"Chris has an intense on set presence that translates beautifully into on-screen magic."
~Jimmy Mehiel, Director
The first line Christopher Kerson ever spoke on stage was “There is the star!” He was six years old, playing a shepherd in “The Nativity” at his grammar school St. John and Paul. Perhaps the star he was pointing at was really his own, the star he would follow through the years until he found the birth of his acting career. Like most of us, Christopher participated in many school plays in his years growing up in New York, playing such juicy roles as: The Artful Dodger in “Oliver”, Perchik in “Fiddler on the Roof”, Albert Peterson in “Bye Bye Birdie,” and Tony in “West Side Story”. These are the early roles that never make it on the resume, but are they any less valuable? For all of us, school plays provide creative expression. For some of us, they are the foundation, the stirrings of a life long love.
Though Chris chose to study psychology at William and Mary College, he was still interested in acting, and wanted to take an acting class at the college. To Chris's frustration, during his first two years he couldn’t get into an acting class because first preference was given to female students and “jocks.” He continued with his psychology studies and in his third year, did a
summer internship at an Investment Banking firm on Wall St. At the end of the internship he was offered the opportunity of a lucrative job in investment banking upon graduation. At this point, it seems he couldn’t have been further from acting, but do not be misled. James Hillman, the Jungian psychologist, would say that all of this was preparation for Chris, external pressure building to crack the seed of his soul’s destiny to become an actor- which eventually it did, in his last semester. He finally got into an acting class. Chris dove right into the work. He immersed himself in the plays of Sam Shepard and Tennessee Williams. He enjoyed transforming into his character roles in “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea”, and “Golden Boy”. Something tremendously exciting was emerging. His teacher said to him, “Chris, I really think you can do this”. At the end of that year, with graduation looming, he had to make a choice-take the lucrative investment banking job, or follow his star. Wisely, he chose his star. “I felt it was something I could innately do well”, Chris says.
Immediately after graduation Chris devoted himself to thoroughly studying the craft- he wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of the process. Both in L.A and New York, he studied with several teachers, including Charlie Laughton, William Alderson, Marcia Haufrecht, and Arian Brandt. Marcia Haufrecht says of her experience working with Chris: “Chris is one of the most dedicated and hard working actors I’ve worked with. His talent has a broad range, and he is willing to try most anything.” Over the years, Chris has developed a finely tuned craft, which he humbly never ceases to develop. Every play, T.V. show, or film he acts in provides him with new opportunity to learn and explore. Chris has had leading roles in several independent films which have gone to such festivals as Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, and Slamdance.
Ever broadening his horizon, Chris began producing original projects. In addition to starring, he co-produced with Burke Roberts in Burke's independent film “Insult to Injury”. Burke says of Chris: “Christopher Kerson is one of the finest actors of his generation. His ability to tap freely into raw, truthful emotions with complete disregard for vanity is rare in this age of surface level, T.V. caliber acting. The level of commitment to the craft and ‘do or die’ intensity he puts into the work is a throwback to the great age of American acting. Very few of his contemporaries bring the range and depth of character that he is capable of. Chris could have held his own with the likes of a young Pacino, Hoffman, or even Brando.” The co-author of the film, Bryan Price, says: “Chris is an incredible actor with an amazing work ethic. He innately adds value to any project he works on. With our project (Insult to Injury) he took an incredibly difficult character (a stark raving racist) with an impossible situation (being stuck in a box car with his foot cut off), with pages of incredibly difficult words, and made it come off sympathetically and realistically, giving our film instant credibility and heart.” Chris's co-star, Omar Jermaine, says: "When working with Chris, I found his intensity, focus, and ability to be absolutely present caused a powerful reaction from my self and any other actor that worked with him. It is almost impossible not to be available in the moment to moment experience while working with such a strong talent."
I saw Chris most recently in his role as Guy in the play “Hurry”. His comedic timing and sensitivity was fantastic. Amidst my own giggles I heard loud guffaws erupt in the audience. His physical comedy is terrific. If he weren’t so totally committed to being an actor, I would tell him to take up playing piano. His long, amazingly expressive fingers would be the envy of any concert pianist! Christopher proves that an actor acts. He can play the full spectrum, from a raving lunatic to a hilarious neurotic to a sexy leading man.
Today, Chris says with gratitude, “I’ve made some phenomenal creative relationships. I want to keep on working. Acting has to stay up front. It’s given me the trip to have so much variation in my life. I am interested in creative projects that I can invest my passion in, and be seen.”
~Elizabeth Phaire
