Today, we’d like to introduce you to J.R. Bradford.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a native of Fort Worth, TX, and a proud alumnus of OD Wyatt High School. I initially wanted to be a late-night talk show host like Arsenio Hall but was told I needed to study the craft of Acting first. Tiffany Redwine directed me in her play “Tears I’ve Cried,” and I also became the host of Star Quality TV in 2005 on Charter Cable Channel 28.
In the summer of 2006, I ended up hosting a radio show called “Cole Melodie Radio,” but the studio shut down in the summer of 2007. A few months later, I enrolled in Acting school at KD Conservatory of Film & Dramatic Arts. I received my Applied Arts Degree (Acting Performance) and Motion Picture Production Degree and have been working non-stop since then.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Truth is… this entire journey has been the wildest ride. Starting in Dallas was the best thing that happened to me because it’s so easy to jump on a plan to L.A. and New York when big gigs come along.
At the same time, it’s always a challenge in such a corporate market as the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but I’ve had to nurture many relationships to stay afloat. I’ve had to start over a few times, but my experience has made each run at this crazy dream of ours attainable.
I’m grateful to still be in the game after 17 years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I chose acting as a profession because of how challenging it is both on the business side and as an art form.
When I first started, I only knew three professional actors who were very helpful and informative. I am most proud of the fact that the work that I am doing onstage and onscreen is inspiring young artists to pursue their dreams.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I always tell people that a large part of success (in anything) is sticking around when everyone else throws in the towel. Honestly, there were several other actors/performers better than me who had more experience than I did.
For one reason or another, they moved on to do other things when gigs didn’t come as consistently for them. My patience got me in the door and has kept me here. Availability is your best ability in this business as well.
Relationships have also been very pivotal in my journey as well. I still dream of becoming a talk show host, so this is just the beginning for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jrbradford21
Image Credits
Jonathan McInnis Photography and Evan Michael Woods
