarcadero, Little Italy, and the Gas Lamp District would also be on our list. We would take a day to visit the famous San Diego Zoo and then over to the adjacent Balboa Park. Some of our favorite places to eat would be Filippi’s Pizza Grotto in Scripps Ranch, Bad to the Bone BBQ in San Juan Capistrano, and O’Sullivans Irish Pub in Escondido, to mention a few. For an entertaining evening, we would go to Mic Drop Comedy Club in Clairemont Mesa. Now for a road trip, we would take the coast highway traveling on the Pacific Surfliner Train up to Santa Barbara, where we would rent a car and head to Solvang and the local wine country. After an exciting week like this, my friends may not want to leave.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have spent most of my life working for either the federal government or the military. Both have provided me with valuable experiences that have helped me as an actor. I stepped into acting at the tender age of 60 and there is one person responsible for that happening. It was my fiance, Cherry, now my wife, who introduced me to the world of film and acting. One day, while we were still engaged, Cherry said to me, “why don’t you take acting classes?” I always like to follow that up, tongue-in-cheek, with when your fiance tells you, why don’t you take acting classes, what do you do, you take acting classes. More about Cherry, she has also been involved in acting early in her life after getting her degree in Theater and Dance. She was involved in theater and also appeared on soap operas while living in LA. Her talents don’t stop there, as she is also an accomplished belly dancer, plays guitar and piano, and has a beautiful singing voice. She has been an inspiration for me and has supported me in all that I do. Since getting into acting, there have been others who have helped guide me along the way. One of those is Terry Ross, who owns and operates the acting school, Acting Professionally. She taught me so much about acting and I will be forever grateful to her for all her knowledge she shared in her classes. Last but not least, there are two other actors who have been in the business all their lives with a combined 100 years between them who have also taught me so much and introduced me to so many people in the business. Those two are Thom Mulligan and Sonny King. I consider them mentors and more than that, best friends.

Website: https://www.thomaspeterson-actor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomaspetersonactor/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/thomas-peterson-184725217

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thomas.peterson.129357

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@gpete55

Other: https://linktr.ee/SDactor