- All I knew about the gig I would be auditioning for were a few scraps of information that my agent Barbara had told me over the phone. It was a commercial for a beer company. Dos Equis, a Mexican brand that ironically needed a boost in the Latino market, was looking for a new spokesman. What specifically were they looking for?
“They want a Hemingway kind of guy,” Barbara said. “That’s you!”
Was there any script to read?
“They want improv,” she said. “You can do any kind of monologue you want, but you have to end with the line, ‘And that’s how I arm-wrested Fidel Castro,’” she said.
I couldn’t believe the size of the crowd that was milling outside. The line of actors backed up around the block, perhaps 400 or 500 of them. Too much competition. I turned back to the truck and heard Barbara’s voice in my head: “You left without trying? You never know if you don’t try.”
So I turned around. All the actors around me were far younger, and Latino. Naturally, the advertising agency and production company would want a Latino to play the lead. This isn’t worth the time, I thought. All these guys look like they are going to play Juan Valdez. I’m a Jewish guy from the Bronx.
There are many lessons in my fantastic journey. As I approach my eighth decade, with more fans and adulation than I could ever deserve, I can say with certainty that to be interesting you have to be interested. You can watch the parade that is life—and live vicariously through others, as many do—or you can get in and participate in your own journey. And the best time to go for broke is when you’re already there.
Great advice but I would add that you have to interested in people too. It is trite, but there is a reason you have 2 ears and 1 mouth.
He's done a couple AMA's on reddit over the years (usually to advertise some charity campaign or another). Every interview I've read with him, he comes off as being awesome.
I found 3 for anyone interested: In 2013 promoting the clearing of old land mines. In 2014, again promoting land mine clearance. In 2016, promoting his journalism career. He has had a fairly successful career, nailed the Dos Equis audition but they were looking for someone younger until his agent asked "How can the most interesting man in the world be young?"
Interesting post! This is really helpful for me. I like it! Thanks for sharing.
The information you share is very useful. It is closely related to my work and has helped me grow. Thank you!
The information you share is very useful. It is closely related to my work and has helped me grow. Thank you!
Cool story! Never say die before it comes. Life must go on.
The actor is more interesting than the person he plays, interesting.