JASON STUART TURNS 25!
JASON STUART is celebrating 25 years as an openly gay actor and comedian in the entertainment Industry. He came out on THE GERALDO RIVERA SHOW to a lot of fanfare in June of 1993. You may say to yourself, is this still news in 2018? Yes! Jason has been able to transcend the image of an out character actor into several groundbreaking roles of late and continues working as an out stand up comedian. He has broken ground in places and accomplished what seemed impossible to achieve in the early 90s. To able be to play both straight and gay roles in mainstream show business.
Last year, Jason had a major supporting role in the one of the most talked about films, THE BIRTH OF A NATION now on HBO demand. He played a Christian, heterosexual, plantation owner in 1831.
On Aug. 9th he guests stars as councilman “Oscar Bustamente” opposite KEANU REEVES in the critically acclaimed new comedy show SWEDISH DICKS starring PETER STROMARE on POP (Lionsgate). Next up, he has another supporting role in the action thriller in DIVERTED EDEN as “POLICE DETECTIVE WALTER” and just completed IMMORTAL as Joe a “private detective” who deals in spy equipment, opposite SAMM LEVINE (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS) along with MARIO VAN PEEBLES (JAWS REVENGE) and DYLAN BAKER (HOMELAND). He’s currently shooting the drama HANK in the title role of a man who does not want to be in an open relationship with his husband.
Lastly, Jason received the SHE RESISTED AWARD (named after ELIZABETH WARREN) for his work as the national co-chair of the SAG – AFTRA LGBT COMMITTEE. He is also a recent BEST ACTOR AWARD WINNER for his touching performance of “Lenny” in the short film LIKE FATHER, which he also directed. The drama screens next at THE LOVE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL on July 25th in Beverly Hills, CA.
We had an awesome opportunity to interview Jason. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Jason! Thank you for granting the interview. Your career is amazing. Congrats on breaking so many barriers. We’re excited to speak with you about it. When you look back on your career is there anything you would change?
Well, first of all, I would have been kinder to myself and had more fun! But as a young gay actor in the 80s there were no role models. No one showed me the way to have a better life. That is why I have a strong passion to mentor younger actors. Jack Lemmon had a quote that I live by “When you go up in the elevator, take people with you”. I believe in paying it forward and giving back to my creative community.
How much has changed in the industry since you came out in 1993?
Wow, it’s really so different. I would never have thought I would have these opportunities to play all these different roles. I feel so grateful. The world is changing as Bob Dylan said so profoundly. Slowly moving up a hill and showing up no matter what, to all that stands in front of me. Sometimes uncomfortable but I keep it steady and build it …and it will come. That’s been the center of the LGBT plus community for me.
To date, you play heterosexual roles without fanfare, which is awesome. Should people focus on the work? What are your thoughts?
Yes, I work at it and I go back to acting class with the masters Larry Moss and Ivanna Chubuck. Now, I’m doing a little film called THE LINE that Lena Waite and Common are producing. Playing an anti-abortionist leader for ATT Hello project and an older gay man in the film HANK trying to save his marriage. I’m always working on my craft. I also learned to deepen my voice and change the way I move and walk. I’m always open to growing as an actor and comedian. That is what gave me the confidence to play a white, heterosexual, Christian, plantation owner in 1831. And I’m a gay, liberal, Jew! Which was a gift to me. It also changed me as an artist and a human being. Joan Rivers always said; it only takes one person to say yes to you to change your career. That person for me is Nate Parker. He saw in me things I did not see in myself. He made me feel like a part of the family in a way that I had not felt before. He is a gift to me in my life as an artist.
Let’s talk about playing “Oscar Bustamente.” You star opposite of Keanu Reeves in the critically acclaimed new comedy show SWEDISH DICKS. It also stars Peter Stromare on POP (Lionsgate). What should we expect to see?
This project came from folks seeing me in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. I play a councilman who is accused of a murder and Keanu Reeves is my cellmate! It’s a very serious comedy in the vein of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Peter Stromare is soooo good and funny! I could hardly keep myself together we had so much fun. And Keanu is a very harder worker and so supportive. The whole team who created the show are all about it being fun and easy. I also got news friends from the show so that an added plus!
Let’s talk about your supporting role in the action thriller DIVERTED EDEN. You play “Police Detective Walter.” Tell us about your role, character, and the film.
