Luke Charles Stafford talks about his acting career and new music

Luke Charles Stafford. Photo Credit: Michael Roud.

Actor and musician Luke Charles Stafford chatted about his acting career, new music, and being a part of the digital age.

“The important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well,” said Pierre de Coubertin, French Educator who was primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1894. This quote applies to multi-faceted entertainer Luke Charles Stafford.

Vertical dramas

On being a part of the vertical drama world, Stafford remarked, “It has been good! I didn’t come from the vertical world. I did Lifetime, some movies on Apple TV, and I had a really short stint doing a Broadway show.”

“Also, I just came from a really small town in the middle of Indiana,” he noted.

“The very first vertical I did was this past January,” he noted. “I did an audition for something that my manager sent me. I never knew what a vertical was.”

“In fact, when I flew to Atlanta to do the job, I noticed that the screen monitors were vertical, and after two or three scenes I told them that I thought their monitors were facing the wrong direction, but they told me ‘welcome to the vertical world.’ That’s how I was introduced to verticals, and it has been one hell of a journey,” he elaborated.

“Ever since, my journey in the vertical world has taken off, and it keeps on rolling,” he added.

Daily motivations

On his daily motivations as an actor, he said, “I’m definitely someone you would consider more of an old-school type of actor.”

“I fell in love with acting when I was just playing ‘Superman’ or listening to a Hans Zimmer score or ‘The Lion King’ because I was so infatuated with that story. I was just so blown away by it and I do music as well. I sing and do all those things,” he said.

Stafford on the power of music and film

“Both film and music can move somebody’s spirit in a powerful way,” he underscored. “I’m a total nerd when it comes to those things, and how they can encourage people and give them hope.”

“That’s the things that actually really drives me. I really take the craft seriously even if I’m just playing a werewolf in a vertical, or if I’m playing ‘Iron Man’ in a theater. I really take that part seriously because I know what it can do, and what it has done for me, and that has always motivated me,” he elaborated.

“It’s amazing to be able to make a living out of acting, and it’s incredible to be in the entertainment business,” he added.

The digital age

On being an entertainer in the digital age, Stafford stated, “I’m just lucky. I feel very grateful to be part of the digital age because film and TV were so different 20 years ago, and I just feel really grateful that I was at the right age and the right time and everything lined up so I could get this opportunity.”

“I am also grateful that it took some successful steps that got me here. I’m thankful that I’m here, and that everything has worked out,” he added.

New single ‘Out of Time’

Stafford recently released his latest single “Out of Time.”

On his single “Out of Time,” he remarked, “It was a very humbling experience to record it. I love the concept of it, especially since time and hope are some of the things that we need. In this song, I explore the feeling of running out of time.”

“I just love bringing cinematic elements of this song to the pop world,” he said. “In addition to ‘Out of Time,’ I have two other singles out… they are pop songs from my heart, and I have a lot more music coming in the New Year.”

“When I see people resonating with my music, that really means the world to me,” he added.

Stafford on the trials and tribulations to get to where he is today

For Stafford, it wasn’t always an easy ride to get to where he is today.

“I moved to LA after college. It took me a few years, where I was working my craft,” he said. “I worked every job you can imagine. I even lived in my car when I was in New York, and I was even homeless a couple of times.”

“When I first moved to Los Angeles, I was a paddleboard instructor, and I was working three other jobs just trying to get out of my car. Then, I ended up living with 10 guys in Los Angeles,” he said.

“I didn’t just want to be a sax player. In my heart, ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to be an actor, singer, songwriter and to own businesses one day,” he said.

“When I was a kid, I was made fun of for being overweight. One of my teachers told me I was tone deaf and I was also bulimic, where I lost a bunch of weight because of that,” he said.

Career-defining moments

On his career-defining moments, Stafford shared, “I have that story where I started from the bottom. I grew up in a small town, we didn’t have a lot of money, I came from simple and humble roots, and fast forward many years later, I was doing a Broadway show.”

“I went from doing paddleboard instructing in LA and working three jobs, trying to just get a place to live with 10 guys to then, I landed on Broadway, which was a very unique role, which included saxophone playing,” he elaborated.

“That was a very formative moment for me, because I learned there are so many layers of lessons. I learned that we can’t do this life alone. After I came back to Los Angeles, I gave this career path everything I had,” he acknowledged.

“I was taking acting classes and vocal lessons, and I was just giving it everything I had. I was writing all the songs I had been carrying for 15 years. I even got a job conducting choir at a church,” he said.

“After Broadway, I got my first job on Apple TV. So, it all started working, it’s a testament that you’ve got it,” he noted.

Advice for young and emerging artists

For young and aspiring artists, he said, “You need to be 100 percent true to who you are because that’s going to be the greatest gift… how you serve other people first and then being able to serve yourself. Broadway was the catalyst for that, and it set me off.”

“I hope to return to Broadway someday; that would be amazing, especially to have a full circle kind of moment,” he admitted.

Stafford is a firm believer of treating everyone on set the way they wish to be treated.

“I’ve always lived with the philosophy of treating people with the utmost kindness and respect, whether they are Brad Pitt or a boom operator. I always just treat people with the same amount of respect,” he said.

Stage of his life

On the title of the current chapter of his life, Stafford revealed, “I’m just getting started.” “I feel this is the rise and I feel confident in what I can do,” he noted.

“I feel like my I’m happy with where my craft is at, and I’m still slaving away at it. Everything is working out and I’m just glad to be here,” he said.

Superpower of choice

When asked what his superpower of choice would be, Stafford said, “I’m a Superman nerd. I love Superman, and I would love to fly. After that, it would be super-strength.”

Success

On his definition of the word success, Stafford said, “Success means inspiring people and giving them hope in the mediums that I’ve chosen such as film, music, storytelling and business.”

Message for his fans

For his fans and supporters, Stafford expressed, “The fact that there are people out there supporting me, that means the world. I am very grateful to the fans, and that what I’m doing means something to them.”

“So, I don’t feel bigger or better than anyone who is watching or doing what I’m doing, or who is moved by it. As a result, it’s very humbling. I just feel as one of the fans,” Stafford concluded.

His single “Out of Time” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.

To learn more about Luke Charles Stafford, visit his official website, and follow him on Instagram.