Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Palko.
Hi Jeremy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came down to Florida back in 2005 from Seattle Washington to work with the Walt Disney Company aboard the Disney Cruise Line. After a few years sailing the high seas, dancing like a pirate, and performing, I decided to stay in Orlando and pursue acting. I also worked with Universal Studios for nearly a decade performing in various shows such as the Bill and Ted show at Halloween horror nights and Dr. Suess’ Grinchmas.
Wanting to pursue film and television, I signed with one of the hardest-working agencies in Florida, Brevard Talent group. Traci Danielle is one of the most amazing agents there is. Because of her and her staff, I have been fortunate enough to work in the southeast for the past decade. Some works include The Walking Dead, Netflix’s Bloodline, The Vampire Diaries, Burn Notice, and more.
Now I find myself traveling back and forth from Atlanta to Orlando in pursuit of my dreams.
On a newer note, painting is something I picked up in quarantine and now consumes my life! It is a passion I never knew I had! Not only have I created a small business, But I also have health insurance now because of it. The support thus far has been overwhelmingly incredible!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As an actor/artist there are so many struggles along the way. But to butcher a quote, “if it were easy, anyone would do it.”
Anyone in the field of entertainment is going to find their struggles. It’s not an easy business for sure. But I would like to look at the struggles and bumps in the road as ways of learning this business because I believe there is never one to achieve success.
Trying to find what works for each individual actor is going to be always going to be difficult.
On the acting side, I found that early on, I was doing any and every audition I could. Not realizing how completely unfit for the role I was. It didn’t matter. I was driving hours upon hours for one-line rolls that I knew I would never get. I did not consider this a struggle; in fact, I was extremely excited for the opportunity. But along the way, I have found that each actor needs to know their worth and what they are willing to sacrifice for each job opportunity. Having to determine which jobs you would like to pursue are definitely part of the struggles I face.
As an artist, I struggle mostly with not having enough room in my apartment to sufficiently keep up with art demands. I find most of my clothes have paint on them, and I constantly am brushing paint out of my dog’s hair.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Most days I am an actor. Other days I am a painter.
I joined the Screen Actors Guild back in 2008 when I booked my first movie “Never Back Down”. which was shot in Orlando. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to have been working in other such projects as Netflix’s Bloodline, The Vampire Diaries, Burn Notice, Tyler Perry’s Ruthless, MacGyver, Saints and Sinners, The Passage, Are We There Yet? and many more.
While I continue to pursue film and television, during quarantine, boredom led me to my life‘s newest passion. Art.
While we all sat in our homes waiting for the world to get over Covid, one fluke painting changed my life. While sitting there bored, one day I decided to paint on a blank canvas. And because I had been lucky enough to been on such a great show like The Walking Dead, a fan reached out and asked if they could purchase my painting. Which I merely said yes. This led to me making weekly trips to Michael’s for supplies. I have now painted Somewhere in the vicinity of 2000 paintings. While I have sold many of them, many of them remain on my website for purchase.
Having never picked up a paintbrush in my life, I cannot seem to put one down now. It is my passion; it is an absolute love.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Acting can be a very selfish pursuit. You rely on yourself so incredibly much. But I having support is incredibly important. First and foremost are my family, for always supporting and never doubting my love for this silly career. The actors in the southeast are some of the hardest working people, and most talented I know. It is because of this wonderful community that I have been able to enjoy the process as an actor. I absolutely love turning on the TV and seeing familiar faces. I know the struggle and how hard they work to get that one job. There is always been talk of southeast actors not being as talented as those coming from LA, or New York. That could not be farther from the truth. Along with the actors, are my agent and manager Who have been there from the beginning and continue to support me and believing me and I cannot thank them enough.
Switching to Art. Being new to the art game, the support has been overwhelmingly amazing! Thanks to social media I have been able to upload and present my work on a weekly basis. And the difference between acting in art is that I am truly presenting myself and the closest thoughts I have. Presenting them on canvas for the world to view has been more rewarding than anything I’ve ever done. It is giving me confidence to pursue art and to continue to see where it leads me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ArtByPalko.Square.Site
- Instagram: @ArtByPalko
- Facebook: @ArtByPalko
- Twitter: @JeremyPalko
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2699133/
Image Credits
AMC
BET