I play a… been there, done that kinda police detective in my first real action film. In this one, I play the older more mature sidekick to the lead Scout Taylor Compton. The film has a great cast including Ken Davitan from BORAT and he’s so charming in it. We all solve the crime of a missing child. So it’s a nail-biter.
How did you prepare for the role?
I read my role over and over again to see what comes out of me. I got that from Anthony Hopkins’ book. I am a big reader of actor bios, I love them! Especially the supporting actors, they are my people. I speak with the director and find out the style and where I fit into the story. I also work on how I can keep all the emotions on my face so it fits into the camera. It’s not theatre or stand up, its film or TV or the net so I keep it small. The camera sometimes gets very close and you have to be able to show the emotions on your face without a lot of movement. I am also here as a featured actor to support the film. So my job is the help tell the story. I find a prop to give me something to hold onto and make it more real. I also work on the voice and the way the character moves. Sometimes I don’t get that till I get to the set and meet the other actors. It’s always different depending on the tone of the film and the chemistry of the cast and crew.
You just completed filming IMMORTAL, as Joe, a “private detective,” who deals in spy equipment, opposite Samm Levine (Inglourious Bastards) along with Mario Van Peebles (Jaws Revenge) and Dylan Baker (Homeland). Tell us what you can.
With that film, I play a private investigator that deals in spyware. All that was written about the character was his name “Joe”, and that he was intimidating and spoke in a low voice. I had never played a role like that before. When I started to run the scene with SAMM LEVINE. I become very precise to counter his quirky timid performance and that is what gave me mine. The director Jon Dabach was very supportive and that always gives me room to do my best work. Look out for him!
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
All the great character actors from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman to Paul Giamatti and Whoopi Goldberg to Lee Grant. To know how to do one scene with a beginning, middle, and end. I was at a party a few years back and a fan said to me. You’re that guy who can come into a scene, say something funny or poignant and leave. But we always remember you. Now I have become a character actor who gets to stay a bit longer and be a part of the story. Folks say; there are no small roles only small actors. I don’t believe that. I say there are small roles but I am not a small actor!
When looking back on your career, what resonated with you the most and why?
The experiences on the set. I remember working with Kyra Sedgwick on THE CLOSER. It was a scene with me mainly talking, and Kyra asking all the questions. I was amazed at how present she was and how much she gave to me to make the scene work. I played the manager of a storage unit who found a dead body. I played him as a New York Jewish kinda a guy. A bit lonely and self-important. The producer James Duff and Adam Belanoff really gave me a loose rope to make him funny, charming and quirky. I was at an Emmy Party where I ran into Kyra and she told me she loved the way I played the scene a little different each time. That comment stayed with me for a long time. That role got me a lot of other roles. You never know where something will go.
In your opinion, what makes a great movie?
A great story first and a good filmmaker, as it’s a director’s medium. I have been lucky enough to have worked with a few of the best. Ivan Reitman on KINDERGARTEN COP, Ira Sacks LOVE IS STRANGE, Sean Baker TANGERINE and Nate Parker THE BIRTH OF A NATION. All these directors had a vision and were easy to work with. They all held us up as actors. They also had so much passion for the work and the outcome of the film. Other great movies to me are ORDINARY PEOPLE, FUNNY GIRL, WHATS UP DOC?, FIELDS OF DREAMS, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, PASSION FISH, DOG DAY AFTERNOON and so many more.
Tell us about your favorite thing to do.
I love to hang with my 81 year old mom and that’s where I should be now as I’m an hour late! Also, my new BF who is so close to my heart. I love lunch with friends and riding my bike around town. And a good book to read or film to watch or TV show to binge! HANDMAIDS TALE is killing me!
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
Look for my short film LIKE FATHER on Dekkoo.com and my web series on Amazon Prime Direct MENTOR. Both I acted in and directed!
Also, I would love to work with some of the great filmmakers of the day. Spike Lee, Thomas McCarthy, Barry Jenkins, Rob Reiner, Paul Thomas Anderson, Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, Stephen Fears, Patty Jenkins, Richard Linklater, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, Jodie Foster, Barbra Streisand, Ang Lee, Coen Brothers, Terrence Malick, Nicole Holofcener, Miguel Arteta to name a few!
Get them to fall in love my work as much as I have with there’s. Soon I’m getting any younger!
Connect with Jason:
Web: http://www.jasonstuart.com/
IMDb: http://imdb.me/jasonstuart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasonstuart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jason_Stuart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jason.Stuart.24/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jasonstuartdotcom
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